Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Discharging or preventing accumulation of electric charge – Structurally combined with building or vehicle
Patent
1986-04-24
1987-10-06
Griffin, Donald A.
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Discharging or preventing accumulation of electric charge
Structurally combined with building or vehicle
361222, H05F 300
Patent
active
046987231
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a system for protecting an in-air vehicle from damage due to the craft sustaining a lightning strike. It is an extremely simple device consisting of a sacrificial graphite composite rod 40, approximately the diameter of a pencil with a length of about five inches. The sacrificial rod 40 is constructed with the graphite fibers running axially within the rod in a manner that best provides a path of conduction axially from the trailing edge of an aircraft to the trailing end of the rod. Sacrificial rod 40 is inserted into an attachment hole 32, machined into trailing edges of aircraft flight surfaces, such as vertical fin cap 31, and attached with adhesive in a manner not prohibiting the conduction path between the rod 40 and aircraft 10. The trailing end of rod 40 may be tapered for aerodynamic and esthetic requirements. This rod is sacrificial but has the capability to sustain several lightning strikes and still provide protection.
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Griffin Donald A.
Helfrich George F.
Manning John R.
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator
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