hyde

Abstract -- Externally charged electrodes of an electrostatic generator induce charges of opposite polarity on segments of a pair of confronting stators by means of electric fields within which a pair of rotors are confined during rotation to vary the charge binding field linkages between confronting rotors and stators by a shielding action of the rotors in a plane perpendicular to the field flux. A high electric potential difference induced between the stators resulting from such rotation of the rotors, is transformed by an output circuit into a reduced DC voltage applied to a load with a correspondingly increase current conducted therethrough.

Current U.S. Class: 322/2A; 310/309
Intern'l Class: H02N 001/08
References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents
2522106 -- Sep., 1950 Felici 310/309.
3013201 -- Dec., 1961 Goldie 322/2.
4127804 -- Nov., 1973 Breaux 322/2.
4151409 -- Apr., 1979 O'Hare 250/212.
4595852 -- Jun., 1986 Gundlach 310/309.
4622510 -- Nov., 1986 Cap 322/2.

This invention relates to the generation of electrical power by conversion of energy from an electrostatic field.

The conversion of energy from a static electric field into useful electrical energy by means of an electrostatic generator is already well known in the art as exemplified by the disclosures in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,522,106, 3,013,201, 4,127,804, 4,151,409 and 4,595,852. Generally, the energy conversion process associated with such prior art electrostatic generators involves the input of mechanical energy to separate charges so that a considerable portion of the output is derived from the conversion of mechanical energy.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic generator in which electrical power is derived from the energy of static electric fields with a minimized input of mechanical power.

In accordance with the present invention, static electric fields are established between electrodes externally maintained at charge levels of opposite polarity and a pair of internal stator discs having segmental surfaces that are dielectrically spaced to confine thereon charges induced by the electric fields. A pair of rotor discs are rotated within continuous electric fields in planes perpendicular to the field flux to locationally vary the charge linkage established by the electric fields between the electrodes and stator discs. Such changes in charge linkage are effected by rotation of electrically conductive segments of the rotor angularly spaced from each other to partially shield the stator discs from the electric fields. The segments of each rotor disc have charged faces confronting the electrodes in its field to shield the stator disc over a total face area that is one-half the total area of the confronting segment surfaces on the stator disc to which the induced charges are confined. Charges on the rotors and stators are equalized by electrical interconnections established through the rotor shafts. The stator discs are electrically interconnected with an electrical load through an output circuit transforming a high potential between the stator discs into a reduced dc voltage to conduct a correspondingly multiplied current through the load.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified electrical circuit diagram corresponding to the energy conversion system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side section view of an electrostatic generator embodying the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial section views taken substantially through planes indicated by section lines 3--3 and 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic partial laid out top views of the electrostatic generator of FIGS. 2-4, under static and dynamic charge distribution condictions, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of the output circuit of the generator shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts the energy conversion system of the present invention generally referred to by reference numeral 10. As diagrammed in FIG. 1, the system includes a pair of electrostatic fields 12 and 14 established by electrostatic charges of opposite polarity applied to electrode plates 16 and 18 from some external energy source. Thus, the electrostatic field 12 is established between electrode 16 and a stator disc 20 while the electrostatic field 14 is established between electrode 18 and a stator disc 22. In accordance with the present invention, electrostatic charge linkages established by the flux of the fields between the electrodes and stators are periodically varied by displacement within continuous energy fields 12 and 14 in response to rotation of rotors 24 and 26 aligned with planes perpendicular to their common rotational axis and the field flux as will be hereinafter described. The rotors are mechanically interconnected with an electric motor 28, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, for rotation about the common rotational axis. Electrical energy may be extracted from the electric fields 12 and 14 during rotation of the rotors 24 and 26 by motor 28 through an output circuit generally referred to by reference numeral 30. The output circuit 30 as shown, in FIG. 1 in a simplified fashion, includes two pair of current conducting diodes 32A, 32B and 34A, 34B. The diodes of each pair are oppositely poled and each pair is connected in parallel to one of the stators 20 and 22. The diodes of each pair are also electrically connected across an electrical load represented by resistors 36A and 36B with capacitor networks 38A and 38B interconnected between each pair of diodes by means of which the voltage potential between the stators 20 and 22 is reduced in favor of an increased current through the electrical load.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in particular, a physical embodiment of the energy conversion system diagrammed in FIG. 1 is shown. The electrodes 16 and 18 are in the form of circular plates or discs made of an electrically conductive metal having external surfaces 40 and 42 adapted to be charged from the external source as aforementioned. The internal surface 44 of electrode 18 is thereby adapted to maintain a positive charge opposite in polarity to the negative charge of the electrode 16 which is maintained in a stable ion form within a dielectric surface portion 46 of the electrode 16. The energy conversion system may be enclosed within an outer housing 48 to which the electrodes 16 and 18 are secured.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the stators 20 and 22 mounted by housing 48 in axially fixed spaced relation to the electrodes 16 and 18 are provided with bearings 50 and 52 establishing the aforementioned common rotational rotor axis journaling a powered shaft assembly having electrically conductive shaft sections 54 and 56 to which the rotors 24 and 26 are respectively connected. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the drive motor 28 is mechanically interconnected with the shaft sections 54 and 56 through an electrically nonconductive shaft section 58 of the power shaft assembly for simultaneous rotation of both rotors 24 and 26 at the same speed and in the same direction about the common rotational axis perpendicular to parallel spaced planes with which the electrode and stator discs are aligned. The electrically conductive shaft sections 54 and 56 are respectively keyed or secured in any suitable fashion to hub portions 60 and 62 of the rotors and are provided with flange portions 64 and 66 forming electrical wipers in contact with confronting surfaces of the stators 20 and 22, which are inductively charged by the static electric fields 12 and 14 to equal levels of opposite polarity.

As more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotor 24 has a plurality of angularly spaced, field linkage controlling segments 68 projecting radially outwardly from the hub portion 60. Each rotor segment 68 is made of an electrically conductive metal having a face 70 on one axial side confronting the adjacent electrode 16. The faces 70 confronting the electrode 16 are charged positively by the electric field 12 extending between the dielectric surface portion 46 of electrode 16 and the stator disc 20. While the electric field 12 projects through the spaces 72 between the rotor segments 68, the rotor segments 68 themselves shield portions of the stator disc 20 from the electric field.

The rotor 26 is similarly formed with rotor segments 74 angularly spaced from each other by spaces 76 through which the electric field 14 extends between the positively charged surface 44 of electrode 18 and the stator 22. The rotor segments 74 of rotor 26 as shown in FIG. 2, are provided with dielectric surface portions 78 confronting the internally charged surface 44 of electrode 18. While the rotor segments 74 are negatively charged by the electric field 14 within the surface portions 78, they also shield portions of the stator disc 22 from the electric field as in the case of the rotor segments 68 hereinbefore described. The internal dielectric surface portion 46 of electrode 16 and dielectric surface portions 78 of rotor 26 act as a stabilizer to prevent eddy currents and leakage of negative charge. Further, in view of the electrical connections established between the rotors and the stator discs, the charge on each stator is equalized with that of the charge on its associated rotor.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the stator disc 20 includes a plurality of segments 82 to which charges are confined, closely spaced from each other by dielectric spacers 80. The segments 82 are electrically interconnected with the rotor segments 68 through rotor shaft section 54. Similarly, the segments 84 of the stator 22 are electrically interconnected with the rotor segments 74 through rotor shaft section 56. The stator segments 82 and 84 are therefore also made of electrically conductive metal. Each of the segments 82 of stator 20 is electrically interconnected through the output circuit 30 with each of the segments 84 of the stator. The stator discs being fixedly mounted within the housing 48, centrally mount the bearings 50 and 52 through which the electrically nonconductive motor shaft section 58 is journaled as shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2. Further, the total area of the charged segment surfaces on each of the stator discs is greater than the total area of the faces 70 or 78 on the segments of each associated rotor disc 24 or 26. According to one embodiment, the total charged stator surface area is twice that of the rotor face area.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6, the output circuit 30 includes the two oppositely poled capacitive circuit networks 38A and 38B connected across each aligned pair of stator segments 82 and 84 on the stators 20 and 22 by means of the oppositely poled diodes 32A and 34A. Each of such capacitive circuit networks includes a capacitor 86, the opposite sides of which are connected by oppositely poled diodes 88 and 90 to positive and negative load terminals 92 and 94 across which a suitable electrical voltage is established for operating an electrical load. The diode 88 is connected to the junction 102 between diode 104 and one side of capacitor 106. The diode 88 is also connected to the junction between one side of capacitor 100 and the diode 32A. The diode 90, on the other hand, is interconnected with the junction 96 between diode 108 and capacitor 100. Also, diode 90 is connected to the junction between the other side of capacitor 106 and the diode 34A. The foregoing circuit arrangement of capacitive network 38A is the same as that of network 38B by means of which aligned pairs of the stator segments 82 and 84 have the electrical potentials therebetween transformed into a lower voltage across the load terminals 92 and 94 to conduct a higher load current.

FIG. 5A illustrates the distribution of charges established in the electric fields 12 and 14 between the electrodes and stators under static conditions in which each of the rotor segments 68 and 74 is positioned in alignment with one of the stator segments 82 and 84 to thereby shield alternate stator segments from the electric fields. The charges established by the electric fields are therefore confined to the faces of alternate stator segments confronting the electrodes and are equalized with the charges established on and confined to the shielding faces of the rotor segments confronting the electrodes by virtue of the electrical interconnection between the rotors and stators as aforementioned. As depicted in FIG. 5B, when rotation is imparted to the rotors, the charge linkages established by the electric fields between the electrodes and alternate stator segments 82 or 84 are interrupted by the moving rotor segments 68 or 74 so that previously sielded stator segments become exposed to the fields to reestablish field energy linkages with the associated electrodes. Such action causes electrical potentials to be established between the stator segments 82 and 84.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the electrostatic energy fields 12 and 14 of opposite polarity are established maintained between the externally charged electrodes 16 and 18 and the internally charged stators 20 and 22 under static conditions as depicted in FIG. 5A. During rotation, the rotors 24 and 26 continuously disposed within such energy fields 12 and 14, exert forces in directions perpendicular to the field flux representing the energy linkages between electrodes and stators to cause interruptions and reestablishment of energy linkages with portions of different stator segments as depicted in FIG. 5B. Such energy linkage locational changes and the charge binding and unbinding actions between electrodes and stators creates an electrical potential and current to flow between stators through the output circuit 30. Thus, the output circuit when loaded extracts energy from the electric fields 12 and 14 as a result of the field linkage charge bindinbg and unbinding actions induced by rotation of the rotors. The stator segments 82 and 84 shielded from the electric fields by the moving rotor segments 68 and 74 as depicted in FIG. 5B, have electric potentials of polarity opposite to those of the external electrodes 16 and 18 because of the field linkage charge unbinding action. Previously shielded stator segments being exposed to the electric fields by the moving rotor segments, have the same electric potential polarity as those of the external electrodes because of field linkage binding action. Since the forces exerted on the respective rotors by the electric fields 12 and 14 of opposite polarity act on the common rotor shaft assembly perpendicular to said fields, such forces cancel each other. The energy input to the system may therefore be substantially limited to mechanical bearing losses and windage during conversion of electrostatic field energy to electrical energy as well as electrical resistance losses and other electrical losses encountered in the output circuit 30.

Based upon the foregoing operational characteristics, rotation of the rotors in accordance with the present invention does not perform any substantial work against the external electric fields 12 and 14 since there is no net change in capacitance thereby enabling the system to convert energy with a reduced input of mechanical energy and high efficiency, as evidenced by minimal loss of charge on the electrodes. It was therefore found that working embodiments of the present invention require less than ten percent of the electrical output energy for the mechanical input. Further, according to one prototype model of the invention, a relatively high output voltage of 300,000 volts was obtained across the stators. By reason of such high voltage, an output circuit 30 having a voltage reducing and current multiplying attribute as hereinbefore described was selected so as to render the system suitable for many practical applications.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

http://rimstar.org/sdenergy/hyde_generator/index.htm

Hyde Generator Replication

The Hyde generator is a device developed by William W. Hyde that puts out more energy than is used to run it (to me this means it must tap into some unexpected energy source.) It's basically a large high voltage capacitor with spinning rotor segments actually in between the capacitor plates, chopping the electric field at high speed (> 6000 RPM.) Stator segments are also in between the capacitor plates and it is actually the electric field between the stator segments and the capacitor plates that is chopped. The resulting output energy is taken off of the stator plates using capacitor/diode networks.

It's documented fairly well in US patent 4897592 - Electrostatic energy field power generating system. From private correspondance between William Hyde and Moray B. King (1), a prototype from 1987 that contained around 2000 capacitors and diodes produced the following results:

No. rotor segments    240
No. stator segments    480
Rotor speed    6000 rpm
Output voltage    602 VDC
Output current    38 amps
Output power    22.9 kW
Input power    2.4 kW
Net output power (while free running)    20.5 kW

My 1st replication attempt

My 1st attempt was with a vacuum cleaner motor at one end and an 18" long shaft with everything attached. The long shaft made it too unstable at high speed. The best I could safely do was around 2700 RPM.

My 2nd replication attempt

I first finished all parts for my 2nd attempt, assembled it and ran it for the first time on April 7, 2009. By April 23, 2009 I'd found I was unable to get the motor to spin the disks faster than 4000 RPM. The motor is rated at 10,000 RPM no-load and can do that with featureless disks but can do only 4000 RPM with the completed disks. My guess is the disks with their radially cut slots and metal segments attached act like fans and the air load is too high.

The construction details are below, following these updates.

May 1, 2009 - Lowered air pressure to decrease load

At the suggestion of Paul on overunity.com I sealed the box and lowered the pressure with a household vacuum cleaner motor. I managed to drop the pressure by about 0.5 PSI ( around 1 inch Hg). I didn't see any improvement in RPM, the best being around 3900 RPM, so I would have to drop the air pressure even more. The outer acrylic window was seriously bowed inward so I don't think I'd want to do further improved sealing without replacing the window with a solid board. I'd also be afraid of going further out of fear of damaging my vacuum cleaner. It was worth a try though.

May 5, 2009 - Sealed edges with packing tape - 4500 RPM!

I guessed that maybe if I sealed the area where each rotor is, once the air gets moving, since it's enclosed in a circular pathway, it will keep most of its momentum and act like less of a load and I'd be picking up less new dead air. Plus, in the patent the rotors are sealed in a circular housing in the same manner. I got 4500 RPM, an encouraging improvement. I used clear packing tape so I wonder if I used something less crinkly if it would be even better. Still no HV spikes, but Hyde didn't get those until around 6000 RPM

May 19, 2009 - Higher input voltage, sealed rest of housing, and a bang! - 5200 RPM!

At Luc's suggestion I decided to run it with higher than the motor's rated input voltage of 110VAC, something I was previously reluctant to do but as Luc said "I was so close to the 6000 RPM". Luc pointed out to me how to get 2 phases out of my wall sockets to get up to 220VAC and even more using variacs (which I didn't realize variacs would do), but for starters I tried it with just one variac at its maximum output of 130VAC. I got 4660 RPM! My previous best at 4500 RPM at 110VAC so it looks like I'd get around 80 RPM for each 10VAC I add; not much.

Then I decided that since I had big success on May 5 (reported above) with sealing just the area where the rotors were and since at 4660 RPM it was screaming like a banshee from the air coming out of the holes in the wooden box, I should seal the area where the motor was too, just as is done in the patent. Success, I got 5200 RPM! Only 800 RPM to go.

Here are some scope shots. The AC is expected and normal. It's HV spikes that I'm after but at no speed or voltage did I see any. The 757 Hz from the scope shot below is per segment, not per rotation of the entire rotor. There are 9 segments per rotor so to get RPM take the 757 Hz and divide by 9 to get rotations per second for the whole rotor. Then multiply by 60 to get rotations per minute (RPM), 5046 RPM. However, I did get 5200 RPM at one point, just no photo of the scope at the time. The voltage was set to 3kV when it was at 5200 RPM, the same voltage Hyde was using when he was doing 2 kW in and getting 20 kW out.

And then there was a muffled bang and the whole box began to slowly slide across the floor. One of the segments had come off a rotor (the bang) and this unbalanced the whole thing (the slow sliding.) The only damage was a hole in the packing tape where the segment flew out from between the rotor/stator area and the mangled segment from when it hit the inside of the box in an awkward area which caused it to bounce around.

Disks --

Hubs --

Assemblage --

With rubber bands --

Closeup --

Sealed Unit --

http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/929472

An Enhanced Quad-Disc Electrostatic Generator

Document Number: 929472
Date Published: August 1992
Author(s): Donald A. Kelly - Space Energy Association

Abstract : The conventional twin-disc wimshurst type of electrostatic generator has considerably increased potential as a high voltage output sources when two additional stator discs are utilized on each side of the usual twin, counterrotating rotor discs. The emergence of the hyde type of electrostatic generator has spurred some interest in high voltage elect rostatic generators of this general type, but unfortunately the hyde E/S technology is not practical, and has a number of technical errors in it which make it unworkable. In the quad-disc electrostatic the basic principles of the wimshurst twin counterrotating E/S discs are preserved, and in addition a twin rotor-to-stator E/S generating factor is included in this composite quad-disc electrostatic generator. The twin, counterrotating rotor discs form the basic E/S components, and have both the non-contacting neutralizing brushes, and the non-contacting collector brushes. The positive and negative satator discs on each side of each rotor disc receive E/S transfer from the multiple conductive segments on the outer sides of each rotor disc. The normal E/S transfer occurs from the segments on the inner surfaces of each of the rotor discs. The number of conductive segments of each of the rotor and stator discs will range from a low of 30 segments, to a maximum of 60 segments, depending on the disc diameter and the voltage/amperage balance per segment. The voltage and current amplification function for the enhanced quad-disc E/S generator will be accomplished by twin, large capacitive transformers, similar to those used in the present Swiss M-L converter.

The key components within these twin large captive transformers are the twin, large bi-filar wound coils over ferrite magnet stacks which transduce space energy into these polarized components. The wattage amplification factor is not generally recognized in present applied physics, but since the phenomena occurs in four F/E projects, past and present, it is an accomplished fact in advanced physics today! The enhanced quad- disc electrostatic generator design holds considerable promise for providing a useful high-voltage-to-normal wattage power source, as the concept is further evolved and developed.

http://www.icestuff.com/~energy21/notes.htm

Excerpts --

Back-Engineered Methernitha – Notes

by John BEDINI

Note 23 – Some other generators with similarities to the Testatika machine are the "Electrostatic Energy Field Power Generating System" invented by William W. Hyde (US Patent 4897592 of Jan 30 1990) is a rotor/stator variable capacitance machine capable of producing 300 KV... [ &c. ]

Note 1 – For more information on the Pidgeon machine see "Electrical Influence Machines" by John Gray 1903 pp206 & "Philosophical Magazine" Dec 1898 pp564, and of course the Pidgeon patents.

Note 2 – See "Modern High Speed Influence Machines" by V.E.Johnson 1921 pp76. Johnson was not only a researcher of electrostatic machines but was also an innovative constructor of them, and as such was keen to try any technique that made his generators more powerful than even the specialised Wommelsdorf multi-disc condenser machines. This book is an absolute must for those who wish to work in this field.

Note 3 – See "Self-Excited, Alternating, High-Voltage Generation Using A Modified Electrostatic Influence Machine" by M.Zahn et al, American Journal of Physics Vol 42 (1974) pp289.

Note 4 – The Methernitha designers have taken a basic Pidgeon electric field system and added a few modifications of their own, partly to lock a certain polarity of charge to a certain area so as to stabilise it, and also to boost certain areas with charge... [ &c ]

Note 7 – See US Patent 1,540,998 (9 June 1925) Conversion of Atmospheric Electric Energy by Hermann Plauson. He also wrote a book of the subject titled "Gewinnung und Verwertung der Atmospharischen Elektrizitat" in 1920 in German.

Note 11 – The phenomenon of electrostatic motors has been well researched over the years (see "Electrostatic Motors" O.Jefimenko in "Physics Teacher" Vol 9 March 1971 p121-9, and in "Electrostatics – And Its Applications" by A.D.Moore (1973) p131-147; "Electrostatic Motors" by B.Bollee in "Philips Tech. Review" Vol 30 1969 p178-194)... [ &. ]

Note 12 – J.G.Trump worked for the US Air Force and pioneered some highly efficient electrostatic machines around the 1960’s (see"Electrostatic Sources of Electric Power" in "Elec. Eng" 66:525 June 1947; and "High Voltage Generation in Space:The Parametric Electrostatic Machine" in "Progr. Astronaut. Rocketry" (vol 3 – Energy Conversion for Space Power) 1961 p745).

Note 14 – See "Plasma – The Fourth State of Matter" by D.A. Frank-Kamenetskii (1972) pp10, and Dr.Patrick Flanagan’s US patents 4,743,275(May 10 1988) and 4,391,773(Jul 5 1983).

Note 21 – US patents 3,323,069 (May 30 1967) and 3,187,208 (June 1 1965). This system by Van de Graaff may be a little too complicated for the Methernitha, but, nevertheless, may be of some interest.

Note 22 – Dr. Flanagan modified his insulator blocks, made of resin, by doping them with paramagnetic granules (such as silicon carbide) to enhance even more the electron cascade effect; which is an idea that the physicist Thomas Townsend Brown first experimented with (by using lead oxide granules) in his US patent 3,187,206 (June 1 1965) to good effect.

Note 23 – Some other generators with similarities to the Testatika machine are the "Electrostatic Energy Field Power Generating System" invented by William W. Hyde (US Patent 4897592 of Jan 30 1990) is a rotor/stator variable capacitance machine capable of producing 300 KV. Other such generators are; "Parametric Electric Machine" invented by Ferdinand Cap (US Patent 4622510 of Nov 11 1986) which has a series resonant (LCR) circuit structured into it so that it oscillates - and indeed operates AT RESONANCE to ensure a high output; "Electrostatic Generator" invented by Dan B. Le May (et al) (US Patent 3094653 of Jun 18 1963) is a very ingenious system of variable capacitance; the "Electrostatic Machine" by Noel Felici (US Patent 2522106 of Sep 12 1950) is a good standard which utilizes a valve rectifier; and the "Electrostatic Generator" by William S. Spencer (US Patent 1415779 of May 9 1922) is an early rotor/stator generator which transferred its electric impulses through a transformer to produce a higher current output.