Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)

[Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 02:28:59 -0600
From: Dr. Resonance <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Van de Graaff generator safety question (fwd)


Actually, solving this very same problem for a local industry while he was a
M.E. student at Univ. of Alabama is exactly how Robert Van de Graaff started
to get the idea it might work for HV DC supplies for accelerators.

He helped out the factory with grounding systems, etc.  He kept this idea in
his head when he arrived at Princeton for grad work and there he developed
the modern VDGRF generator.

Dr. Resonance

Resonance Research Corporation
E11870 Shadylane Rd.
Baraboo   WI   53913
>
> Another case of accidental "VDG".  Back before WW2 my dad, who was an
> ME prof at the University of Missouri, ran a machine shop lab for
> students.  It was ancient and used line shafts and belts to drive a lot
> of the older lathes and mills.  There was a belt at least 20 feet long
> and 6 inches wide between the motor and the first line shaft, with a big
> wire screen cage over the motor end.  When it was cold and dry in the
> winter time it was common to observe fat 6" sparks between the screen
> and the sprinkler pipe next to it.  Watching that got me to reading
> "Electricity Books", I built my first electrophorus (sp?) and have been
> at it ever since.
>
> Ed
>
>
>