DEVICE FOR PROTECTING AGAINST A PHYSICAL PHENOMENON SUCH AS LIGHTNING

摘要

The invention relates to a device for protecting against the electric effect of a physical phenomenon capable of inducing the ionisation of the medium in which it occurs, such as lightning. The device includes: means (3, 4, 5) for detecting the on-coming physical phenomenon; at least one physical phenomenon collector (1, 2) for collecting the effect of the physical phenomenon; and means (7) for initiating the collection by the collector, capable of generating an ionised channel from the collector and monitored by the detection means. The detection means are electrically insulated from the collector and include a corona effect detector capable of directly detecting a corona effect occurring at the collector. Therefore, by observing the natural ionisation phenomenon or corona effect induced by the on-coming phenomenon and by detecting same, it is possible to trigger the action of the collector at the right moment.