Locating mining sites using an open mass spectrometer
AssigneeLunar Helium-3 Mining, LLC
InventorsChris Salvino, Andrew Dummer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a He-3 detector arrangement that generally comprises a mass spectrometer that has an intake funnel configured to receive (sniff out) He-3 through an intake port directly from an open environment. The intake funnel is configured to direct the He-3 into the mass spectrometer. The arrangement further comprises a heating element configured to liberate the He-3 from regolith via heat. A mobile carrier is configured to position the intake port the regolith to obtain samples of the He-3.
Claims17
A mass spectrometer arrangement comprising:
- an intake port;
- a detector housing that comprises a detector plate;
- an exit port;
- a base-particle pathway defined between the intake port and the detector plate, the base-particle pathway traverses through the mass spectrometer arrangement;
- an intake funnel comprising a funnel shaped housing that extends from the intake port to the exit port, the exit port is smaller than the intake port, the intake port is unobstructed from directly interfacing an open environment, the intake port is configured to be in communication with the open environment during an operation;
- an ionizer adjacent to the exit port, the ionizer configured to ionize base-particles in a portion of the base-particle pathway;
- an angled housing comprising split-pole magnets configured to direct the base-particles at an angle j+/−an offset along the base-particle pathway;
- and
- a granular surface disrupter configured to liberate the base-particles from a granular surface that is external to the mass spectrometer arrangement.
A mass spectrometer system comprising:
- an exit port;
- an intake funnel comprising an intake port configured to receive base-particles directly from an open environment, the intake funnel configured to direct the base-particles to the exit port;
- a detector;
- a channel that extends through the mass spectrometer from the intake port to the detector;
- an ionizer configured to ionize the base-particles from the exit port;
- an angled housing;
- split-pole magnets disposed in the angled housing between the ionizer and the detector;
- a heating element configured to liberate the base-particles via heat from a granular surface that is external to the mass spectrometer system;
- and
- a mobile carrier configured to position the intake port in a close proximity to the granular surface.
An open environmental mass spectrometer arrangement comprising:
- a mass spectrometer that has an intake port and an intake funnel configured to receive base-particles through the intake port directly from an open environment, the intake funnel configured to direct the base-particles into the mass spectrometer;
- a heating element configured to liberate the base-particles from a regolith via heat, the regolith is not part of the open environmental mass spectrometer arrangement;
- and
- a mobile carrier configured to position the intake port within 12 inches from the regolith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.