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US 12,595,785 B2Granted
Ionic thruster methods and apparatus for aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDejan Nikic, Sean Keith Cossano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ionic thruster methods and apparatus for aircraft are disclosed. An example ionic thruster for aircraft includes a nozzle. The nozzle includes an outlet and an inlet, the inlet to receive fluid and containing an electrode mount. A ground electrode is disposed within the nozzle. Conducting pins are coupled to the electrode mount, each of the pins having a first end coupled to the electrode mount and a second end positioned closer to the ground electrode than the first end, the pins spaced apart from the ground electrode.
Claims20
A thruster for aircraft comprising:
- a nozzle including an outlet and an inlet, the inlet to receive fluid and containing an electrode mount;
- a spacer at an inner diameter of the nozzle and extending along a portion of a length of the nozzle;
- a ground electrode contacting a distal end of the spacer within the nozzle, the length of the nozzle extending past the ground electrode;
- conducting pins coupled to the electrode mount, each of the pins having a first end coupled to the electrode mount and a second end positioned closer to the ground electrode than the first end, the pins spaced apart from the ground electrode by the spacer;
- and
- an electromagnet surrounding a space between the pins and the ground electrode, the electromagnet extending beyond the pins and the ground electrode along the length of the nozzle, the electromagnet to direct a corona discharge from the pins towards a central axis of the nozzle.
3 more elements
An aircraft comprising:
- a voltage source;
- and
- a thruster including:
- a body including an outlet and an inlet, the body to receive fluid and containing an electrode mount;
- a spacer at an inner diameter of the body and extending along a portion of a length of the body;
- a ground electrode contacting a distal end of the spacer within the body and electrically coupled to the voltage source, the length of the body extending past the ground electrode;
- conducting pins coupled to the electrode mount and electrically coupled to the voltage source, each of the pins having a first end coupled to the electrode mount and a second end positioned closer to the ground electrode than the first end;
- and
- an electromagnet surrounding a space between the pins and the ground electrode, the electromagnet extending beyond the pins and the ground electrode along the length of the body, the electromagnet to direct a corona discharge from the pins towards a central axis of the body.
6 more elements
A method for generating thrust on an aircraft, the method comprising:
- providing a voltage to a thruster, the thruster including:
- a nozzle including an outlet and an inlet, the inlet to receive air;
- an electrode mount disposed within the inlet;
- a spacer at an inner diameter of the nozzle and extending along a portion of a length of the nozzle;
- a ground electrode contacting a distal end of the spacer within the nozzle, the length of the nozzle extending past the ground electrode;
- conducting pins coupled to the electrode mount, each of the pins having a first end coupled to the electrode mount and a second end positioned closer to the ground electrode than the first end, the pins spaced apart from the ground electrode by the spacer;
- an electromagnet surrounding a space between the pins and the ground electrode, the electromagnet extending beyond the pins and the ground electrode along the length of the nozzle;
- generating a corona discharge with the voltage, the corona discharge to extend between the conducting pins and the ground electrode;
- providing, by the electromagnet, a magnetic field to direct the corona discharge from the pins towards a central axis of the nozzle;
- and
- inducing an ionic wind with the corona discharge, the ionic wind to generate the thrust.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.