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US 6,075,321 AGranted
Hall field plasma accelerator with an inner and outer anode
AssigneeBusek Co., Inc.
InventorVladimir J. Hruby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift includes a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls which form an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones; the housing is electrically conductive and has an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from the housing; the composite anode includes an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into the distribution zones; poles establish a magnetic field across the exit port and a cathode establishes an electron flow through the magnetic field toward the composite anode and creates an electric field through the exit port; the electrons ionize the plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through the exit port.
Claims38
A Hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift comprising:
- a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls forming an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones for containing a plasma;
- said housing being electrically conductive and having an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from said housing;
- said composite anode including an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into said distribution zones;
- pole means for establishing a magnetic field across said exit port;
- and
- a cathode for establishing an electron flow through said magnetic field toward said composite anode and creating an electric field through said exit port, said electrons ionizing said plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through said exit port.
3 more elements
A hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift comprising:
- a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls forming an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones;
- said housing being electrically conductive and having an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from said housing;
- said composite anode including an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into said distribution zones;
- pole means for establishing a magnetic field across said exit port;
- and
- a cathode for establishing an electron flow through said magnetic field toward said composite anode and creating an electric field through said exit port, said electrons ionizing said plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through said exit port;
- said distribution system including a first plurality of input ports in said inner anode and a first number of radial channels extending from said input ports, said inner anode having a central recess facing said exit port and a second number of radial channels extending outwardly from said recess through said inner anode.
4 more elements
A hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift comprising:
- a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls forming an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones;
- said housing being electrically conductive and having an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from said housing;
- said composite anode including an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into said distribution zones;
- pole means for establishing a magnetic field across said exit port;
- and
- a cathode for establishing an electron flow through said magnetic field toward said composite anode and creating an electric field through said exit port, said electrons ionizing said plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through said exit port;
- said housing has a width equal to or larger than said exit port for providing a reservoir of propellant, greater uniformity of propellant distribution and more uniform plasma for improved life, performance and reduced discharge fluctuations.
4 more elements
A hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift comprising:
- a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls forming an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones;
- said housing being electrically conductive and having an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from said housing;
- said composite anode including an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into said distribution zones;
- pole means for establishing a magnetic field across said exit port;
- and
- a cathode for establishing an electron flow through said magnetic field toward said composite anode and creating an electric field through said exit port, said electrons ionizing said plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through said exit port;
- where at least parts of said composite anode are made of a magnetic material for shunting fringing portions of said magnetic field and controlling the magnetic field distribution in the plasma for improved performance and life.
4 more elements
A hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift comprising:
- a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls forming an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones;
- said housing being electrically conductive and having an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from said housing;
- said composite anode including an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into said distribution zones;
- pole means for establishing a magnetic field across said exit port;
- and
- a cathode for establishing an electron flow through said magnetic field toward said composite anode and creating an electric field through said exit port, said electrons ionizing said plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through said exit port;
- said distribution system including a first plurality of input ports in said inner anode and a first number of radial channels extending from said input ports, at least one of said radial channels is conically tapered to narrow at one end.
4 more elements
A hall field plasma accelerator with closed electron drift comprising:
- a composite anode including a housing with inner and outer walls forming an outer anode and an inner anode forming inner and outer distribution zones;
- said housing being electrically conductive and having an upstream end and an exit port electrically insulated from said housing;
- said composite anode including an input distribution system for introducing plasma gas into said distribution zones;
- pole means for establishing a magnetic field across said exit port;
- and
- a cathode for establishing an electron flow through said magnetic field toward said composite anode and creating an electric field through said exit port, said electrons ionizing said plasma gas that is accelerated by the electric field through said exit port;
- said distribution system including a first plurality of input ports in said inner anode and a first number of radial channels extending from said input ports, at least one of said radial channels is stepped to narrow at one end.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.