Multichannel hall effect thruster
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJohn B. McVey, Andrew S. Perrucci, Edward J. Britt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Hall effect thruster for propelling spacecraft and satellites includes at least two acceleration channels, each of the channels has a closed end and an open end, and a plurality of flux guides adjacent each of the channels. The plurality of flux guides includes an innermost flux guide, an outermost flux guide, and at least one intermediate flux guide. Each intermediate flux guide helps provide a magnetic field to each of two adjacent acceleration channels.
Claims18
A Hall effect thruster comprising:
- at least two acceleration channels;
- each of said channels having a closed end and an open end;
- and
- a plurality of flux guides adjacent each of said channels, said plurality of flux channels including an innermost flux guide, an outermost flux guide, and at least one intermediate flux guide.
A Hall effect thruster having a compact design comprising:
- at least two acceleration channels with a first one of said channels surrounding a second one of said channels;
- each of said channels having a closed end and an open end;
- and
- a plurality of flux guides adjacent each of said channels.
A Hall effect thruster comprising:
- at least two acceleration channels;
- each of said channels having a closed end and an open end;
- a plurality of flux guides adjacent each of said channels;
- and
- wherein a first one of said acceleration channels has a discharge voltage different from a discharge voltage of a second one of said acceleration channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.