The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2019
Filed:
Mar. 30, 2017
Applicant:
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US);
Inventors:
Richard R. Hofer, Monrovia, CA (US);
Benjamin A. Jorns, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ira Katz, Pasadena, CA (US);
John R. Brophy, Pasadena, CA (US);
Assignee:
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Pasadena, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H 1/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01); H05H 1/54 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H 1/0075 (2013.01); B64G 1/405 (2013.01); F03H 1/0018 (2013.01); F03H 1/0068 (2013.01); H05H 1/54 (2013.01);
Abstract
A Hall thruster is configured to reduce or eliminate pole erosion by electrically tying the cathode to the thruster chassis body. The electrical connection controls the ion energy hence reducing erosion at the pole. In a different configuration, the cathode is biased by a power supply, allowing further control of the ion energy and the elimination of pole erosion, thus increasing the thruster's operational lifetime.