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:
Jun. 14, 1994
Filed:
Jul. 01, 1992
Applicant:
Inventor:
Manfred Steenborg, Buchenhugel, DE;
Assignee:
ERNO Raumfahrttechnik, Bremen, DE;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H / ; F03H / ; F02K / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
602031 ;
Abstract
A thruster is described which is utilized, especially among other applications, for the tracking or orbital correction of a spacecraft, which comprises a housing configured as an anode, an expansion nozzle and a rod-shaped electrically insulated cathode centrally retained therein. The cathode is disposed in a combustion chamber into which propellant or propulsive gases are injected. The tip of the cathode is spaced so as to form a small air gap from the constricted cross-section of the nozzle neck. An electric arc is ignited between the anode and the cathode during the gas flow, from which arc the propellant gases receive additional thermal energy.