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:
Aug. 08, 1995
Filed:
Feb. 16, 1993
Applicant:
Inventors:
Steven P Nichols, Austin, TX (US);
William F Weldon, Austin, TX (US);
Assignee:
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
244169 ; 602031 ; 60202 ;
Abstract
A satellite thruster system capable of creating a high velocity plasma jet is disclosed. The plasma accelerator, or 'railthruster,' features a high energy current pulse source and a geometrically configured coaxial or parallel dual-rail ignitor system for higher velocity, and thus more fuel efficient, satellite attitude control. A ratio of a length of the railthruster to a spacing between the rails is at least 3:1.