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:
Dec. 08, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1996
V A Petrosov, Moscow, RU;
Y M Yashnov, Moscow, RU;
A S Koroteev, Moscow, RU;
A I Vasin, Moscow, RU;
V I Baranov, Moscow, RU;
J F Poussin, Ramonville, FR;
J M Stephan, Auzeville, FR;
P A Balaam, Boulogne-Billancourt, FR;
J K Koester, Palo Alto, CA (US);
E J Britt, Cupertino, CA (US);
Space Power, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
In a Hall effect thruster, especially for use in maneuvering satellites, a stream or plume of ions, used to produce the thrust is deflected, by appropriate adjustment of a magnetic field, so as to steer the satellite or other vehicle. The channel, along which the ions are accelerated, is preferably flared outwardly at its open end so as to avoid erosion which would otherwise be caused by the deflection. The adjustment of the magnetic field is preferably achieved by dividing an outer magnetic pole, surrounding the channel, into separate sectors and winding individual electric coils around the sectors. Control of the current through these individual coils is used to make the appropriate adjustments of magnetic field.