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:
Mar. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1999
Stephan Walther, Kirchweyhe, DE;
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, Munich, DE;
Abstract
An electrostatic ion propulsion engine for satellites and spacecraft is equipped with an electron source for neutralizing the propellant gas ion beam or jet emitted by the engine. The electron source includes an anode housing, a hollow cathode tube with gas flowing therethrough, a cathode element at the outlet end of the cathode tube within the interior space of the anode housing, and a pin- or rod-shaped auxiliary electrode arranged along the lengthwise axis in the hollow cathode tube. An ignition pulse is applied to the auxiliary electrode relative to the cathode tube, which causes a pulse discharge in the cathode tube, and in turn ignites the gas discharge between the anode and the cathode which generates the electron current.