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:
Jul. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 04, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Andrew D. Ketsdever, Alta Loma, CA (US);
Eric P. Muntz, Pasadena, CA (US);
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G21D 1/00 ; H05B 1/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G21D 1/00 ; H05B 1/00 ;
Abstract
The invention provides a microthruster which includes a housing having a propellant container and a discharge section, means to heat the propellant to drive vapors toward the discharge section, a heating element to heat the vapors and one or more ports to discharge the vapors to provide thrust. Further provided is a method for powering a microthruster by flowing gas in free molecular flow therein so that a plurality of molecules of the gas contact a heating element before discharge from the microthruster.