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.:

US 6640535 B1

PDF
Full Text
Expired
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 2003

Filed:

Jun. 13, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:

Alec D. Gallimore, Ann Arbor, MI (US);

Brian Beal, Ann Arbor, MI (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H 1/00 ; H05H 1/11 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H 1/00 ; H05H 1/11 ;
Abstract

A linear gridless ion thruster (LGIT) is provided to serve as an ion source for spacecraft propulsion or plasma processing. The LGIT is composed of two stages: (1) an ionization stage composed of a hollow cathode, anode, and cusp magnetic field circuit to ionize the propellant gas; and (2) an acceleration stage composed of a downstream cathode, upstream anode, and a radial magnetic field circuit to accelerate ions created in the ionization stage. The LGIT replaces grids used in conventional ion thrusters (Kaufman guns) to accelerate ions with Hall-current electrons as in the case with conventional Hall thrusters.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Gallimore, Alec. (2003). Linear gridless ion thruster (U.S. Patent No. 6640535). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://idiyas.com/patent/badge/6640535

Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile

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