US3757518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ion engine
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
•
Filing: 1971-10-20
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-10-20
Abstract
Abstract An ion engine has a propellant supply system, means, including a high frequency generator, for the ionization of the electrically neutral propellant present in gaseous form in a discharge chamber closed off by a perforated bottom, an acceleration electrode, and means for the neutralization of the accelerated ion beam. The discharge chamber forms part of a high frequency resonator with the perforated bottom closing off one end of this resonator and with the resonator generating a standing electric wave having a node at the bottom. The resonator is a lambda /4 resonator, where lambda is the wave length of the electric wave, and the high frequency generator is arranged inside the resonator at the end opposite the bottom. The high frequency generator preferably is a disk seal triode or a Farnsworth tube.
Inventors
- 👤 A Bahr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:15
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03H; F03H1/00; F03H1/0037; H; H01; H01J; H01J27/00; H01J27/02; H01J27/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In an ion engine having means defining a discharge chamber closed off by a perforated bottom, a propellant supply system communicating with the discharge chamber and supplying thereto electrically neutral propellant in gaseous form, a high frequency generator operable to ionize the gaseous propellant in the discharge chamber, a perforated acceleration electrode mounted, in electrically insulated relation, in outwardly spaced relation to the perforated bottom of the discharge chamber and pulling the ionized propellant out of the discharge chamber and accelerating the ionized propellant electrostatically to create an accelerated ion beam, and means operable to neutralize the accelerated ion beam, the improvement comprising, in combination, said discharge chamber forming part of a high frequency cavity resonator having a cylindrical wall closed at one end by said perforated bottom and having an open end, said cavity resonator containing said high frequency generator and said propellant supply system; said high frequency generator energizing said cavity resonator at its eigen frequency and producing, in said high frequency cavity resonator, a standing electrical wave having a node at said perforated bottom; and dielectric means mounting said acceleration electrode on said cylindrical wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an ion engine having means defining a discharge chamber closed off by a perforated bottom, a propellant supply system communicating with the discharge chamber and supplying thereto electrically neutral propellant in gaseous form, a high frequency generator operable to ionize the gaseous propellant in the discharge chamber, a perforated acceleration electrode mounted, in electrically insulated relation, in outwardly spaced relation to the perforated bottom of the discharge chamber and pulling the ionized propellant out of the discharge chamber and accelerating the ionized propellant electrostatically to create an accelerated ion beam, and means operable to neutralize the accelerated ion beam, the improvement comprising, in combination, said discharge chamber forming part of a high frequency cavity resonator having a cylindrical wall closed at one end by said perforated bottom and having an open end, said cavity resonator containing said high frequency generator and said propellant supply system; said high frequency generator energizing said cavity resonator at its eigen frequency and producing, in said high frequency cavity resonator, a standing electrical wave having a node at said perforated bottom; and dielectric means mounting said acceleration electrode on said cylindrical wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said high frequency resonator is a lambda /4 resonator, wherein lambda is the wave length of the electric wave.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said high frequency generator is arranged inside said high frequency resonaTor at the open end of said high frequency resonator opposite said perforated bottom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 2, in which said high frequency generator is arranged inside said high frequency resonator at the open end of said high frequency resonator opposite said perforated bottom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said high frequency generator is a Farnsworth tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 5, in which said Farnsworth tube is arranged inside said high frequency resonator at the open end opposite perforated said bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said high frequency generator is a disk seal triode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 7, in which said disk seal triode is arranged inside said high frequency resonator at the open end opposite said perforated bottom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 1, inwhich said high frequency resonator comprises two concentrically arranged tubular cylinders, the space intermediate said two cylinders forming a resonator chamber closed off at one end by an annular perforated bottom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 9, in which said means for the neutralization of the accelerated ion beam, as well as parts of said propellant supply system, are arranged in the inner of said cylinders.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which said means for the neutralization of the accelerated ion beam comprises a hollow tubular body having, at one end, openings communicating with said discharge chamber and, at its other end, openings toward the accelerated ion beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 5, in which said means for the neutralization of the accelerated ion beam comprises a hollow tubular body having, at one end, openings communicating with said discharge chamber and, at its other end, openings toward the accelerated ion beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an ion engine, the improvement claimed in claim 7, in which said means for the neutralization of the accelerated ion beam comprises a hollow tubular body having, at one end, openings communicating with said discharge chamber and, at its other end, openings toward the accelerated ion beam.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |