Linear gridless ion thruster

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 6640535
APP PUB NO 20020194833A1
SERIAL NO

10170970

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Abstract

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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.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN1600 HURON PARKWAY 2ND FLOOR OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ANN ARBOR MI 48109-2590

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Beal, Brian Ann Arbor, MI 2 10
Gallimore, Alec D Ann Arbor, MI 5 46

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