Metal plasma thruster cube
US10989179B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 2018 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05H1/47
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A pulsed metal plasma thruster (MPT) cube has a plurality of thrusters, each having a first cathode electrode and a trigger electrode separated from the first electrode by an insulator sufficient to support an initiation plasma, and a porous anode electrode positioned a separation distance from the face of all of the cathode electrodes. The cathode electrode can be either the inner electrode or the outer electrode. A power supply delivers a high voltage pulse to the trigger electrode with respect to the cathode electrode sufficient to initiate a plasma on the surface of the insulator. The plasma transfers between the anode electrode and cathode electrode of selected thrusters, thereby generating a pulse of thrust.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.