Power supply system for arcjet thrusters
US5359180A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J1/108
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power supply system for thrusters (e.g., arcjet thrusters) in a spacecraft system comprises lightweight, redundant power supplies that share the power distribution function to the thrusters. Each power supply comprises a plurality of parallel-connected power supply subunits of which the combined power output capability exceeds the required maximum power demand by at least one subunit capacity for each arcjet thruster in the system. Each power supply subunit comprises a lightweight, high-frequency, soft-switching power supply. For arcjet systems comprising arcjet thrusters that do not operate simultaneously, relays are employed to switch between thrusters.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.