Air breathing electrically powered hall effect thruster
US6834492B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05H1/54
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An air/atmosphere breathing electrically powered Hall effect thruster including a thruster duct having an inlet, an exit, and a discharge zone between the inlet and the exit for receiving air from the inlet into the discharge zone, an electrical circuit having a cathode for emitting electrons and an anode in the discharge zone for attracting the electrons from the cathode through the exit, and a magnetic circuit for establishing a magnetic field in the discharge zone radially across the duct between the anode and exit which creates an impedance to the flow of electrons toward the anode and enables ionization of the air/atmosphere moving through the discharge zone and which creates an axial electric field in the duct for accelerating ionized air/atmosphere through the exit to create thrust.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.