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 Title: |
US6029438:
Drive circuit for electric propulsion thruster
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Hosick, Daryl K.; Santa Cruz, CA
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| Assignee: |
Space Systems/Loral, Inc., Palo Alto, CA
other patents from SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, INC. (534325) (approx. 266)
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| Published / Filed: |
2000-02-29
/ 1997-10-15
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| Application Number: |
US1997000950692
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B64G 1/44;
F03H 1/00;
F03H 99/00;
H01L 31/042;
H02J 7/35;
H02M 3/155;
Core:
B64G 1/42;
H02M 3/04;
more...
IPC-7:
F03H 1/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
F03H1/00; F03H1/00B;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
060/202;
060/203.1;
219/121.54;
219/121.57;
313/359.1;
Original:
060/202;
060/203.1;
219/121.57;
219/121.54;
313/359.1;
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| Field of Search: |
060/202,203.1,200.1
219/121.54,125.57,130.1
313/359.1,360.1
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| Priority Number: |
| 1997-10-15 |
US1997000950692 |
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| Abstract: |
In drive circuitry for powering an arc jet or ion engine aboard a spacecraft carrying solar panels, a start-up circuit interconnects an array of series-parallel connected solar panels to establish and maintain an arc and plasma in the engine. In the start-up circuit, an electric switch is placed in parallel with an electrode assembly of the engine. One terminal of the engine connects directly with the solar panel array, and another terminal of the engine connects via an inductor to the solar panel array. A capacitor connects across terminals of the solar panel array. A series connection of solar panels increases the voltage from that which is available from a single panel. Conduction of current from the solar panel via the inductor is initiated by the switch to store magnetic energy within the conductor. Thereupon, upon an opening of the switch, the inductor produces a relatively high voltage which strikes an arc in the engine. The voltage outputted by the solar panel array is sufficient to maintain operation of the engine subsequent to the generation of the arc.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Perman & Green, LLP ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Kim, Ted;
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| Maintenance Status: |
E1 Expired Check current status
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Designated Country: |
DE FR GB IT
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| Family: |
Show 4 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 11 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. An electric drive circuit for an engine, said engine being a thrust engine including an arc jet engine or an ion engine, said thrust engine having a pair of electric terminals for receiving an input voltage having a relatively high amplitude for initiating a plasma in the engine and a relatively low amplitude for maintaining the plasma, said drive circuit comprising:
- an input terminal pair for receipt of input electric power;
- an inductor and a switch means serially connected between a first input terminal and a second input terminal of said input terminal pair;
- an output terminal pair connected in parallel with said switch means, wherein said output terminal pair has a first output terminal and a second output terminal for connection to corresponding ones of said terminals of said engine; and
- wherein said switch means is operative between states of electric conduction and nonconduction, the transition between conduction and nonconduction resulting in a sufficiently high voltage appearing across said inductor for striking an arc in plasma in said engine; and
- operation of said switch means in said state of nonconduction, subsequent to said transition, enables said inductor to output voltage to said engine terminals at said relatively low amplitude for maintaining the plasma.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 4 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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