Patent US3664920A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3664920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrostatic containment in fusion reactors
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1968-06-21
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1988-06-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for producing controlled nuclear-fusion reactions. A generally circular cathode has concentrically positioned therein a generally circular anode having multiple openings for the free flow of electrons therethrough. The anode encloses a volume free of tangible structure. An electronemissive electrode in the interelectrode space between the anode and cathode emits electrons which penetrate the anode and enter the central volume, establishing a negative space charge therein. Ions of a fusion reacting gas are injected at a location within the volume, at a potential less than that applied to the anode, and are focused toward a common cross-over point in the central portion thereof. The magnitude of the negative space charge as well as the energies of the ions introduced into the volume are so controlled that collisions of the ions at or near the crossover point result in the fusing thereof. Electrons introduced in the interelectrode space traverse the cathodic space, thereby making a number of trips through the anode. In this invention, the anode structure is effectively shielded such that electron interception thereby with consequent high energy electron losses can be made to approach zero. This is accomplished by creating a magnetic field around the portions of the anode which define the openings, this field serving to shield the conducting portions thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Hirsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/02; H05H1/03; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
The improvements of claim 1 wherein the conductive portions have a plurality of current-conducting paths extending in a common direction, and means for developing unidirectional currents in said conductive portions with the direction of current flow in adjacent paths being opposite.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvements of claim 1 wherein said conductive portions are elongated current-carrying elements which are spaced apart and parallel, the aforesaid openings being the spaces between said elements, and means for developing unidirectional currents in said elements with the direction of current flow in adjacent elements being opposite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improvements of claim 3 wherein there are a plurality of said elements circularly arranged about a common axis coincident with said cross-over point, said cathode means including a metallic shell which coaxially surrounds in spaced relation said plurality of elements, said electron-supplying means including an electron emissive electrode mounted in said interelectrode space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improvements of claim 4 in which said anode means has mirror portions impervious to electron penetration, said mirror portions being defined by parallel spaced-apart extensions of said elements, means developing currents in said extensions which flow in the same direction, and said ion-introducing means including a plurality of circularly arranged ion guns disposed in the spaces between predetermined ones of said extensions, said ion guns having ion-delivering portions located within said volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
180 words
The improvements of claim 5 wherein said elements and extensions are metallic bars, an element and its extension being portions of the same bar, said bars extending substantially parallel to each other and to said common axis, said bars being electrically divided into two sets, the first set being alternate ones of said bars, the second set being the remaining ones of said bars, first and second terminal means connected to said first set of bars at longitudinally spaced points thereon, third and fourth terminal means connected to said second set of bars at longitudinally spaced points thereon, said terminal means being longitudinally arranged on said bars in the order of first, third, second and fourth, said first and second terminal means being connected across a direct current power supply, said third and fourth terminal means also being connected across a direct current power supply, whereby the currents in said bars between said first and third and said second and fourth terminal means flow in the same direction and opposite to each other between said second and third terminal means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improvements of claim 6 wherein said terminal means are, respectively, an even number of annular conductive headers coaxially surrounding said sets of bars, the second and third headers being spaced farther apart than the first and third and the second and fourth, respectively, thereby rendering the electron permeable portion of said anode means larger than the mirror portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
The improvements of claim 7 in which there are a plurality of annular electron-emissive Electrodes in said interelectrode space, each said electrode being disposed adjacent to the electron permeable portion of said anode means, a plenum in said interelectrode space supporting said ion guns and surrounding the mirror portion of said anode means, said plenum having a conduit portion leading to the outside of the shell of said cathode means, said shell being hermetically sealed, a source of fusion-reactive gas operatively connected to said conduit for supplying said ion guns, and electrical leads for said ion guns disposed in said plenum and conduit for connection to an ion-gun power source located externally of said cathode shell, and means for evacuating said shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
The improvements of claim 8 wherein said cathode shell is of toroidal shape and said bars are annular and concentrically disposed therewithin, there being a plurality of annular plenums spaced circumferentially about said shell, said plenums concentrically surrounding the anode means as defined by said bars, ion guns mounted on each plenum and projecting through said bars into said volume, and a plurality of said mirror portions on said anode means, there being one mirror portion for each plenum-ion gun assembly and two headers for each mirror portion, said two headers last-mentioned being connected to said two sets of bars, respectively, in such polarity as to provide common direction current flow in the bars of the mirror section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3258402A
Cited
US3386883A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |