US3846668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plasma generating device
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1973-02-22
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An improved high current plasma generating device generally comprised of an annular shaped anode means disposed in radially outward and circumjacent spaced relation to a plurality of electron emitter elements so as to cause a gaseous medium upon introduction into the discharge chamber of the device to be progressively formed into a more useful and homogeneous plasma of substantially uniform ion current density in transverse section for enhancing the fueling of a thermonuclear reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 K Ehlers
- 👤 W Kunkel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:11
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/48; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A high current plasma generating device comprising a vessel means having an evacuated electron arc discharge chamber therein, an electron emitter means being made up of a plurality of refractory metal filaments, each one of said plurality of metal filaments being individually mounted at one end of said vessel means so as to project longitudinally into the arc discharge chamber and to be disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to each other as well as inwardly spaced relation to the surrounding outer peripheral wall of said vessel means, reservoir means for selectively introducing a predetermined amount of a gaseous medium to be ionized into the discharge chamber of said vessel means, and an annular shaped anode means provided in the outer wall of said vessel means in outwardly spaced and circumjacent relation to said plurality of electron emitter means for causing a series of electron arc discharges between said plurality of electron emitter means and said anode means so as to effect formation of the introduced amount of gaseous medium into a relatively stable and quiescent high current plasma of substantially uniform ion current density throughout its extent upon simultaneous electric energization of said anode means and said plurality of emitter means when said reservoir means admits a predetermined amount of gaseous medium into the discharge chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A high current plasma generating device comprising a vessel means having an evacuated electron arc discharge chamber therein, an electron emitter means being made up of a plurality of refractory metal filaments, each one of said plurality of metal filaments being individually mounted at one end of said vessel means so as to project longitudinally into the arc discharge chamber and to be disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to each other as well as inwardly spaced relation to the surrounding outer peripheral wall of said vessel means, reservoir means for selectively introducing a predetermined amount of a gaseous medium to be ionized into the discharge chamber of said vessel means, and an annular shaped anode means provided in the outer wall of said vessel means in outwardly spaced and circumjacent relation to said plurality of electron emitter means for causing a series of electron arc discharges between said plurality of electron emitter means and said anode means so as to effect formation of the introduced amount of gaseous medium into a relatively stable and quiescent high current plasma of substantially uniform ion current density throughout its extent upon simultaneous electric energization of said anode means and said plurality of emitter means when said reservoir means admits a predetermined amount of gaseous medium into the discharge chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A plasma generating device as set forth in claim 1 in which a given emitter means is of hairpin shaped configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A plasma generating device as set forth in claim 1 in which a given emitter means is essentially composed of a refractory metal material such as a suitable grade of tungsten.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A plasma generating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vessel means has an outlet opening at the end opposing said one end where filaments are mounted and said plasma generating device includes means connected to said vessel means at said outlet opening for extracting and accelerating the ions of a plasma from the discharge chamber of said vessel means to the inlet port of a thermonuclear reactor while at the same time focusing the extracted and accelerated ions into the shape of a collimated ion beam for injection into the inlet port of a thermonuclear reactor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A plasma generating device as set forth in claim 1 in which said reservoir means includes a gaseous medium selected from the group of hydrogen, deuterium, tritium and Various admixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a high current plasma generating device made up of a vessel means and a plurality of electron emitter elements mounted at one end of said vessel means and disposed in the evacuated electron arc discharge chamber therein, each one of said elements being disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to each other and extending longitudinally into the chamber of said vessel means, a reservoir means for introducing a predetermined amount of a gaseous medium into the chamber of said vessel means, and an anode means disposed in electron arc discharge relation to said emitter means, the improvement comprising an annular shaped anode means provided in the outer peripheral wall of said vessel means and disposed in radially outward and circumjacent spaced relation to said plurality of emitter elements so as to cause an introduced amount of gaseous medium in the chamber to be formed into a relatively stable and quiescent high current plasma of substantially uniform ion current density throughout its extent upon simultaneous electric energization of said anode means and said plurality of emitter means when said reservoir means admits a predetermined amount of gaseous medium to be ionized into the discharge chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a high current plasma generating device made up of a vessel means and a plurality of electron emitter elements mounted at one end of said vessel means and disposed in the evacuated electron arc discharge chamber therein, each one of said elements being disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to each other and extending longitudinally into the chamber of said vessel means, a reservoir means for introducing a predetermined amount of a gaseous medium into the chamber of said vessel means, and an anode means disposed in electron arc discharge relation to said emitter means, the improvement comprising an annular shaped anode means provided in the outer peripheral wall of said vessel means and disposed in radially outward and circumjacent spaced relation to said plurality of emitter elements so as to cause an introduced amount of gaseous medium in the chamber to be formed into a relatively stable and quiescent high current plasma of substantially uniform ion current density throughout its extent upon simultaneous electric energization of said anode means and said plurality of emitter means when said reservoir means admits a predetermined amount of gaseous medium to be ionized into the discharge chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |