US3986111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inverted voltage Gerdien Condenser
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-12-24
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Granted: 1976-10-12
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Expires: 1994-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A "Gerdien Condenser" spectrometer for use in a moving air environment for measuring ion densities wherein a constant, electric field is provided in the direction opposite to prior art devices so that the outer cylindrical electrode of the condenser functions as the ion collector. This functional change for the outer electrode permits the use of a small-radius annular opening with a larger width as the entrance for the ions to be measured. This change in the shape of the entrance to the condenser chamber substantially reduces the gas turbulence within the chamber thus increasing the ion density measurement accuracy. The outer electrode may be segmented to further increase the ion measurment accuracy.
Inventors
- 👤 Bach Sellers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/622; H; H01; H01J; H01J49/00; H01J49/26; H01J49/28; H01J49/282
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A spectrometer for measuring the densities of charged particles in the atmosphere comprising: a cylindrical, center electrode having a small-radius; a cylindrical, outer electrode having a radius substantially larger than said center electrode and located concentrically around said center electrode to form a chamber; means for producing an electric field in said chamber radially between said center and outer electrodes such that the charged particles to be measured, upon entering said chamber, are attracted to said outer electrode; and means for covering one end of said chamber, said means containing an annular opening with a small radius relative to the radius of said outer electrode for providing a low-turbulence opening for the entrance of the charged particles to be measured.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A spectrometer for measuring the densities of charged particles in the atmosphere comprising: a cylindrical, center electrode having a small-radius; a cylindrical, outer electrode having a radius substantially larger than said center electrode and located concentrically around said center electrode to form a chamber; means for producing an electric field in said chamber radially between said center and outer electrodes such that the charged particles to be measured, upon entering said chamber, are attracted to said outer electrode; and means for covering one end of said chamber, said means containing an annular opening with a small radius relative to the radius of said outer electrode for providing a low-turbulence opening for the entrance of the charged particles to be measured.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
A spectrometer for measuring the densities of charged particles in the atmosphere comprising: cylindrical, center electrode means having a small radius; cylindrical, outer electrode means having a radius substantially larger than said center electrode and located concentrically around said center electrode to form a chamber; electric field-producing means for setting up an electric field in said chamber radially between said center and outer electrode means such that the charged particles to be measured, upon entering said chamber, are attracted to said outer electrode means; means for covering one end of said chamber, said means containing an annular opening with a small radius relative to the radius of said outer electrode means for providing a low-turbulence opening for the entrance of the charged particles to be measured; and an array of conductors positioned at the ends of said chamber, each conductor being energized with a different electric potential for keeping the electric field at the ends of said center and outer electrode means uniform with respect to the field, within said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
A spectrometer for measuring the densities of charged particles in the atmosphere comprising: cylindrical, center electrode means having a small radius; cylindrical, outer electrode means having a radius substantially larger than said center electrode and located concentrically around said center electrode to form a chamber; electric field-producing means for setting up an electric field in said chamber radially between said center and outer electrode means such that the charged particles to be measured, upon entering said chamber, are attracted to said outer electrode means; means for covering one end of said chamber, said means containing an annular opening with a small radius relative to the radius of said outer electrode means for providing a low-turbulence opening for the entrance of the charged particles to be measured; and an array of conductors positioned at the ends of said chamber, each conductor being energized with a different electric potential for keeping the electric field at the ends of said center and outer electrode means uniform with respect to the field, within said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A spectrometer as defined in claim 2, wherein said covering means is in the shape of a cone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A spectrometer as defined in claim 2, wherein said electric field-producing means comprises a voltage supply with its voltage varying in a sawtooth fashion slowly with respect to the charged particle transit times through said chamber, connected across said center and said outer electrode means so that an electric field is set up between the two electrode means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A spectrometer as defined in claim 2, wherein said outer electrode means is formed by a plurality of conductor segments separated by insulating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
A spectrometer as defined by claim 2 wherein said conductor arrays comprise: outer annular conductor means having radius approximately the radius of said outer electrode means at the same electric potential as said outer electrode means and adjacent to it; center conductor means at the same electric potential as said center electrode means and adjacent to it; a plurality of resistor means making a series connection between said outer conductor and said inner conductor for providing a potential drop between said conductors; and a plurality of annular conductor means with radii graduated so that they form a series of concentric conductors between said outer conductor means and said inner conductor means, each concentric conductor being connected to a different point in the series connection formed by said plurality of resistor means so that they form graduated equipotential circumferences between said inner and said outer conductor potentials.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |