US4292568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for heating and compressing plasma
Assignee: TRIOSOPS Inc
•
Filing: 1979-03-16
•
Granted: 1981-09-29
•
Expires: 1999-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A thermonuclear reactor of the TRISOPS type wherein plasma vortex structures are generated by coaxial theta pinch guns, the plasma vortex structures being compressed and amplified by secondary compression provided by the use of compression coils acting through a stabilized collapsing Lithium or FLIBE, or other suitable molten liner. The molten metal liner is deposited on a refractory metal mesh held normally adjacent the inside surface of a suitable vacuum chamber. This mesh is held near the inside surface of the vacuum chamber by an articulated collapsible cable assembly which is collapsible toward the center line of the chamber, and after collapse returns the mesh to an expanded configuration adjacent the wall of the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel R. Wells
- 👤 Joseph J. Packo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:40
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21B; G21B1/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for heating and compressing plasma comprising a vacuum chamber, means for generating a containment seed field in the chamber, means for generating plasma and confining said plasma in said vacuum chamber, means forming plasmoids in said chamber having a plasma configuration in which plasma mass flow in the chamber is predominantly along an axis extending in a direction parallel to said containment seed field, means for urging the plasmoids toward collision with each other, a collapsible molten metal liner in said chamber surrounding said plasmoids and means for collapsing said liner on the plasmoids after said collision with each other, to amplify said seed field and heat the plasmoids to thermonuclear temperature, and wherein said liner includes a flexible metal mesh sandwiched in the molten metal for stabilizing the liner during collapse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for heating and compressing plasma comprising a vacuum chamber, means for generating a containment seed field in the chamber, means for generating plasma and confining said plasma in said vacuum chamber, means forming plasmoids in said chamber having a plasma configuration in which plasma mass flow in the chamber is predominantly along an axis extending in a direction parallel to said containment seed field, means for urging the plasmoids toward collision with each other, a collapsible molten metal liner in said chamber surrounding said plasmoids and means for collapsing said liner on the plasmoids after said collision with each other, to amplify said seed field and heat the plasmoids to thermonuclear temperature, and wherein said liner includes a flexible metal mesh sandwiched in the molten metal for stabilizing the liner during collapse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and a cage-like articulated member mounted in said chamber and defining an inwardly collapsible support for the flexible metal mesh.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2, and wherein said cage-like articulated member is arranged to close off the opposite ends of the liner when said liner is collapsed and to define a confining enclosure for the colliding plasmoids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3, and means biasing said cage-like articulated member toward an expanded configuration with the opposite ends of the liner held open.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 3, and wherein said cage-like articulated member comprises a plurality of equally angularly spaced identical linkages extending in radial planes relative to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, and spring means acting on the respective linkages and urging the linkages outwardly toward the longitudinal peripheral wall of the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 5, and wherein the linkages are substantially symmetrical relative to the transverse central plane of the chamber, and wherein the end links of the respective linkages are relatively short as compared with the inner links thereof so as to define end closures for the liner when collapsed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein said means for collapsing said molten metal liner comprises compression coil means surrounding the chamber and acting electromagnetically on the liner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said liner comprises a cage-like articulated inwardly collapsible support mechanism mounted longitudinally in the chamber, means securing said flexible metal mesh member to said cage-like support mechanism, means biasing said cage-like articulated support mechanism outwardly to an expanded configuration, and means for swirling the molten metal onto said flexible metal mesh member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 8, and wherein said cage-like articulated support mechanism comprises a plurality of radial linkages which are substantially symmetrical relative to the transverse central plane of the chamber and are located in equally spaced radial planes around the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8, and means for circulating the molten metal longitudinally of the chamber in a swirling pattern on said mesh member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8, and wherein said inwardly collapsible support mechanism has end portions arranged to form respective opposite end closures for the liner when said liner is collapsed.
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) | 1984-09-28 | 1985-03-30 | 1985-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-28 | 1989-03-30 | 1989-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-28 | 1993-03-30 | 1993-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |