Power plants – Reaction motor – Electric – nuclear – or radiated energy fluid heating means
Reexamination Certificate
1995-06-07
2001-03-27
Casaregola, Louis J. (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Reaction motor
Electric, nuclear, or radiated energy fluid heating means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205769
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to control of spacecraft and more particularly to control of propulsion or attitude spacecraft using microwave-electro-thermal thrusters.
2. Background Information
The invention described and claimed herein comprises a novel compact coupling for microwave-electro-thermal thrusters.
The MET(Microwave-Electro-Thermal) thruster produces rocket thrust for the control of spacecraft via electricity for small satellites. The MET produces a high temperature rocket exhaust by sending microwaves into a resonant cavity where an excited mode then creates an electrodeless discharge that heats gaseous fuel.
Heretofore, the microwave power coupling between the microwave generator and the resonant cavity and plasma has consisted of rigid waveguide with impedance matching equipment. This waveguide and impedance matching hardware greatly adds to the weight and size of the system making it impractical for spaceflight. In particular, the size of the system and rigid waveguide connections make it difficult to place the MET thrust chamber on a steerable gimbaled platform on the spacecraft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing problems are overcome, and other advantages are provided by greatly reducing or eliminating the waveguide and impedance matching equipment.
It is an object of the invention to provide a reduced weight coupling for MET thrusters.
A principal feature of the invention is the reduced size or elimination of waveguide and impedance matching equipment.
Among the advantages of the invention are the resultant lower weight and therefore cheaper launch cost of vehicles employing the invention.
These and other objects, features and advantages which will be apparent from the discussion which follows are achieved, in accordance with the invention, by providing a novel compact coupling for microwave-electro-thermal thrusters.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objects, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3083528 (1963-04-01), Brown
patent: 3114517 (1963-12-01), Brown
patent: 3206925 (1965-09-01), Schiff
patent: 3891160 (1975-06-01), Minovitch
patent: 4957061 (1990-09-01), Ando et al.
Brandenburg John E.
Micci Michael
Burdett James E.
Casaregola Louis J.
Venable
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