High efficiency hollow cathode and cathode system applying same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10032594-B2
Application number	US-201515121502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a high efficiency hollow cathode and a cathode system applying the same, and comprises: a tube comprising at least two refractory metal parts; a gas providing unit and a gas outlet which are respectively formed at the distal ends of the tube; and an insert mounted inside the tube. According to the present invention, since the present invention constitutes a hollow cathode using more than two substances, the present invention can not only enhance thermal stability, lifespan and efficiency, but also can reduce costs accordingly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hollow cathode comprising: a tube comprising at least two refractory metal parts; a gas providing unit and a gas outlet which are respectively formed at the distal ends of the tube; and an insert mounted inside the tube;
wherein the tube includes a plurality of tube parts formed of refractory metal materials different from each other and integrally connected to each other in a longitudinal direction; and
wherein a part adjacent to the gas providing unit is formed of a refractory metal material with low thermal conductivity; and a part adjacent to an electron discharge hole is formed of a refractory metal material with a high melting point.

2. The hollow cathode of claim 1 , wherein a first part and a second part of the tube are formed of the same refractory metal material and a third part is formed of a different refractory metal material, and the thickness and diameter of each of the tube part are made to be the same or different.

3. The hollow cathode of claim 1 , wherein a thermal radiation insulation layer is formed at an interval in the outer side of the tube where the insert is located.

4. The hollow cathode of claim 1 , wherein the tube is formed of a tube part made of titanium, titanium alloy, tantalum material or a combination thereof.

5. The hollow cathode of claim 1 , wherein part of or the entire insert is formed of refractory metal wire.

6. The hollow cathode of claim 5 , wherein the insert comprises a wire type insert and a foil type insert.

7. The hollow cathode of claim 6 , wherein the innermost layer or inner layers are formed of the wire type insert and the outer part thereof is formed of the foil type insert.

8. A cathode system using a high efficiency hollow cathode comprises: a body; a keeper electrically connected to one end of the body; a hollow cathode according to claim 1 mounted in the body; an injection hole injecting gas to the hollow cathode; a ceramic structure coinciding the hollow cathode with the center of the keeper; and a wire connected to the body, the wire providing a large potential difference between the keeper and the hollow cathode.

9. The cathode system of claim 8 , wherein the hollow cathode is mounted inside the body, and the cathode is insulated from the gas injection hole so that cathode potential is not exposed outside the body.

10. The cathode system of claim 8 , comprising a power unit using an electric condenser for initial discharge.

Assignees

• Korea Advanced Inst Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Choe Wonho
• Lim Youbong
• Kim Holak
• Park Jooyoung
• Seon Jongho

Classifications

• F03H1/0031

  Thermal management, heating or cooling parts of the thruster (temperature control for cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/50) · CPC title

• H01J1/025 Primary

  Hollow cathodes · CPC title

• H01J23/04 Primary

  Cathodes · CPC title

• F03H1/0068

  with a central channel, e.g. end-Hall type · CPC title

• H01J23/02

  Electrodes; Magnetic control means; Screens (associated with resonator or delay system H01J23/16) · CPC title