Electric propulsion system including heaterless dispenser cathode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467627-B2
Application number	US-202418733971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2024
Priority date	May 1, 2019
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A circuit for igniting and sustaining an electron discharge includes an ignitor circuit. The ignitor circuit includes a high voltage transformer and a switch connected in series between a primary of the transformer and a DC source return. The switch is configured to receive a driving signal. A reset circuit is connected in parallel to the primary of the high voltage transformer. A first rectifier is connected in series between a secondary of the high voltage transformer and a keeper. A terminal of the secondary of transformer is connected to a cathode. The circuit for igniting and sustaining the electron discharge also includes a sustaining circuit having a current source with a return connected to a cathode and a second rectifier connected in series between the current source and the keeper.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A circuit for igniting and sustaining an electron discharge, comprising:
an ignitor circuit including:
a voltage transformer which is an in-phase transformer that includes a primary and a secondary, the primary including a first dot terminal and a first non-dot terminal, and the secondary including a second dot terminal and a second non-dot terminal;
a reset circuit connected in parallel to the primary of the voltage transformer, and configured to provide a flux reset to a core of the transformer;
a first rectifier connected in series between the second dot terminal of the secondary of the voltage transformer and a first node, the first node connecting an output of the first rectifier to a keeper;
the second non-dot terminal of the secondary of the voltage transformer connected to a dispenser cathode via a second node that is different than the first node; and
a sustaining circuit including:
a current source having a return connected to the second node; and
a second rectifier connected in series between the current source and the first node; and
a DC load that is separate from the current source, that connects an input of the second rectifier to the second node, and that has a voltage that is higher than a voltage of the dispenser cathode.

2 . The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of power sources connected to at least one input power connection, the at least one power input connection providing input power to each of the ignitor circuit and the sustaining circuit.

3 . The circuit of claim 2 , wherein the voltage transformer is connected to a DC power source through the at least one power input.

4 . The circuit of claim 3 , wherein the high ratio transformer has a winding ratio of at least 10 to 1.

5 . The circuit of claim 4 , wherein the winding ratio is at least 100:1.

6 . The circuit of claim 4 , wherein the winding ratio is approximately 60:1.

7 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the circuit characterized by a lack of an output capacitor.

8 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:
the reset circuit comprises a diode and Zener diode connected in series; a cathode of the diode and a cathode of the Zener diode are connected in series; an anode of the diode is connected in series to a first terminal of the reset circuit; and an anode of the Zener diode is connected in series to a second terminal of the reset circuit that is different from the first terminal.

9 . The circuit of claim 8 , comprising:
a switch connected in series between the first-non dot terminal of the primary of the transformer and a DC source return, the switch configured to receive a driving signal; wherein the switch is connected in series between a primary of the transformer and a DC source return, and the switch is controlled via a controller.

10 . The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the switch is a MOSFET (metal oxide semi-conductor field effect transistor).

11 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein when the switch is closed, and the DC source is applied across a primary of the transformer to produce a voltage on a secondary of the transformer.

12 . The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the current source comprises an isolated converter and an inductor.

13 . The circuit of claim 12 , wherein the current source is a buck based converter.

14 . The circuit of claim 12 , wherein the sustaining circuit further comprises a DC load connecting an input of the second rectifier to the second node.

Assignees

• Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc

Inventors

• Koch Brian A

Classifications

• B64G1/413

  Ion or plasma engines · CPC title

• B64G1/411

  Electric propulsion · CPC title

• B64G1/428

  Power distribution and management · CPC title

• H01J17/30

  Igniting arrangements · CPC title

• F03H1/0018

  Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems (for cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/42) · CPC title