Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Thruster grid clear circuits and methods to clear thruster grids

A technology for cleaning circuits and grids, applied to chemical instruments and methods, cleaning methods and utensils, instruments, etc., can solve problems such as reducing the effectiveness of propellers

Active Publication Date: 2014-05-07
THE BOEING CO
View PDF4 Cites 0 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, deposits can build up on the grid 104 until at one point a short circuit 106 is created which reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of the thruster

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Thruster grid clear circuits and methods to clear thruster grids
  • Thruster grid clear circuits and methods to clear thruster grids
  • Thruster grid clear circuits and methods to clear thruster grids

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0016] Example ion propulsion systems, thruster grid cleaning circuits, and methods for cleaning thruster grids are disclosed below. Example ion propulsion systems, thruster grid cleaning circuits, and methods for cleaning thruster grids are capable of clearing a wider range of short circuits caused by deposits on thruster grids than current grid cleaning circuits situation. For example, certain types of short circuit conditions occur at relatively high voltages, but not at the lower voltages that have been used to clear short circuit conditions in the past.

[0017] In some examples, an ion propulsion system includes a low voltage grid cleaning circuit and a high voltage grid cleaning circuit. An example low voltage grid cleaning circuit is capable of applying higher current at a lower voltage (eg, 100V) to remove deposits that cause short circuits in the thruster grid. The high voltage grid cleaning circuit applies a high voltage signal to start the arc, which enables the ...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

Thruster grid clear circuits and methods to clear thruster grids are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a low voltage grid clear circuit to apply first energy to a grid at a first voltage, and a high voltage grid clear circuit to detect a failure of the applied energy to clear a short circuit condition of the grid and to apply second energy to the grid at a second voltage higher than the first voltage.

Description

technical field Background technique [0001] Ion thrusters are currently used for spacecraft control of some communication satellites. Some existing systems work by ionizing xenon gas and accelerating it across two or three charged molybdenum grids. As ions pass through these grids, small amounts of molybdenum are sputtered and deposited on downstream grids. Over time, these deposits can grow large enough to flake off and cause a short between the grids, shutting down the thrusters. When this condition occurs, the thrusters must be shut down so that the grille can be cleaned to eliminate short circuits. Using a grid cleaning circuit applies energy through a short circuit, causing the material to burn off. [0002] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a contaminated ion propulsion grid within an ion thruster. Ionized gas 102 is accelerated across two or more charging grids 104 when the thrusters are in operation. However, deposits can build up on the grid 104 until at ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): B08B7/00G01R31/02
CPCB64G1/405B08B7/00G01R31/50B64G1/413F03H1/0043
Inventor J·F·斯迪克梅尔P·D·恩古尹
Owner THE BOEING CO