Plasma Thruster Chamber Bottom with Integrated Fastening Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plasma thruster discharge chambers require the manufacture and assembly of multiple separate parts, leading to high costs and complex assembly processes, particularly in the space sector.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece chamber bottom for plasma thrusters that integrates a chamber bottom surface with attached insulating parts and fastening tabs, allowing for quick and reliable attachment without gluing or welding, and potentially incorporating an anode function, made from electrically conductive materials like metals, and produced using additive manufacturing for optimized geometry and reduced part count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate parts (ceramic part, anode, injector) are manufactured and assembled, then the discharge chamber can be constructed with conventional design, but the manufacturing cost increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the chamber bottom, anode, and injector into a single integrated component. The chamber bottom includes a bottom surface closing the discharge chamber and an integrated injector assembly with propellant supply channels directly formed in the bottom structure, eliminating the need for separate ceramic parts and reducing assembly steps while maintaining functional performance
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber bottom is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the structural closure of the discharge chamber, provides the anode function through integrated conductive elements, and incorporates the injector system with propellant distribution channels. This multi-functional design reduces the total part count and simplifies manufacturing
2Productivity
If conventional assembly methods (gluing or clamping) are used to attach the anode-injector assembly, then the parts can be joined, but the assembly process requires technical operations with preparation and drying time
Solution Approach 1:
The anode-injector assembly is merged into the chamber bottom structure through additive manufacturing, creating a single monolithic component. This eliminates the need for separate assembly operations involving gluing or clamping, thereby removing preparation and drying time requirements and significantly improving assembly productivity
3Reliability
If multiple separate parts are assembled, then the discharge chamber can be constructed, but the risk of assembly failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber bottom and injector assembly are combined into a single integrated component manufactured via additive manufacturing. This integration eliminates multiple assembly interfaces and operations, thereby reducing the cumulative risk of assembly failures while maintaining the necessary functional complexity through internal channel design
Data Source
AI summary
Chamber bottom for a plasma thruster making it possible to combine several functions in a single piece and, in particular, to fasten certain insulating parts of the plasma thruster, the chamber bottom having, in a single piece, a chamber bottom surface for closing an annular chamber formed by the chamber bottom and at least one insulating part attached to the chamber bottom, and at least a first set of tabs including fastening tabs for fastening the at least one insulating part to the chamber bottom.