公开(公告)号：US06380685B2

公开(公告)日：2002-04-30

申请号：US09754388

申请日：2000-12-28

申请人： Michael J. Patterson ,  Timothy R. Verhey ,  George C. Soulas

发明人： Michael J. Patterson ,  Timothy R. Verhey ,  George C. Soulas

IPC分类号： B07B312

CPC分类号： H01J37/32596 ,  H01J1/025

摘要： The design and manufacturing processes for Hollow Cathode Assemblies (HCA's) that operate over a broad range of emission currents up to 30 Amperes, at low potentials, with lifetimes in excess of 17,500 hours. The processes include contamination control procedures which cover hollow cathode component cleaning procedures, gas feed system designs and specifications, and hollow cathode activation and operating procedures to thereby produce cathode assemblies that have demonstrated stable and repeatable operating conditions, for both the discharge current and voltage. The HCA of this invention provides lifetimes of greater than 10,000 hours, and expected lifetimes of greater than 17,500 hours, whereas the present state-of-the-art is less than 500 hours at emission currents in excess of 1 Ampere. Stable operation is provided over a large range of operating emission currents, up to a 6:1 ratio, and this HCA can emit electron currents of up to 30 Amperes in magnitude to an external anode that simulates the current drawn to a space plasma, at voltages of less than 20 Volts.

摘要翻译： 空心阴极组件（HCA）的设计和制造过程，其工作范围广泛，发射电流高达30安培，电位低，寿命超过17,500小时。 这些方法包括污染控制程序，其涵盖空心阴极部件清洁程序，气体供给系统设计和规范，以及中空阴极活化和操作程序，从而产生对于放电电流和电压都已经证明稳定和可重复的操作条件的阴极组件。 本发明的HCA提供的寿命大于10,000小时，预期寿命大于17,500小时，而现有技术在超过1安培的发射电流下小于500小时。 在大范围的工作发射电流下提供稳定的操作，高达6：1的比例，并且该HCA能够向外部阳极发射高达30安培的电子电流，该外部阳极模拟吸入空间等离子体的电流， 电压小于20伏。

公开(公告)号：US06829920B1

公开(公告)日：2004-12-14

申请号：US10216681

申请日：2002-08-08

申请人： Michael J. Patterson ,  Timothy R. Verhey ,  George C. Soulas

发明人： Michael J. Patterson ,  Timothy R. Verhey ,  George C. Soulas

IPC分类号： G01N3700

CPC分类号： H01J37/32596 ,  H01J1/025

摘要： A process for testing an impregnated insert of a Hollow Cathode Assembly (HCA) subsequent to every exposure of the HCA to air, and prior to ignition, using a heater and an oil-free assembly having a base pressure of less than 5.0×10−6 torr. The process comprises the steps of: installing the HCA in a vacuum; energizing the heater to a particular current level; de-energizing the heater after one-half hour; again energizing the heater to a particular current level; and de-energizing the heater for at least one-half hour.

摘要翻译： 在HCA暴露于空气之后并且在点燃之前，使用基础压力小于5.0×10 -3的加热器和无油组件，测试中空阴极组件（HCA）的浸渍插入件的方法。 6> torr。 该方法包括以下步骤：在真空中安装HCA; 将加热器通电到特定的电流水平; 半小时后将加热器断电; 再次将加热器通电到特定的电流水平; 并将加热器断电至少半小时。