Patents by Inventor Francis W. Perkins

Francis W. Perkins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7831008
    Abstract: A system for fueling a plasma includes a gyrotron for radiating microwave energy into a waveguide. Also included is a module having a deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel pellet, a diamond, quartz or sapphire window, and a pusher medium located between the pellet and window that is made of frozen deuterium (D2) and metallic particles. With the module in the waveguide, the gyrotron is activated. Radiation from the gyrotron is then directed into the waveguide and through the window to cause the inducement of current in the metal particles, causing the particles to become hot. The absorbed microwave energy is then transferred to the pusher medium by conduction resulting in a gaseous expansion of the pusher medium. This ejects the pellet from the waveguide and into the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Paul B. Parks, Francis W. Perkins
  • Patent number: 4661304
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resonant coil cavity wave launcher for energizing a plasma immersed in a magnetic field. Energization includes launching fast Alfven waves to excite ion cyclotron frequency resonances in the plasma. The cavity includes inductive and capacitive reactive members spaced no further than one-quarter wavelength from a first wall confinement chamber of the plasma. The cavity wave launcher is energized by connection to a waveguide or transmission line carrying forward power from a remote radio frequency energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Francis W. Perkins, Jr., Shiu-Chu Chiu, Paul Parks, John M. Rawls