Patents by Inventor Günter Kornfeld
Günter Kornfeld 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: 11649809Abstract: A neutralizer suitable for use in an ion engine comprises a halogen gas source and an electrode tube comprising an inlet opening connected to the halogen gas source for supplying a halogen gas provided by the halogen gas source into the electrode tube, a discharge space for generating a plasma from the halogen gas supplied into the electrode tube, and an outlet opening for discharging the plasma generated in the discharge space and free electrons from the electrode tube. An electron emitter is arranged in the discharge space of the electrode tube, which is at least partially made of tungsten, a tungsten alloy or a tungsten composite material containing at least one of iridium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventors: Franz Georg Hey, Nils Gerrit Kottke, Günter Kornfeld
-
Publication number: 20210180575Abstract: A neutralizer suitable for use in an ion engine comprises a halogen gas source and an electrode tube comprising an inlet opening connected to the halogen gas source for supplying a halogen gas provided by the halogen gas source into the electrode tube, a discharge space for generating a plasma from the halogen gas supplied into the electrode tube, and an outlet opening for discharging the plasma generated in the discharge space and free electrons from the electrode tube. An electron emitter is arranged in the discharge space of the electrode tube, which is at least partially made of tungsten, a tungsten alloy or a tungsten composite material containing at least one of iridium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Franz Georg HEY, Nils Gerrit KOTTKE, Günter KORNFELD
-
Patent number: 10184460Abstract: A cusped-field thruster for a space system, wherein the cusped-field thruster comprises: at least two substantially annular permanent magnets arranged in an antipolar manner, wherein a magnetic pole piece is formed between the permanent magnets, and an anode, which comprises a permanent-magnetic material. The cusped-field thruster is configured such that a cusp is formed in a region adjacent to the anode of the cusped-field thruster.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventors: Franz Georg Hey, Ulrich Johann, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Patent number: 10184459Abstract: A discharge chamber of an ion drive, an ion drive having a discharge chamber, and a diaphragm for being affixed in a discharge chamber of an ion drive. The discharge chamber comprises a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm of the discharge chamber comprises a magnet and is disposed and/or affixed in the discharge chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Airbus DS GmbHInventors: Franz Georg Hey, Guenter Kornfeld, Ulrich Johann
-
Publication number: 20180266403Abstract: A cusped-field thruster for a space system, wherein the cusped-field thruster comprises: at least two substantially annular permanent magnets arranged in an antipolar manner, wherein a magnetic pole piece is formed between the permanent magnets, and an anode, which comprises a permanent-magnetic material. The cusped-field thruster is configured such that a cusp is formed in a region adjacent to the anode of the cusped-field thruster.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Franz Georg HEY, Ulrich JOHANN, Guenter KORNFELD
-
Publication number: 20170292505Abstract: A discharge chamber of an ion drive, an ion drive having a discharge chamber, and a diaphragm for being affixed in a discharge chamber of an ion drive. The discharge chamber comprises a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm of the discharge chamber comprises a magnet and is disposed and/or affixed in the discharge chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Franz Georg Hey, Guenter Kornfeld, Ulrich Johann
-
Patent number: 9769915Abstract: The invention relates to a drive arrangement in a spacecraft, comprising several drive units (TW1,TW2,TW3), several individually controllable drive units that can be continuously applied to a common, constant voltage potential (HV), and a control of the axial thrust in the respective drive units is achieved due to the fact that the production of plasma in the respective drive units is individually controlled. In particular, the time-variable control of the production of plasma occurs by the time-variable control of the flow of neutral working gas (AG) in the ionization chamber (IK).Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Thales Electronic Systems GmbHInventors: Hans-Peter Harmann, Norbert Koch, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Patent number: 8944385Abstract: The invention relates to a surface section that is exposed to an ion flow, in particular for a drive arrangement in a spacecraft, comprising an electrostatic ion accelerator arrangement. According to the invention, in order to reduce erosion, an intermediate potential energy surface is provided, the surface being advantageous in that it allows a magnetic field that is essentially parallel to the surface section to be formed.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Thales Electronic Systems GmbHInventors: Hans-Peter Harmann, Norbert Koch, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Patent number: 8587202Abstract: The invention relates to an ion accelerator arrangement comprising an electrostatic acceleration field between a cathode to which a frame potential is applied and an anode to which a high-voltage potential is applied. The ion accelerator arrangement further comprises a gas supply system into which a gas-permeable, open porous insulator member is introduced. Also described is a high-voltage insulator arrangement that comprises such an insulator member and is suitable, inter alia, for such an ion accelerator arrangement and for the corona-resistant insulation of other components to which a high voltage is applied.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Thales Electronic Systems GmbHInventors: Hans-Peter Harmann, Norbert Koch, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Publication number: 20110089836Abstract: The invention relates to an ion accelerator arrangement comprising an electrostatic acceleration field between a cathode to which a frame potential is applied and an anode to which a high-voltage potential is applied. The ion accelerator arrangement further comprises a gas supply system into which a gas-permeable, open porous insulator member is introduced. Also described is a high-voltage insulator arrangement that comprises such an insulator member and is suitable, inter alia, for such an ion accelerator arrangement and for the corona-resistant insulation of other components to which a high voltage is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Hans-Peter Harmann, Norbert Koch, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Publication number: 20110080085Abstract: The invention relates to a surface section that is exposed to an ion flow, in particular for a drive arrangement in a spacecraft, comprising an electrostatic ion accelerator arrangement. According to the invention, in order to reduce erosion, an intermediate potential energy surface is provided, the surface being advantageous in that it allows a magnetic field that is essentially parallel to the surface section to be formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventors: Hans-Peter Harmann, Norbert Koch, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Publication number: 20110073713Abstract: The invention relates to a drive arrangement in a spacecraft, comprising several drive units (TW1,TW2,TW3), several individually controllable drive units that can be continuously applied to a common, constant voltage potential (HV), and a control of the axial thrust in the respective drive units is achieved due to the fact that the production of plasma in the respective drive units is individually controlled. In particular, the time-variable control of the production of plasma occurs by the time-variable control of the flow of neutral working gas (AG) in the ionisation chamber (IK).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Hans-Peter Harmann, Norbert Koch, Guenter Kornfeld
-
Patent number: 7247992Abstract: For an ion accelerator system having a special magnetic field structure with an alternating predominantly longitudinal and crosswise progression of the magnetic field, a geometry of the ionization chamber having a non-cylindrical shape of the chamber wall that is adapted to the progression of the magnetic field is proposed.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2003Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Gregory Coustou, Norbert Koch
-
Patent number: 7247993Abstract: The invention relates to an ion accelerator arrangement which uses a combination of a magnetic field having a cusp structure and a cross-section of an ionisation chamber that is extended in one direction transversally in relation to the longitudinal axis. This enables the ionic current to be advantageously scaled.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Gregory Coustou, Norbert Koch
-
Patent number: 7084572Abstract: The invention relates to various advantageous embodiments of a plasma-accelerator configuration, especially for the configuration and design of electron sources used for ionizing the working gas and/or neutralizing the discharged plasma jet.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Werner Schwertfeger, Roland Lenz, Gregory Coustou
-
Patent number: 7075095Abstract: A multistage plasma accelerator system includes at least one intermediate electrode between the plasma chamber between electrodes that include each other. An especially good efficiency can be achieved by way of an uneven distribution of potential to the potential stages formed by the plurality of electrodes having a high potential gradient of the last stage, when the plasma beam emerges, and by a special shape of the magnetic field prevailing in the plasma chamber of the last stage.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Gregory Coustou, Gregory Emsellem
-
Patent number: 6803705Abstract: For a plasma accelerator arrangement having a toroidal plasma chamber, a novel structure of the magnetic and/or electric fields is proposed which, in particular, permits multi-stage embodiments with substantially improved efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Werner Schwertfeger
-
Patent number: 6798141Abstract: For a plasma accelerator arrangement having a focused electron beam introduced into a plasma chamber, an annular structure of the chamber and a hollow cylindrical form of the electron beam are presented. A beam-guiding magnet system and, if appropriate, an electrode system is preferably formed in a plurality of stages in an adapted toroidal form.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Werner Schwertfeger
-
Patent number: 6523338Abstract: For a plasma accelerator arrangement in particular for use as an ion thruster in a spacecraft, a structure is proposed in connection with which an accelerated electron beam is admitted into an ionization chamber with fuel gas, and is guided through the ionization chamber in the form of a focused beam against an electric deceleration field, said electric deceleration field acting at the same time as an acceleration field for the fuel ions produced by ionization. The arrangement generates a focused beam of a largely neutral plasma with a high degree of efficiency. Configurations for electric and magnetic fields for guiding and focusing the beams are given by way of example.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbHInventors: Günter Kornfeld, Jürgen Wegener, Harald Seidel