CLOSED-ELECTRON-DRIFT PLASMA-JET ENGINE Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: space engineering; electric-rocket engine units; stationary plasma-jet and anodelayer engines. SUBSTANCE: engine has cathode unit 1 incorporating at least one compensating cathode 2; anode unit 3 including magnetic system 4 with external magnetic pole 5 and shield 6 mounted in duct 7 with side walls 8, and supporting bracket 8 joined through one locating surface 10 with one of duct walls 11; its other locating surface 12 carries overhanging compensating cathode; external magnetic shield has local ring-shaped bulge 13 provided with cut on cathode unit side that has at least one fastening hole 15; cut is disposed in same plane 16 as side wall of duct whose side walls have local bulges 17 at points of connection to supporting bracket; the latter has projection 18 with at least one fastening hole 19 coaxial with that in cut. Side walls of duct are provided in addition with longitudinal stiffening ribs spaced apart through distance L₁ equal to distance between points of connection to supporting bracket. External magnetic shield is provided in addition with at least one stiffening rib arranged in vicinity of ring-shaped bulge. Tie plate is fitted between external magnetic pole and first locating surface of supporting bracket. EFFECT: enhanced reliability and strength of engine. 4 cl, 6 dwg