Patent ID: 6518693
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: F03H

Abstract:
An electron current controlling apparatus, comprising:a system power supply; at least one cathode assembly coupled to said system power supply for producing and discharging said electron current; a plurality of thruster assemblies coupled to said system power supply, each of said thruster assemblies having an associated anode and an associated source of propellant; an anode power supply coupled to each of said at one cathode assembly and to each of said anodes; and a magnetic device associated with each of said thruster assemblies for selectively generating a magnetic field in proximity to an associated one of said thruster assemblies for substantially repelling electron leakage current; wherein said magnetic device includes a plurality of coils allowing for connection of each of said coils to an independent source of electron current, said independent source of electron current to any one of said coils is separate from any other source of electron current such that at least one coil of said magnetic device associated with a first thruster assembly is connected to an independent source of electron current that is associated with a second thruster assembly.