Patent ID: 9167676
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: B23K,F27B,H01T,H05F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A linear ionizing bar for delivering charged carriers to a charge neutralization target comprising: at least one axis-defining linear ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud of charge carriers along the length thereof in response to receipt of an ionizing voltage thereto, the ion cloud having a plasma region with an outer peripheral boundary; a reference electrode that presents a non-ionizing electric field within the ion cloud in response to receipt of a non-ionizing voltage, the non-ionizing electric field urging charge carriers to leave the plasma region; and a gas flow manifold that receives gas from a source and that has a plurality of manifold apertures with a plurality of inserts received within the manifold apertures, at least some of the inserts having at least one nozzle aperture through which the gas may exit the manifold to thereby direct ions away from the linear ion emitter and toward the charge neutralization target in a configurable ionized gas flow pattern, wherein at least some of the inserts are removable such the ionized gas flow pattern is reconfigurable.