Patent Number: 062636650
Section: claims

1. A microthruster comprising, a housing having a) a fuel section and b) a discharge section, a) said fuel section having,  b) said discharge section being mounted over said plenum and having  means for opening said valve and means for heating said tank to drive expanding propellant vapors through said valve, into said plenum, through said apertures in said heating unit to heat and further expand such gas which then is driven through said ducts to discharge to provide thrust for said housing.  a) said fuel section having,  b) said mid section being mounted on said plenum and having,  c) said discharge section being mounted on said mid section and having 2. A microthruster comprising, a housing having a) a fuel section, b) a mid section and c) a discharge section in series, 3. The microthruster of claim 2 having means for driving said vapors through said passages and into said stagnation chamber, to deflect off the walls thereof, including said floor and discharge out of said opening to provide thrust for said housing. 4. The microthruster of claim 2 having a heating element mounted on said floor below said discharge opening. 5. The microthruster of claim 2 having a pedestal mounted on said floor below said discharge opening and means for heating said tank to drive expanding propellant vapors through said valve, into said plenum, through said passages and into said stagnation chamber, to deflect off the walls thereof, including off said pedestal and discharge out through said opening to provide thrust for said housing. 6. The microthruster of claim 2 wherein a heating element is mounted on said pedestal. 7. The microthruster of claim 6 wherein said heating element and pedestal are indented on the top surface thereof. 8. The microthruster of claim 2 wherein a heating element is mounted in said discharge opening. 9. The microthruster of claim 8 wherein said discharge opening is bent to turn or baffle the vapor stream discharging therethrough. 10. The microthruster of claim 2 having an exterior belt means for heating said tank. 11. The microthruster of claim 2 wherein said mid-section has a lower insulative portion surmounted by an upper thermally conductive portion. 12. The microthruster of claim 2 having a gas filter mounted between said valve and said plenum. 13. The microthruster of claim 2 having at least one heating element mounted in one or more of said sections and passing said vapors into proximity or into contact with said heating element as they flow from said valve to exit said discharge opening. 14. The microthruster of claim 13 wherein said heating element is mounted in a location selected from the group of, in one or more of said passages, in said stagnation chamber and in said discharge opening. 15. The microthruster of claim 13 wherein said heating element is in a film. 16. The microthruster of claim 2 wherein said discharge opening is an expansion slot or orifice. 17. The microthruster of claim 16 wherein a plurality of said discharge openings are mounted in a discharge plate. 18. The microthruster of claim 17 wherein said discharge plate has an insulative coating on the top side thereof.