NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20080007452: Process for thermal imaging scanning of a swaged heater for an anode subassembly of a hollow cathode assembly

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US006676288Bl
United States Patent
(12) (io) Patent No.: US 6,676,288 B1
Patterson et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jan. 13,2004
PROCESS FOR THERMAL IMAGING (56) References Cited
SCANNING OF A SWAGED HEATER FOR AN
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
ANODE SUBASSEMBLY OF A HOLLOW
CATHODE ASSEMBLY 3,944,873 A 311976 Franks et al.
4,049,989 A 911977 Bullis et al.
Inventors: Michael J. Patterson, Bmnswick, OH 4,087,721 A 511978 Mourier
(US); Timothy R. R. Verhey, 4,339,691 A 711982 Morimiya
Cleveland, OH (US); George C. 4,377,773 A 311983 Hershcovitch et al.
Soulas, North Ridgeville, OH (US) 4,379,980 A * 411983 Takanashi et al. .......... 3131446
4,428,901 A 111984 Bennett
4,800,281 A 111989 Williamson
Assignee: The United States of America as
4,894,546 A 111990 Fukui et al.
represented by the Administrator of
5,075,594 A 1211991 Schumacher et al.
National Aeronautics and Space 5,241,243 A 811993 Cirri
Administration, Washington, DC (US) 5,352,954 A 1011994 Cirri
5,569,976 A 1011996 Gavrilov
Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 6,377,657 B1 * 412002 Scholz ....................... 3781118
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
JP 3-55750 * 311991 .............. 2501493.1
Appl. No.: 10/216,678 * cited by examiner
Filed: Aug. 8, 2002 Primary Examinerqaniel S. Larkin
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firmxent N. Stone
Related U.S. Application Data
(57) ABSTRACT
Division of application No. 10/081,001, filed on Feb. 19,
2002, which is a division of application No. 091754,388, A process for thermal imaging scanning of a swaged heater
filed on Dec. 28, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,380,685, which is a of an anode subassembly of a hollow cathode assembly,
division of application No. 091503,658, filed on Feb. 14, comprising scanning a swaged heater with a thermal imag-
2000, now Pat. No. 6,240,932, which is a division of ing radiometer to measure a temperature distribution of the
application No. 091152,407, filed on Sep. 14, 1998, now Pat.
No. 6,064,156. heater; raising the current in a power supply to increase the
temperature of the swaged heater; and measuring the swaged
Int. Cl? ............................ GOlJ 5/46; GOlN 25/00 heater temperature using the radiometer, whereupon the
U.S. C1. ......................... 374/124; 3741121; 374110; temperature distribution along the length of the heater shall
37412; 7311.01 be less than plus or minus 5 degrees C.
Field of Search ............................... 7311.01; 37411,
37412, 10, 121, 124, 126 1 Claim, 9 Drawing Sheets
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