Donald Eugene Hull
Engineers at Nambe Loop, Los Alamos, NM

4727236, Feb 23, 1988

May 27, 1986

6/867127

Donald E. Hull - Los Alamos NM
Thomas M. Bieniewski - Los Alamos NM

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy - Washington DC

B23K 900

219121PR

An induction plasma tube in combination with a current concentrator. The rent concentrator has a substantially cylindrical body having an open end and a partially closed end which defines an aperture. A first slot extends the longitudinal length of the cylindrical body and a second slot extends radially outward from the aperture. Together the first and second slots form a single L-shaped slot. The current concentrator is disposed within a volume bounded by an induction coil substantially along the axis thereof, and when power is applied to the induction coil a concentrated current is induced within the current concentrator aperture. The concentrator is moveable relative to the coil along the longitudinal axis of the coil to control the amount of current which is concentrated at the aperture.

4795879, Jan 3, 1989

Apr 13, 1987

7/037898

Donald E. Hull - Los Alamos NM
Thomas M. Bieniewski - Los Alamos NM

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

B23K 900

21912159

A method for coating surfaces or implanting ions in an object using an inductively coupled plasma. The method provides a gas-free environment, since the plasma is formed without using a gas. The coating material or implantation material is intitially in solid form.

4766351, Aug 23, 1988

Jun 29, 1987

7/067080

Donald E. Hull - Los Alamos NM
Thomas M. Bieniewski - Los Alamos NM

B23K 500, B23K 900, H01J 724

315240

A starter assembly is provided for use with an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) tube to reliably initate a plasma at internal pressures above about 30 microns. A conductive probe is inserted within the inductor coil about the tube and insulated from the tube shield assembly. A capacitive circuit is arranged for momentarily connecting a high voltage radio-frequency generator to the probe while simultaneously energizing the coil. When the plasma is initiated the probe is disconnected from the generator and electrically connected to the shield assembly for operation.

4897579, Jan 30, 1990

Dec 23, 1988

7/289286

Donald E. Hull - Los Alamos NM
Thomas M. Bieniewski - Los Alamos NM

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

H01J 724, B23K 900

31511151

A method for making fine power using an inductively coupled plasma. The method provides a gas-free environment, since the plasma is formed without using a gas. The starting material used in the method is in solid form.

4431901, Feb 14, 1984

Jul 2, 1982

6/394559

Donald E. Hull - Los Alamos NM

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

B23K 500

219121PR

An induction plasma tube having a segmented, fluid-cooled internal radiation shield is disclosed. The individual segments are thick in cross-section such that the shield occupies a substantial fraction of the internal volume of the plasma enclosure, resulting in improved performance and higher sustainable plasma temperatures. The individual segments of the shield are preferably cooled by means of a counterflow fluid cooling system wherein each segment includes a central bore and a fluid supply tube extending into the bore. The counterflow cooling system results in improved cooling of the individual segments and also permits use of relatively larger shield segments which permit improved electromagnetic coupling between the induction coil and a plasma located inside the shield. Four embodiments of the invention, each having particular advantages, are disclosed.