Fusion Message Board

In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.

Subject: Re: Farnsworth's Lost Patent
Date: Jan 08, 11:26 am
Poster: Richard Hull

On Jan 08, 11:26 am, Richard Hull wrote:

>No disrespect intended, I have a third Fuser Patent. This patent is not referenced in the
>book "Distant Vision." This patent appears to
>contain Farnsworth's final work, for which he
>is given no credit for except for his two referenced Fuser patents. It is clearly Farnsworth's work and one of his associates has taken credit for it. It appears that this patent has been "shelved." I wish to reveal this patent number in memory of Mr. Farnsworth after a respectful response from my peers in this forum.
>
>I would like to add that this new website is a breath of fresh air. Thank you Richard Hull for your dedication to this area of research.
>
>-BAP

I am more than willing to help new fusor constructors with info to the level of my own experience.

Is the "associate" Bob Hirsch? He has a right to a good deal of innovation on fusor designs of his own. So much so, that I now refer to the simple two grid, none gunned fusor (which George Miley's group at U of I have championed) as the Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor in honor of Hirsch's contribution and simplifications to the original design. Especially, after 1964 when the largest gains in Neutron flux were made.

Dr. Hirsch is very bright and is the only person who has remained "true" to the fusor concept all these long years.

Both Hirsch and Gene Meeks have offered verbal assistance to Miley's group with tips and advice during their startup.

The fusor is not quite as dead as we would be led to believe, especially as the wiser drowning rats from the sinking "good ship tokomak" are casting about for fusion related areas to monkey in.

Unfortunately, the thing is too easy to build, can be run on a kitchen table, and the hog trough budget of yesteryear can't be justified for fusor work. A first rate fusor can be designed, constructed, run and maintained by a very bright and adroit high school senior, thanks to the completeness of the original Farnsworth patents and Hirsch, Miley and Bussaard's simplification of the design.

As my friend Tom Ligon says in the interview on my tape, "fusion is easy"....."breakeven or controlled fusion is going to require a bit more work."

Richard Hull