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Put $v=x-a$ and decompose it into axial and perpendicular parts, $v=(v\cdot n)n+v_{\perp }$. For the nondegenerate semi-angle $0<\alpha <\pi /2$, the equation is equivalent toThus each plane perpendicular to $n$ at axial distance $s$ from $a$ meets the surface in a circle of radius $|s|\tan \alpha$. Both signs of $s$ are allowed, and $s=0$ gives the vertex. This proves that it is a double circular cone with the specified vertex and axis; $\alpha$ is the angle each generator makes with either direction of the axis.

For the intersection calculation, define the symmetric matrix $Q={\cos }^2\alpha I-n{n}^T$. The two equations are $(x-a_i{)}^{T}Q(x-a_i)=0$. Their difference givesWith $b=a_1-a_2$ and $m=(a_1+a_2)/2$, symmetry of $Q$ makes the last two terms $2m\cdot Qb$. Hence the intersection plane of parallel congruent double cones isThe unnormalized normal vector is $v=Qb=b{\cos }^2\alpha -n(n\cdot b)$. Expanding its squared norm givesEquivalently, if $b=b_{\perp }+(n\cdot b)n$, this is ${\cos }^4\alpha |b_{\perp }{|}^2+{\sin }^4\alpha (n\cdot b{)}^2>0$. Thus normalization is legitimate and yieldsThe assumption of a genuine cone matters: at the degenerate limits $\alpha =0$ or $\pi /2$, the surface collapses respectively to an axis or a plane and this normal need not exist.