Low voltage arc formation in railguns
Abstract
A low voltage plasma arc is first established across the rails behind the projectile by switching a low voltage high current source across the rails to establish a plasma arc by vaporizing a fuse mounted on the back of the projectile, maintaining the voltage across the rails below the railgun breakdown voltage to prevent arc formation ahead of the projectile. After the plasma arc has been formed behind the projectile a discriminator switches the full energy bank across the rails to accelerate the projectile. A gas gun injector may be utilized to inject a projectile into the breech of a railgun. The invention permits the use of a gas gun or gun powder injector and an evacuated barrel without the risk of spurious arc formation in front of the projectile. 2 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7001432
- Patent Number(s):
- 4706542
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 6-762649
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 5 Aug 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; RAILGUN ACCELERATORS; ELECTRIC ARCS; DESIGN; EVAPORATION; PLASMA; ACCELERATORS; CURRENTS; ELECTRIC CURRENTS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; 450000* - Military Technology, Weaponry, & National Defense
Citation Formats
Hawke, R S. Low voltage arc formation in railguns. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Hawke, R S. Low voltage arc formation in railguns. United States.
Hawke, R S. Tue .
"Low voltage arc formation in railguns". United States.
@article{osti_7001432,
title = {Low voltage arc formation in railguns},
author = {Hawke, R S},
abstractNote = {A low voltage plasma arc is first established across the rails behind the projectile by switching a low voltage high current source across the rails to establish a plasma arc by vaporizing a fuse mounted on the back of the projectile, maintaining the voltage across the rails below the railgun breakdown voltage to prevent arc formation ahead of the projectile. After the plasma arc has been formed behind the projectile a discriminator switches the full energy bank across the rails to accelerate the projectile. A gas gun injector may be utilized to inject a projectile into the breech of a railgun. The invention permits the use of a gas gun or gun powder injector and an evacuated barrel without the risk of spurious arc formation in front of the projectile. 2 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}