Superconducting projectile for a rail gun and the combination of a rail gun with a superconducting projectile
This patent describes a projectile for launching from a rail gun including first and second parallel, elongated electrically conducting metal rails insulated from each other and connected to opposite terminals of a DC power supply. The projectile comprising a forward portion, a rear portion, and an armature between the forward and rear portions, the rails and projectile armature being arranged so that current flows from one terminal of the power supply longitudinally of one of the rails thence through the projectile to the other rail thence longitudinally of the other rail back to the other terminal of the supply. The armature having multiple mutually insulated longitudinally extending superconductors arranged so that current flowing longitudinally in the rails from the power supply flows between the rails longitudinally through the superconductors with a component at right angles to the elongated direction of the rails. The superconductors being arranged, positioned and of a type that the current flowing longitudinally through them at right angles to and between the rails produces a force for driving the projectile longitudinally along the rails.
- Assignee:
- GT-Devices, Alexandria, VA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4901621; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-079291A
- OSTI ID:
- 6858633
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 9 Jul 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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