Multiple stage railgun
Patent
·
OSTI ID:864289
- Livermore, CA
- Pleasanton, CA
A multiple stage magnetic railgun accelerator (10) for accelerating a projectile (15) by movement of a plasma arc (13) along the rails (11,12). The railgun (10) is divided into a plurality of successive rail stages (10a-n) which are sequentially energized by separate energy sources (14a-n) as the projectile (15) moves through the bore (17) of the railgun (10). Propagation of energy from an energized rail stage back towards the breech end (29) of the railgun (10) can be prevented by connection of the energy sources (14a-n) to the rails (11,12) through isolation diodes (34a-n). Propagation of energy from an energized rail stage back towards the breech end of the railgun can also be prevented by dividing the rails (11,12) into electrically isolated rail sections (11a-n, 12a-n). In such case means (55a-n) are used to extinguish the arc at the end of each energized stage and a fuse (31) or laser device (61) is used to initiate a new plasma arc in the next energized rail stage.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4343223
- OSTI ID:
- 864289
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
/89/124/376/
10
10a-n
11
11a-n
12
12a-n
13
14a-n
15
17
29
31
34a-n
55a-n
61
accelerating
accelerator
bore
breech
connection
device
diodes
divided
dividing
electrically
electrically isolate
electrically isolated
energized
energy
energy source
energy sources
extinguish
fuse
initiate
isolated
isolation
laser
laser device
magnetic
means
movement
moves
multiple
multiple stage
plasma
plurality
prevented
projectile
propagation
rail
railgun
railgun accelerator
rails
sections
separate
sequentially
sources
stage
stage magnetic
stages
successive
towards
10
10a-n
11
11a-n
12
12a-n
13
14a-n
15
17
29
31
34a-n
55a-n
61
accelerating
accelerator
bore
breech
connection
device
diodes
divided
dividing
electrically
electrically isolate
electrically isolated
energized
energy
energy source
energy sources
extinguish
fuse
initiate
isolated
isolation
laser
laser device
magnetic
means
movement
moves
multiple
multiple stage
plasma
plurality
prevented
projectile
propagation
rail
railgun
railgun accelerator
rails
sections
separate
sequentially
sources
stage
stage magnetic
stages
successive
towards