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.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5389938
- Application Number:
- ON: DE86013683
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; RAILGUN ACCELERATORS; ELECTRIC ARCS; CAPACITORS; DESIGN; ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; PROJECTILES; SWITCHING CIRCUITS; ACCELERATORS; CURRENTS; ELECTRIC CURRENTS; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; 420200* - Engineering- Facilities, Equipment, & Techniques; 420800 - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)
Citation Formats
Hawke, R S. Low voltage arc formation in railguns. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Hawke, R S. Low voltage arc formation in railguns. United States.
Hawke, R S. Mon .
"Low voltage arc formation in railguns". United States.
@article{osti_5389938,
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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {8}
}