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Title: 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 = {1987},
month = {11}
}

Patent:
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