Multiple stage railgun
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Pleasanton, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864289
- Patent Number(s):
- 4343223
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F41 - WEAPONS F41B - WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05H - PLASMA TECHNIQUE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- multiple; stage; railgun; magnetic; accelerator; 10; accelerating; projectile; 15; movement; plasma; 13; rails; 11; 12; divided; plurality; successive; rail; stages; 10a-n; sequentially; energized; separate; energy; sources; 14a-n; moves; bore; 17; propagation; towards; breech; 29; prevented; connection; isolation; diodes; 34a-n; dividing; electrically; isolated; sections; 11a-n; 12a-n; means; 55a-n; extinguish; fuse; 31; laser; device; 61; initiate; multiple stage; laser device; electrically isolated; energy sources; energy source; stage magnetic; railgun accelerator; electrically isolate; /89/124/376/
Citation Formats
Hawke, Ronald S, Scudder, Jonathan K, and Aaland, Kristian. Multiple stage railgun. United States: N. p., 1982.
Web.
Hawke, Ronald S, Scudder, Jonathan K, & Aaland, Kristian. Multiple stage railgun. United States.
Hawke, Ronald S, Scudder, Jonathan K, and Aaland, Kristian. Fri .
"Multiple stage railgun". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864289.
@article{osti_864289,
title = {Multiple stage railgun},
author = {Hawke, Ronald S and Scudder, Jonathan K and Aaland, Kristian},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1982},
month = {1}
}