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Title: Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles

Abstract

An electromagnetic railgun accelerator system, for accelerating projectiles (14, 15, 114, 214, 314, 444) by a plasma arc (3), introduces a breakdown inhibiting gas into the railgun chamber (26) behind the accelerating projectile (14). The breakdown inhibiting gas, which absorbs electrons, is a halide or a halide compound such as fluorine or SF.sub.6. The gas is introduced between the railgun rails (12) after the projectile (14) has passed through inlets (16) in the rails (12) or the projectile (114); by coating the rails (12) or the projectile (15) with a material (28) which releases the gas after the projectile (14 ) passes over it; by fabricating the rails (12) or the projectile (15) or insulators out of a material which releases the gas into the portions of the chamber (26) through which the projectile has travelled. The projectile (214, 314, 414) may have a cavity (232, 332, 432) at its rear to control the release of ablation products (4).

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Livermore, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
868444
Patent Number(s):
5142962
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
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F42 - AMMUNITION F42B - EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
prevention; breakdown; railgun; projectiles; electromagnetic; accelerator; accelerating; 14; 15; 114; 214; 314; 444; plasma; introduces; inhibiting; gas; chamber; 26; projectile; absorbs; electrons; halide; compound; fluorine; sf; introduced; rails; 12; passed; inlets; 16; coating; material; 28; releases; passes; fabricating; insulators; portions; travelled; 414; cavity; 232; 332; 432; rear; control; release; ablation; products; accelerating projectiles; accelerating projectile; railgun accelerator; inhibiting gas; breakdown inhibiting; railgun projectiles; railgun chamber; electromagnetic railgun; halide compound; /89/124/

Citation Formats

Hawke, Ronald S. Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Hawke, Ronald S. Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles. United States.
Hawke, Ronald S. Wed . "Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868444.
@article{osti_868444,
title = {Prevention of breakdown behind railgun projectiles},
author = {Hawke, Ronald S},
abstractNote = {An electromagnetic railgun accelerator system, for accelerating projectiles (14, 15, 114, 214, 314, 444) by a plasma arc (3), introduces a breakdown inhibiting gas into the railgun chamber (26) behind the accelerating projectile (14). The breakdown inhibiting gas, which absorbs electrons, is a halide or a halide compound such as fluorine or SF.sub.6. The gas is introduced between the railgun rails (12) after the projectile (14) has passed through inlets (16) in the rails (12) or the projectile (114); by coating the rails (12) or the projectile (15) with a material (28) which releases the gas after the projectile (14 ) passes over it; by fabricating the rails (12) or the projectile (15) or insulators out of a material which releases the gas into the portions of the chamber (26) through which the projectile has travelled. The projectile (214, 314, 414) may have a cavity (232, 332, 432) at its rear to control the release of ablation products (4).},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}

Works referenced in this record:

The electromagnetic rocket gun -- A novel launch concept
journal, March 1984