US4467696A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electromagnetic projectile launcher with combination plasma/conductor armature
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1982-05-24
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Granted: 1984-08-28
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Expires: 2002-05-24
Abstract
Abstract An electromagnetic projectile launcher includes a combination plasma/conductor armature structure which serves to conduct current between a pair of generally parallel conductor rails and to propel a projectile along the rails. A plasma at each end of the conductive element of the armature serves to conduct current between the conductive element and the adjacent conductor rail. A method of launching a projectile in an electromagnetic projectile launcher is provided in which a sliding conductive element conducts current between a pair of generally parallel launching rails until a selected velocity is achieved. At that time, plasmas are generated at each end of the conductive element. These plasmas serve to transfer current between the conductive element and the launcher rails for the remainder of the launch.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian R. McNab
- 👤 George A. Kemeny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:52
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41B; F41B6/00; F41B6/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed generally parallel to said first conductor; a source of high current; means for switching current from said source of high current to said first and second conductors; a conductive element disposed between said conductors for conducting current therebetween and for propelling a projectile along said conductors; said conductive element having a length less the distance between said conductors, such that metallic contact between said conductive element and said conductors is prohibited at all times; a first plasma for conducting current between said first conductor and said conductive element; and a second plasma for conducting current between said second conductor and said conductive element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed generally parallel to said first conductor; a source of high current; means for switching current from said source of high current to said first and second conductors; a conductive element disposed between said conductors for conducting current therebetween and for propelling a projectile along said conductors; said conductive element having a length less the distance between said conductors, such that metallic contact between said conductive element and said conductors is prohibited at all times; a first plasma for conducting current between said first conductor and said conductive element; and a second plasma for conducting current between said second conductor and said conductive element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a sabot slidably disposed between said first and second conductors; said conductive element being associated with said sabot, whereby force is applied to said sabot when current flows through said conductive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive element includes arc resistant conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 3, wherein said arc resistant material is copper-tungsten.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive element comprises: a plurality of transposed conductive members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 1, wherein said conductive element is of sufficient length so that accelerating forces transmitted to said projectile during a launch exerted by current flowing through said conductive element are greater than accelerating forces transmitted to said projectile by current flowing in said plasmas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
An armature assembly for the conduction of current between two generally parallel conductors of an electromagnetic launcher and for the propulsion of a projectile along said conductors, said armature assembly comprising: a conductive element having a length less than the distance between said conductors, such that metallic contact between said conductive element and said conductors is prohibited at all times; a first plasma conducting current between a first one of said conductors and said conductive element; and a second plasma conducting current between a second one of said conductors and said conductive element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
An armature assembly for the conduction of current between two generally parallel conductors of an electromagnetic launcher and for the propulsion of a projectile along said conductors, said armature assembly comprising: a conductive element having a length less than the distance between said conductors, such that metallic contact between said conductive element and said conductors is prohibited at all times; a first plasma conducting current between a first one of said conductors and said conductive element; and a second plasma conducting current between a second one of said conductors and said conductive element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An armature assembly as recited in claim 7, further comprising: a sabot slidably disposed between said conductors; said conductive element being associated with said sabot, whereby force is applied to said sabot when current flows through said conductive element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An armature assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said conductive element includes arc resistant conductive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An armature assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said arc resistant material is copper-tungsten.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An armature assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said conductive element comprises: a plurality of transposed conductive members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
An armature assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said conductive element is of sufficient length so that accelerating forces transmitted to said projectile during a launch exerted by current flowing through said conductive element are greater than accelerating forces transmitted to said projectile by current flowing in said plasmas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed generally parallel to said first conductor; a source of high current; means for switching current from said source of high current to said first and second conductors; a first plurality of conductive inserts disposed adjacent a portion of one side of said first conductor; a second plurality of conductive inserts disposed adjacent a portion of one side of said second conductor; a conductive element slidably disposed between and making physical contact with conductive inserts of said first and second pluralities of conductive inserts, said conductive element having a length less than the distance between said first and second conductors; a first plasma for conducting current between said first conductor and said conductive element; and a second plasma for conducting current between said second conductor and said conductive element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed generally parallel to said first conductor; a source of high current; means for switching current from said source of high current to said first and second conductors; a first plurality of conductive inserts disposed adjacent a portion of one side of said first conductor; a second plurality of conductive inserts disposed adjacent a portion of one side of said second conductor; a conductive element slidably disposed between and making physical contact with conductive inserts of said first and second pluralities of conductive inserts, said conductive element having a length less than the distance between said first and second conductors; a first plasma for conducting current between said first conductor and said conductive element; and a second plasma for conducting current between said second conductor and said conductive element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 13, further comprising: a sabot slidably disposed between said first and second conductors; said conductive element being associated with said sabot, whereby force is applied to said sabot when current flows through said conductive element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 13, wherein said conductive element comprises: a plurality of transposed conductive members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 13, wherein said conductive element includes arc resistant conductive material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed generally parallel to said first conductor; a source of high current; means for switching current from said source of high current to said first and second conductors; a conductive element disposed between said conductors for conducting current therebetween and for propelling a projectile along said conductors; a projection on each end of said conductive element; each projection having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said conductive element such that current flowing through said projection will cause said projections to act like a fuse after said conductive element reaches a preselected velocity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising: a first conductor; a second conductor disposed generally parallel to said first conductor; a source of high current; means for switching current from said source of high current to said first and second conductors; a conductive element disposed between said conductors for conducting current therebetween and for propelling a projectile along said conductors; a projection on each end of said conductive element; each projection having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said conductive element such that current flowing through said projection will cause said projections to act like a fuse after said conductive element reaches a preselected velocity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 17, further comprising: a first plasma for conducting current between said first conductor and said conductive element; and a second plasma for conducting current between said second conductor and said conductive element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 18, wherein said conductive element is of sufficient length so that accelerating forces transmitted to said projectile during a launch exerted by current flowing through said conductive element are greater than accelerating forces transmitted to said projectile by current flowing in said plasmas.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 17, wherein said conductive element comprises: a plurality of transposed conductive members.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claim 17, further comprising: a sabot slidably disposed between said first and second conductors; said conductive element being associated with said sabot, whereby force is applied to said sabot when current flows through said conductive element.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of accelerating projectiles in an electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising the steps of: supplying electric current to a pair of generally parallel conductive rails; conducting current between said rails by means of a conductor slidably disposed between said rails, said conductor being in physical contact with said rails and being propelled along said rails when current flows through said conductor; creating a first plasma between one of said rails and one end of said conductor, without a reduction in the length of said conductor, after said conductor has reached a first preselected position; and creating a second plasma between a second one of said rails and a second end of said conductor, without a reduction in the length of said conductor, after said conductor has reached a second preselected position.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of accelerating projectiles in an electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising the steps of: supplying electric current to a pair of generally parallel conductive rails; conducting current between said rails by means of a conductor slidably disposed between said rails, said conductor being in physical contact with said rails and being propelled along said rails when current flows through said conductor; creating a first plasma between one of said rails and one end of said conductor, without a reduction in the length of said conductor, after said conductor has reached a first preselected position; and creating a second plasma between a second one of said rails and a second end of said conductor, without a reduction in the length of said conductor, after said conductor has reached a second preselected position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of accelerating projectiles as recited in claim 22, wherein said first and second positions are at the same location.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of accelerating projectiles as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of: sealing a bore between said generally parallel conductive rails prior to the creation of said first and second plasmas.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claims 2, 8, 14 or 21 wherein said sabot is comprised of electrically nonconductive material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electromagnetic projectile launcher as recited in claims 2, 14 or 21 wherein said sabot seals a bore formed between said first and second conductors to prevent forward leakage of plasma past the sabot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1370200A
Cited
US4343223A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-08-28 | 1988-02-27 | 1988-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-28 | 1992-02-27 | 1992-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-28 | 1996-02-27 | 1996-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |