Open railgun with steel barrel sections
OwnerGeorge Arthur Proulxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elongated electromagnetic railgun (1) adapted to propel a moving armature (30) through a bore (11) along the length of the railgun (1) from its breech end (21) to its muzzle end (22). The railgun (1) comprises two elongated mechanically rigid electrically conductive barrel sections (13), said sections (13) being spaced apart from each other along the length of the railgun (1). Mechanically coupled via a dielectric (18) to each barrel section (13) is an elongated current carrying rail (14) for providing electromagnetic propulsive force to the armature (30). The two rails (14) face each other across an elongated open channel, defining the bore (11). The two barrel sections (13) are electrically connected to each other at a maximum of one location of the railgun (1).
Claims34
An elongated electromagnetic railgun adapted to propel a moving armature through a bore along the length of the railgun from its breech end to its muzzle end, said railgun comprising:
- two elongated mechanically rigid electrically conductive barrel sections, said sections being spaced apart from each other along the length of the railgun;
- and
- mechanically coupled via a dielectric to each barrel section and electrically insulated therefrom, an elongated current carrying rail for providing electromagnetic propulsive force to the armature, said two rails facing each other across an elongated open channel defining the bore;
- wherein:
- the two barrel sections are electrically connected to each other at a maximum of one location of the railgun, said barrel sections not providing any positive electromagnetic force to the armature.
An elongated electromagnetic railgun adapted to propel a moving armature through a bore along the length of the railgun from its breech end to its muzzle end, said railgun comprising:
- two elongated mechanically rigid electrically conductive barrel sections, said sections being spaced apart from each other along the length of the railgun;
- and
- mechanically coupled via a dielectric to each barrel section and electrically insulated therefrom, an elongated current carrying rail for providing electromagnetic propulsive force to the armature, said two rails facing each other across an elongated open channel defining the bore;
- wherein:
- the two barrel sections are electrically connected to each other at a maximum of one location of the railgun, said barrel sections not providing any positive electromagnetic force to the armature;
- each rail is recessed within its corresponding barrel section;
- and
- each rail comprises an elongated internal channel adapted to deliver coolant to interior surfaces of the rail.
An elongated electromagnetic railgun adapted to propel a moving armature through a bore along the length of the railgun from its breech end to its muzzle end, said railgun comprising:
- two elongated mechanically rigid electrically conductive barrel sections, said sections being spaced apart from each other along the length of the railgun;
- and
- mechanically coupled via a dieletric to each barrel section, an elongated current carrying rail for providing electromagnetic propulsive force to the armature, said two rails facing each other across an elongated open channel defining the bore;
- wherein:
- the two barrel sections are electrically connected to each other at a maximum of one location of the railgun;
- each rail has a generally triangular cross-section, with an apex of the triangle facing towards the bore;
- and
- surfaces of the rails facing the bore are capped with an electrically conductive mechanically wear-resistant material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.