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US 4,355,561 AGranted
Projectile launching system with assured current division
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsGeorge A. Kemeny, John P. Barber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Series resistance is added to the projectile current loop to assure there will be no premature launching or excessive heating of the projectile armature during the energizing cycle.
Claims12
An electromagnetic projectile launching system comprising:
- a pair of conductive rails:
- means for conducting current between said rails and for propelling a projectile from one end of said rails to another;
- a source of high current;
- means for commutating current from said current source to said rails connected to said rails in parallel with said means for conducting current and said means for propelling the projectile;
- and
- a resistance electrically connected between said current conducting and projectile propelling means and said means for commutating current for limiting the flow of current to said rails prior to the commutation of current to said rails and for carrying the full current during the entire launch.
3 more elements
An electromagnetic projectile launching system as set forth in cliam 1, wherein the means for commutating current comprises semiconductors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.