Electromagnetic launcher systems for penetrators and larger caliber projectiles
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorGeorge A. Kemeny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electromagnetic launcher system for small diameter high velocity penetrator projectiles and larger diameter, slower projectiles is provided with a single high current pulse power supply. At least two bores of substantially different cross section are connected to the power supply. Augmentation conductors are utilized adjacent the larger diameter bore to achieve the desired acceleration of the large diameter projectile with a smaller root mean square current than used for the acceleration of the small diameter projectile to a desired high velocity.
Claims13
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising:
- a single electric current pulse power supply;
- a first barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end and including a first pair of parallel conductive rails for accelerating a first projectile having a first mass;
- a second barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end and including a second pair of parallel conductive rails for accelerating a second projectile having a larger mass than said first projectile;
- means for conducting current between said first pair of rails and for propelling said first projectile from the breech end to the muzzle end of said first barrel;
- means for conducting current between said second pair of rails and for propelling said second projectile form the breech end to the muzzle end of said second barrel;
- and
- means for commutating current from said electric current pulse power supply to said first and second pairs of rails, wherein, at a preselected firing current level, the accelerating force applied to said second projectile is a multiple of the accelerating force applied to said first projectile.
An electromagnetic projectile launcher comprising:
- a single electric current pulse power supply;
- a single barrel including at least two bores having different cross-sectional areas;
- a first one of said bores including a first pair of generally parallel conductive rails;
- a second one of said bores having a larger cross-sectional area than said first bore and including a second pair of generally parallel conductive rails;
- means for conducting current between said first pair of rails and for propelling first projectile through said first bore;
- means for conducting current between said second pair cf rails and for propelling a second projectile through said second projectile bore, wherein said second projectile has a larger mass than said first projectile;
- and
- means for commutating current from said electric current pulse power supply to said first pair of rails and said second pair of rails, wherein at a preselected firing current level, the accelerating force applied to said second projectile is a multiple of the accelerating force applied to said first projectile.
A method of electromagnetically accelerating a first projectile along a first pair of conductive rails and accelerating a second projectile, having a mass which is larger than the mass of the first projectile, along a second pair of conductive rails, said method comprising the steps of:
- switching a preselected current from a single current source to said first pair of conductive rails to produce a first accelerating force on said first projectile;
- switching said preselected current from said current source to said second pair of conductive rails to produce a second accelerating force on said second projectile;
- and
- augmenting the magnetic flux between said second pair of conductive rails such that said second accelerating force is a multiple of said first accelerating force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.