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AssigneeGT-Devices
InventorsYeshayahu S. A. Goldstein, Derek A. Tidman, Rodney L. Burton, Dennis W. Massey, Niels K. Winsor
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A projectile is accelerated in a barrel bore by applying a plasma jet to a projectile propelling fluid. The plasma jet is derived from a structure forming a capillary passage having a wall formed by a low molecular weight, dielectric powdery filler or water in many rigid containers, shaped as spheres or straw-like tubes having axes parallel to the passage longitudinal axis. The fluid and jet interact so the fluid is heated by the jet, whereby low atomic weight constituents of the fluid are sufficiently heated to become mixed with the plasma to form a high pressure mixture that is injected into the bore to accelerate the projectile. The fluid is dragged into the plasma during mixing to cool the plasma and form a boundary layer between the plasma and the barrel walls so that the mixture does not cause substantial damage to the walls of the bore. The plasma is energized by applying voltage from an electric pulse source to electrodes at opposite ends of the passage. The pulse has a wave shape and duration for initially igniting the plasma source and for thereafter applying energy to the ignited plasma to control the pressure of the mixture. Initially, the fluid cools the plasma without the mixture developing sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile appreciably. The wave shape and duration are such that the pressure applied to the projectile remains substantially constant while the projectile is being accelerated through the barrel, as occurs during about one-half of the projectile travel time in the barrel.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile in a passage adapted to receive the projectile by applying a high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is in the passage, the gas having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile along the passage longitudinal axis toward an open end of the passage, the apparatus comprising a plasma source for generating a plasma having a flow path toward the rear of the projectile, and means for applying increasing power to the plasma throughout a region between a pair of fixed points longitudinally spaced from each other along the plasma flow path in transverse cross-sections of the plasma flow path, the power increase occurring for at least half the time while the plasma is between the points to energize the plasma so that pressure acting on the rear of the projectile resulting from the increasing power applied between the points to the plasma does not decrease substantially while the projectile is being accelerated by the gas in the passage, the means for increasing including means for increasing the power applied to the plasma between said fixed points in an approximately linear manner with time as the projectile is accelerated by the gas in the passage, the means for increasing further including pulse forming means responsive to a DC source, the pulse forming means including series inductors and shunt capacitors, switch means for connecting the pulse forming means to the DC source for charging the shunt capacitors prior to the projectile being accelerated by the plasma and for connecting the pulse forming means between the fixed points to supply increasing current to the fixed points and the plasma between them.
A method of accelerating a projectile in a barrel bore comprising the steps of:
A method of accelerating a projectile in a barrel bore comprising the steps of:
A method of accelerating a projectile in a barrel bore comprising the steps of:
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile in a passage adapted to receive the projectile comprising a plasma source for supplying a high pressure plasma to the bore behind the projectile so that the propelling plasma has an axial component, the plasma having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile in the passage, an electric pulse source, means for connecting the electric pulse source to the plasma source to energize the plasma, the plasma source including an elongated capillary plasma discharge passage having a longitudinal axis surrounded by a wall with many dielectric containers together having a large surface area relative to that of the wall and containing a dielectric ionizable substance from which the plasma is derived, a pair of electrodes spaced from each other at spaced points along the longitudinal axis, said electrodes being connected to said source and positioned relative to said containers to instigate a discharge in the substance of the containers to cause the plasma to propagate along the capillary passage toward the projectile while the projectile is in the passage adapted to receive it, different ones of said containers having different wall characteristics to control the relative ignition times of the substances therein, the pressure being maintained substantially constant by increasing the power applied to the plasma approximately linearly with time as the projectile is accelerated by the plasma in the bore.
A method of accelerating a projectile along a longitudinal axis of a passage comprising the steps of generating a plasma by applying an electric pulse to a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of a passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, the electric pulse having a predetermined wave shape and duration for applying a discharge voltage to the electrodes to establish a discharge in the passage, the generated plasma forming a high pressure gas acting on the rear of the projectile while the projectile is in the passage, the gas formed by the plasma having sufficient pressure against the rear of the projectile to accelerate the projectile along the passage longitudinal axis, increasing the power applied to the plasma as a function of time so that the power applied to the plasma after initial projectile acceleration has progressively larger values as time progresses by thereafter applying to the plasma current that increases as a function of time to cause additional propelling gas to be applied to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated through the projectile receiving passage, the power increase of the plasma occurring for more than half of the time while the plasma is being generated.
A method of accelerating a projectile along a longitudinal axis of a passage comprising the steps of generating a plasma to form a high pressure gas acting on the rear of the projectile while the projectile is in the passage, the gas formed by the plasma having sufficient pressure against the rear of the projectile to accelerate the projectile along the passage longitudinal axis, increasing the speed of the projectile as time progresses and the projectile is being accelerated by the plasma in the passage by increasing the power applied to the plasma, the power increase occurring throughout the length of a region between a pair of fixed points in traverse cross-sections of a passage in which the plasma is derived, the power increase of the plasma between the points and in the transverse cross-sections occurring for approximately the entire time while the plasma is between the fixed points to control the plasma so there is no substantial decrease in the pressure of the gas acting on the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated by the gas in the passage, the plasma being derived by applying a discharge current between the fixed points in a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with a substance that is ionized by the discharge current, the power being increased by increasing the square of the current applied to the plasma between the fixed points in an approximately linear manner as a function of time while the projectile is accelerated by the gas.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile in a passage adapted to receive the projectile comprising means for applying a high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is in the passage, the gas having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile along the passage longitudinal axis toward an open end of the passage, a plasma source for generating a plasma having a flow path into the means for applying the high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile, the plasma source including an electric pulse source connected to energize the plasma, the plasma source including a passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance and a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of the passage, the electric source having a predetermined wave shaped and duration for applying a discharge voltage to the electrodes to establish a discharge in the passage and for thereafter applying to the plasma current that increases as a function of time to cause additional propelling gas to be applied to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated through the projectile receiving passage, so increased power is applied to the plasma between the electrodes, the power increase being a function of time so that the power applied to the plasma after initial projectile acceleration has progressively larger values as time progresses and occurring for at least half of the time while the plasma is between the points.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile in a passage adapted to receive the projectile by applying a high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is in the passage, the gas having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile along the passage longitudinal axis toward an open end of the passage, the apparatus comprising a plasma source for generating a plasma having a flow path toward the rear of the projectile, the plasma source including an electric pulse source connected to energize the plasma, the plasma source including a passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance and a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of the passage, the electric source having a predetermined wave shape and duration for applying a discharge voltage to the electrodes to establish a discharge in the passage and for thereafter applying to the plasma current that increases as a function of time to cause additional propelling gas to be applied to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated through the projectile receiving passage, the increasing current applying increasing power to the plasma between the electrodes, the power increase occurring for at least half the time while the plasma is between the electrodes to energize the plasma so that pressure acting on the rear of the projectile resulting from the increasing power applied between the electrodes to the plasma does not decrease substantially while the projectile is being accelerated by the gas in the passage, the means for increasing including means for increasing the power applied to the plasma between said electrodes in an approximately linear manner with time as the projectile is accelerated by the gas in the passage.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile in a passage adapted to receive the projectile by applying a high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is in the passage, the gas having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile along the passage longitudinal axis toward an open end of the passage, the apparatus comprising a plasma source for generating a plasma having a flow path toward the rear of the projectile, and means for applying increasing power to the plasma throughout a region between a pair of fixed points longitudinally spaced from each other along the plasma flow path in transverse cross-sections of the plasma flow path, the power increase occurring for at least half the time while the plasma is between the points to energize the plasma so that pressure acting on the rear of the projectile resulting from the increasing power applied between the points to the plasma does not decrease substantially while the projectile is being accelerated by the gas in the passage, the plasma source comprising means for forming a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, the means for increasing including a pair of electrodes and a variable current source connected to said electrodes, one of said electrodes being connected to the dielectric wall at each of said points, the variable current source supplying a current that increases as a function of time to the electrodes.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising a plasma source, the plasma source including means for forming a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, means for establishing a discharge current between two, fixed spaced points along the capillary passage, the discharge current interacting with the ionizable substance to form a plasma and a gas having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile in a passage in which the projectile is located, the means for establishing including means for increasing the current as a function of time throughout the length of the capillary passage between the points for at least half of the time while the plasma is derived between the points so that the current applied to the plasma after initial projectile acceleration has progressively larger values as time progresses, and means for supplying the gas to the projectile while the projectile is in the passage through which the projectile is accelerated to accelerate the projectile.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising a plasma source, the plasma source including means for forming a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, means for establishing a discharge current between two, fixed spaced points along the capillary passage, the discharge current interacting with the ionizable substance to form a plasma and a gas having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile in a passage in which the projectile is located, the means for establishing including means for substantially increasing the current throughout the length of the capillary passage between the points for at least half the time while the plasma is derived between the points, the square of the current established between the two fixed points increasing approximately linearly with time, and means for supplying the gas to the projectile while the projectile is in the passage through which the projectile is accelerated to accelerate the projectile.
A method of accelerating a projectile comprising the steps of applying a discharge current to an ionizable substance on a dielectric wall of a capillary passage via a pair of electrodes longitudinally spaced from each other along the passage, the discharge current forming a plasma in the capillary as a result of an interaction between the current and the substance, substantially increasing the current for most of the time while the plasma is derived between the electrodes so that the current applied to the plasma after initial projectile acceleration has progressively larger values as time progresses, the plasma establishing a high pressure gas having sufficient pressure behind the projectile to accelerate the projectile, and applying the high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile to accelerate the projectile.
A method of accelerating a projectile comprising the steps of applying a discharge current to an ionizable substance on a dielectric wall of a capillary passage via a pair of electrodes longitudinally spaced from each other along the passage, the discharge current forming a plasma in the capillary as a result of an interaction between the current and the substance, substantially increasing the current between the electrodes for at least half the time while the plasma is derived such that the square of the current increases approximately linearly, the plasma establishing a high pressure gas having sufficient pressure behind the projectile to accelerate the projectile, and applying the high pressure gas to the rear of the projectile to accelerate the projectile.
A method of accelerating a projectile in a barrel bore comprising the steps of forming a pulsed plasma in a capillary passage having a pair of electrodes longitudinally spaced from each other in the passage, applying the pulsed plasma formed in the capillary passage to a projectile propelling mass located in a flow path between the passage and the bore, the mass and plasma interacting so the mass is heated by the plasma, constituents of the mass being sufficiently heated by the plasma to become mixed with the plasma to form a high pressure mixture, the mixture having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile in the bore, applying the high pressure mixture to the bore against the rear of the projectile so that the mixture flows longitudinally along the bore axis to accelerate the projectile along the bore axis, dragging the mass into the plasma so that the mixture does not cause substantial damage to the bore wall, and progressively increasing the power applied to the electrodes in the capillary passage while the projectile is being accelerated, the progressively increasing power being applied to the plasma via the electrodes.
A method of accelerating a projectile in a barrel bore comprising the steps of forming a plasma jet in a capillary passage, applying the plasma jet formed in the capillary passage to a projectile propelling fluid located between the passage and the bore, the fluid and jet interacting so the fluid is heated by the jet, constituents of the fluid being sufficiently heated by the jet to become mixed with the plasma to form a high pressure mixture, the mixture having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile in the bore, applying the high pressure mixture to the bore against the rear of the projectile so that the mixture flows longitudinally along the bore axis to accelerate the projectile along the bore axis, dragging the fluid into the plasma so that the mixture does not cause substantially damage to the bore wall, and controlling the plasma jet so there is no substantial decrease in the pressure of the mixture acting on the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated by the mixture in the bore to increase the speed of the projectile as time progresses, the pressure being maintained substantially constant by increasing the power applied to the plasma by way of a pair of electrodes in the capillary passage by approximately linearly increasing the square of current fed to the pair of electrodes as a function of time while the projectile is accelerated in the bore.
A method of accelerating a projectile in a barrel bore comprising the steps of forming a pulsed plasma in a capillary passage by applying an electric pulse to a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, applying the pulsed plasma formed in the capillary passage to a projectile propelling mass located between the passage and the bore, the mass and plasma interacting so the mass is heated by the plasma, constituents of the mass being sufficiently heated by the plasma to become mixed with the plasma to form a high pressure mixture, the mixture having sufficient pressure to accelerate the projectile in the bore, applying the high pressure mixture to the bore against the rear of the projectile so that the mixture flows longitudinally along the bore axis to accelerate the projectile along the bore axis, dragging the mass into the plasma so that the mixture does not cause substantial damage to the bore wall, and controlling the plasma to mix with the constituents by progressively increasing the current and power applied to the plasma between the electrodes while the projectile is in the bore and is being accelerated.
In combination, means forming an elongated passage, means for establishing a directed plasma flowing longitudinally through the elongated passage, and means for applying increasing power to the plasma throughout a region between a pair of fixed points longitudinally spaced from each other along the plasma flow path in the elongated passage in transverse cross-sections of the plasma flow path, the power increase occurring for at least half the time while the plasma is between the points, the means for establishing including means for forming a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, the means for applying including a pair of electrodes and a variable current source connected to said electrodes, one of said electrodes being connected to the dielectric wall at each of said points, the variable current source supplying a current that increases as a function of time to the electrodes, wherein the means for increasing includes means for increasing the power applied to the plasma between said fixed points in an approximately linear manner with time.
In combination, means forming an elongated passage, means for establishing a plasma in the elongated passage, and means for applying increasing power to the plasma throughout a region between a pair of fixed points longitudinally spaced from each other in the plasma in the elongated passage in transverse cross-sections between the fixed points, the power increase occurring for at least half the time while the plasma is between the points, the means for establishing including means for forming a capillary passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, the means for applying including a pair of electrodes and a variable current source connected to said electrodes, one of said electrodes being connected to the dielectric wall at each of said points, the variable current source supplying a current that increases as a function of time to the electrodes.
In combination, means forming an elongated passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance, a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of the passage, an electric pulse source connected to said electrodes for establishing a directed plasma flowing longitudinally through the elongated passage, the electric pulse source applying increasing current and power to the electrodes and the plasma between the electrodes, the current and power increase occurring for at least half the time while the plasma is between the points, the power applied to the plasma between the electrodes increasing approximately linearly.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile through a bore of a barrel for receiving the projectile comprising a plasma source for forming a high pressure propelling gas in a chamber behind the projectile so that the propelling gas accelerates the projectile in the bore, an electric pulse source connected to energize the plasma, the plasma source including a passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance and a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of the passage, the electric source having a predetermined wave shape and duration for applying a discharge voltage to the electrodes to establish a discharge in the passage and for thereafter applying to the plasma current that increases as a function of time to cause additional propelling gas to be applied to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated through the projectile receiving passage.
Apparatus for accelerating a projectile through a bore of a barrel for receiving the projectile comprising a plasma source for forming a high pressure propelling gas in a chamber behind the projectile so that the propelling gas accelerated the projectile in the bore, an electric pulse source connected to energize the plasma, the plasma source including a passage having a dielectric wall with an ionizable substance and a pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from each other along the length of the passage, the electric source having a predetermined wave shape and duration for applying a discharge voltage to the electrodes to establish a discharge in the passage to (a) initially form the plasma in the passage without moving the projectile, and (b) thereafter apply to the plasma current that increases as a function of time to cause additional propelling gas to be applied to the rear of the projectile while the projectile is being accelerated through the projectile receiving bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.