Phase change cooling for an electromagnetic launch
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Corporation, Space Systems Division
InventorsEddie M. Leung, Scott D. Peck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The device employs Hybrid Pulsed Transformer principles employing a projectile with an internal pay load. The projectile carries a light weight shorted secondary coil or coils constructed of aluminum and the projectile acts as a moving secondary through a plurality of aligned spaced apart transformer primary coils. The moving secondary coil includes a plurality of surrounding channels containing a liquid, such as water, for cooling. The cooling ability of certain liquids, as for example water, associated with change of state between liquid and gas is employed to cool the coil or coils.
Claims9
Phase change cooling for a projectile used in a electromagnetic launch thereof comprising:
- a plurality of primary electromagnetic coils for generating an electromagnetic force field forming a barrel through which said projectile is launched;
- at least one shorted secondary coil having a plurality of windings surrounding said projectile for interaction with said plurality of electromagnetic coils for initiating the launch of said projectile along and launched from said barrel formed thereby, said electromagnetic force field causing the temperature of said at least one shorted secondary coil to be elevated thereby during launch;
- and
- a fluid that changes to a gaseous state when exposed to the elevated heat of said secondary coil during launch;
- said at least one shorted secondary coil being housed within a closed cell structure having a vent opening, said cell structure containing said fluid, said plurality of windings being spaced apart with said spaces being emersed in said fluid whereby when said fluid changes to a gaseous state the gas can escape from said vent opening thereby cooling said secondary coil during launch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.