Apparatus for commutation of a helical coil launcher
AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorThomas Engel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for commutating turns of a stator coil for a helical coil launcher. An annular brush assembly includes an annular support and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed circumferentially about the annular support for contacting the stator coil. A projectile for a helical coil launcher is also disclosed having an armature coil and a body assembly containing at least one annular brush assembly for contacting a stator coil that is slidably engaged with the projectile.
Claims23
An apparatus for accelerating particles in a linear direction, the apparatus comprising:
- a conductive rail;
- a rail brush slidingly coupled with an electrical contact with said conductive rail;
- a stator coil;
- a projectile slidingly coupled with said stator coil, the projectile including an armature coil and first and second stator brushes connected to said armature coil so as to move with said armature coil, said first and second stator brushes being disposed so as to contact first and second end turns of a portion of said stator coil, said first stator brushes being electrically coupled to said rail brush and said second stator brush being electrically coupled to said armature coil;
- at least one of said first and second stator brush comprising an annular brush assembly, said annular brush assembly including an annular support and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed circumferentially about said annular support and contacting said stator coil, said plurality of electrical contacts being electrically coupled to one another in parallel.
An apparatus for commutating turns of a coil of a linear accelerator, the apparatus comprising:
- an annular support;
- and
- a plurality of electrical contacts disposed circumferentially about said annular support for contacting the coil, said plurality of contacts being coupled to one another in parallel.
A projectile for a helical coil launcher, comprising:
- an armature coil;
- a body assembly connected to said armature coil;
- said body assembly including an annular brush assembly for electrically contacting a stator coil, said annular brush assembly including a plurality of brush segments disposed circumferentially about said annular brush assembly, said brush segments being connected to one another in parallel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.