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US 7,459,807 B2Granted
Linear motor geometry for use with persistent current magnets
AssigneeUniversity of Houston System
InventorsPhil Putman, Kamel Salama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrically powered launcher is disclosed that can accelerate small payloads to orbital velocities. The invention uses a novel geometry to overcome limitations of other design, and allows full exploitation of existing superconducting materials.
Claims8
A linear motor apparatus comprising:
- a first primary assembly including a plurality of first conductor segments disposed on an interior of the first primary assembly,
- a first secondary assembly adapted to magnetically interact with the first conductor segments of the first primary assembly,
- a second primary assembly including a plurality of second conductor segments disposed on an interior of the second primary assembly,
- a second secondary assembly adapted to magnetically interact with the second conductor segments of the second primary assembly,
- a payload coupled to and interposed between the two secondary assemblies,
- where the first conductor segments face the second conductor segments, a current direction through the first conductor segments is opposite a current direction through the second conductor segments so that resulting magnetic force is in the same direction causing the two secondary assemblies and the payload to be accelerated down a length of the two primary assemblies launching the payload at a distal end of the primary assemblies.
3 more elements
A linear motor apparatus comprising:
- a first primary assembly including a plurality of first conductor segments disposed on an interior of the first primary assembly,
- a second primary assembly including a plurality of second conductor segments disposed on an interior of the second primary assembly,
- a slot separating the first conductor segments from the second conductor segments, where the first conductor segments face the second conductor segments,
- a payload lunch assembly including:
- a first secondary assembly adapted to magnetically interact with the first conductor segments,
- a second secondary assembly adapted to magnetically interact with the second conductor segments,
- a payload coupled to and interposed between the two secondary assemblies,
- where a current direction through the first conductor segments is opposite a current direction through the second conductor segments so that resulting magnetic force is in the same direction causing the payload assembly to be accelerated down a length of the two primary assemblies launching the payload at a distal end of the primary assemblies.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.