US 8,302,584 B1 · Rail gun launcher

Abstract

A rail gun launcher consists of an armature where a magnetic core with a multiple turn conductive coil, two parallel conductive rails on which terminals of the coil contact and slide, and a non-magnetic conductive barrel enclosing the rails and the armature. The coil partially encloses the magnetic core to shift magnetic equilibrium. When an AC power source is connected to the rails, the coil generates a source magnetism around the coil as well as an induced magnetism on the conductive barrel in an opposite direction through the magnetic core. The source magnetism and the induced magnetism are shifted in magnetic equilibrium and in opposite direction thereby repelling the armature forward. This repulsive force travels with the armature and is continuous from breech to muzzle and propels the armature forward to a high velocity without control circuitry or commutation.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A rail gun comprising:

an electric power source;
a conductive rail device including a plurality of conductive rails disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other and operatively connected to the power source;
a movable armature operatively connected to the rail device and forming a flowpath for current from the power source;
and
a fixed, non-magnetic, conductive barrel disposed coaxially with the movable armature and extending along substantially a full length of the rail device;
wherein the armature comprises an elongate ferromagnetic core, and a multi-turn coil disposed about a portion of the ferromagnetic core;
and
wherein the barrel is spaced away from the rail device.

5 more elements

A method of continuously accelerating a projectile to hyper velocity using a rail gun launcher, comprising the steps of:

operatively connecting a conductive rail device which includes two rails disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other to an electric power source;
operatively connecting a movable armature to the rail device such that the armature and rail device form a flowpath for current from the power source, and such that the armature can be accelerated along the rail device by the power source;
and
fixedly disposing a non-magnetic, conductive barrel coaxially with the movable armature and so that the barrel extends along substantially a full length of the rail device;
securing a projectile to be launched to the movable armature;
activating the electric power source to accelerate the movable armature and projectile,
wherein the armature comprises an elongate ferromagnetic core, and a multi-turn coil disposed about a portion of the ferromagnetic core;
and
wherein the barrel is spaced away from the rail device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rail gun launcher

Life of this patent

Rail gun launcher

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19