Method of and apparatus for accelerating a projectile
US4590842A · kind A · utility
42Cited by
43References
41Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 1983 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41B6/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A projectile is accelerated along a confined path by supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the rear of the projectile as the projectile traverses the path. The jet enters the confined path at a non-zero angle relative to the projectile path. The pulse is derived from a dielectric capillary tube having an interior wall from which plasma forming material is ablated in response to a discharge voltage. The projectile can be accelerated in response to the kinetic energy in the plasma jet or in response to a pressure increase of gases in the confined path resulting from the heat added to the gases by the plasma.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.