Superconducting projectile for a rail gun and the combination of a rail gun with a superconducting projectile
US4901621A · kind A · utility
24Cited by
7References
47Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 1987 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S505/884
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rail gun projectile includes superconducting material. Current from a DC power supply flows between the rails through the superconducting material with a component at right angles to the elongated direction of the rails. The superconducting material is of a type that the current flowing through it produces a force for driving the projectile longitudinally along the rails. Metal abutting against the superconducting material shunts current from the power supply around a portion of the superconducting material having a tendency to go normal to the remainder of the superconducting material in the superconducting state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.