Method and apparatus for accelerating a projectile through a capillary passage with injector electrode and cartridge for projectile therefor
US4913029A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1986 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41B6/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A high pressure plasma initially formed from a fluidizable substance in a confined region of a passage behind a projectile in the passage initially accelerates the projectile toward an open end of the passage. The plasma is intially derived by supplying a discharge current to an electrode in the substance. The plasma in the confined region is ohmically heated by an azimuthal current generated in the plasma by an AC magnetic field that is coaxial with the passage or by a discharge current flowing longitudinally through the passage and projectile. A cartridge includes the projectile and a wall of the passage that is evaporated after the projectile has been fired so the evaporant flows out of the passage after the projectile.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.