Patent · US Expired

Projectile-launching device

US5183956A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
3References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 1990
Grant dateFeb 2, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF41B6/00
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A device for accelerating a projectile to an extremely high velocity includes a launch tube having electrodes engageable with the projectile assembly for applying a large electrical voltage to it, the projectile assembly includes a pair of travelling electrodes fixed to the rear end of the projectile and engageable with the launch tube electrodes during the travel of the projectile assembly through the launch tube. The travelling electrodes define a spark gap which, under the high voltage applied from the launch tube electrodes, forms a high-temperature, high-pressure plasma arc travelling with the projectile and effective to increase its acceleration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.