Rail gun launcher
US8302584B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41B6/006
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.