Steady-field coilgun methods and devices
US20240401903A1
Abstract
Steady-field coilgun methods and devices based on a steady-field coil(s). The fundamental operational basis is to leave the current running in the solenoid/coil during the operation of the gun or other projectile launcher, where the field must be built up only once-initially, when turning the gun or launcher on. Then firing involves loading a bullet or other projectile in the barrel and releasing it to be accelerated by the established magnetic field. To fire again, the system loads the next bullet into the barrel and releases it again to be accelerated by the same steady magnetic field. To stop the firing, simply prevent the next bullet from loading, or load it but do not release it in the barrel. To turn off the system, simply disconnect the DC voltage driving the current in the solenoid(s)/coil(s).
Description (excerpt)
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT(S) AND APPLICATION(S) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/470,757, filed Jun. 2, 2023, and entitled Methods, Techniques, and Devices for Steady-Field Coil Gun which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. BACKGROUND This disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments described herein, describe steady-field coilgun methods and devices. The implementation described herein is related to coilgun operational methods, and devices and systems pertaining to coilguns, however it is to be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to such application and is applicable to other linear accelerators using a steady-field design as described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is a method for operating an electromagnetic coilgun system, the electromagnetic coilgun system including a barrel and a longitudinally extending electrical excitation coil, the electrical excitation coil including a first portion arranged circumferentially around a muzzle end of a bore of the barrel and a second portion arranged circumferentially around a discharge region protruding beyond the muzzle end of the bore, the method comprising: energizing the electrical excitation coil to produce a steady-state magnetic field within and around the muzzle end of the bore of the barrel, the steady-state magnetic field extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and longitudinally beyond the muzzle end of the barrel; loading the barrel with a magnetic sabot at a breech end of the barrel, the magnetic sabot housing a nonmagnetic projectile; and firing the magnetic sabot and housed nonmagnetic projectile by magnetically propelling the magnetic sabot, with the housed nonmagnetic projectile, along the longitudinal axis of the bore by a magnetic force produced by the steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel, wherein the magnetic sabot is shed from the nonmagnetic projectile as the magnetic sabot and nonmagnetic projectile are launched from the muzzle end of the bore. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is an electromagnetic coilgun system comprising: a barrel including a longitudinally extended bore, a breech end and a muzzle end; a longitudinally extended electrical excitation coil including a first portion arranged circumferentially around the muzzle end of the bore of the barrel and a second portion arranged circumferentially around a discharge region protruding beyond the muzzle end of the bore; wherein a) energizing the electrical excitation coil produces a steady-state magnetic field within and around the muzzle end of the bore of the barrel, the steady-state magnetic field extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and longitudinally beyond the muzzle end of the barrel, b) a magnetic sabot housing a nonmagnetic projectile is loaded at the breech end of the barrel, c) the magnetic sabot and housed nonmagnetic projectile are fired by magnetically propelling the magnetic sabot, and housed nonmagnetic projectile, along the longitudinal axis of the bore by a magnetic force produced by the steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel, and d) the magnetic sabot is shed from the nonmagnetic projectile as the magnetic sabot and nonmagnetic projectile are launched from the muzzle end of the bore. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is a method for operating an electromagnetic coilgun system, the electromagnetic coilgun system including a barrel and a longitudinally extended electrical excitation coil arranged circumferentially around a bore of the barrel, the method comprising: energizing the electrical excitation coil to produce a steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel, the steady-state magnetic field extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel; loading the barrel with a magnetic dipole projectile at a breech end of the barrel, the loaded magnetic dipole projectile oriented with a first magnetic dipole moment aligned to a magnetic field orientation of the steady state magnetic field; and firing the magnetic dipole projectile by magnetically propelling the magnetic dipole along the longitudinal axis of the bore by a magnetic force produced by the steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel; wherein, at or near a center of the electrical excitation coil, the magnetic dipole moment of the magnetic dipole projectile is flipped to be oriented to a second magnetic dipole moment, 180 degrees opposite to the first magnetic dipole moment and opposite to the magnetic field orientation of the steady state magnetic field, and the magnetic dipole projectile travels continuously from the breech end of the barrel, through the electrical excitation coil and is launched from the muzzle end of the bore of the barrel. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is an electromagnetic coilgun system comprising: a barrel including a longitudinally extended bore, a breech end and a muzz
Filing details
- Inventors
- Emil Paskalev Kartalov
- Assignee
- The United States of American, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Filed
- Jun 3, 2024
- Granted
- Application pending
Bibliographic data and excerpted text sourced from Google Patents (public record) as part of IP TechMatch's current-filings monitor. This filing is not part of the 2019 historical archive. For the authoritative full text, drawings, and legal status, see the source links above or consult USPTO records directly.