Electromagnetic device and method to accelerate solid metal slugs to high speeds

摘要

A device and method to accelerate solid metal slugs to high speeds. In one embodiment, a large electric current is passed through an outer cylindrical metal tube enclosing in part a metal slug, a central electrode, and a conducting tail coupled at opposite ends to the. metal slug and the central electrode. Electromagnetic forces accelerate the metal slug to a point high enough to mechanically separate the conducting tail. On separation, a plasma is generated by the passage of electric current though a gas produced by vaporization of the conducting tail and nearby materials. An insulator enclosed within the tube prevents the plasma from shorting to the outer tube until the current flow has produced a sufficient magnetic field to contain the plasma. The metal slug is then accelerated to high speed by a combination of electromagnetic forces and mechanical pressure from the hot gas through which the electric current is passing.

主权项

1. A tubular electromagnetic (EM) launcher device for accelerating solid metal slugs to high speeds comprising:
a cylindrical metal tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and having a tube wall between said outer diameter and said inner diameter, where said tube wall surrounds a central channel having a central axis; a metal slug disposed within said central channel and in conductive contact with said tube wall, where said central axis of said central channel intersects said metal slug; a central electrode disposed within said central channel where said central electrode is displaced from said tube wall; a conducting tail where said conducting tail is displaced from said tube wall, where a first portion of said conducting tail is attached within said metal slug and in conductive contact with said metal slug, a second portion of said conducting tail extends between said metal slug and said central electrode, and a third portion of said conducting tail extends within said central electrode and is in conductive contact with said central electrode, and where said central axis of said central channel intersects said first portion of said conducting tail, said second portion of said conducting tail, and said third portion of said conducting tail; a first conductive plate in conductive contact with said central electrode; and, a second conductive plate in conductive contact with said cylindrical metal tube, wherein application of a current to said metal tube through said second conductive plate results in said current passing through said cylindrical metal tube, through said metal slug, through said conducting tail, and through said central electrode causing said conducting tail to break with resultant generation of a plasma along said central axis of said central channel and generation of gas pressure, and further wherein said current passes through said plasma producing an axial magnetic field which encircles said plasma and inhibits flow of said plasma said cylindrical metal tube resulting in said plasma formed as a plasma channel displaced from said tube wall; and further wherein said current passes through said plasma producing an electromagnetic force wherein said gas pressure and said electromagnetic force accelerate said metal slug to a high speed greater than or equal to 1000 m/s.