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United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Rex L Schlicher

David Jonathan Hall

Charles E Davis

Charles E Oberly

Steven M Rinaldi

Peter M Ranon

An electromagnetic propulsion system based on an extremely low frequency (elf) radiating antenna structure driven by a matched high current pulsed power supply is described. The elf antenna structure resembles a modified three dimensional multiple-turn loop antenna whose geometry is optimized for the production of reaction thrust rather than the radiation of electromagnetic energy into space. The antenna structure is current driven rather than voltage drive. Rigid three dimensional geometric asymmetry, made up of flat electrical conductors that form a partially closed volume in the loop antenna structure, trap magnetic flux thereby causing a magnetic field density gradient along a single axis. This magnetic field density gradient then causes an imbalance in the magneto- mechanical forces that normally result from the interactions of the loop antenna's internal magnetic field with the current in the conductors of the loop antenna structure, as described by the Lorentz Force Law. The pulsed power supply is designed to provide the proper waveform to the antenna structure at an impedance matching the load impedance of the antenna. The rise time and shape of the input current waveform is crucial to maximizing the production of reaction thrust. Input voltage is at a nominal value sufficient to allow the desired high input current.

Nonlinear electromagnetic propulsion system and method

Liquid hydrogen is used to completely cool all elements of the generator including bearings, stator conductor, rotor conductor, magnetic flux shield, and excitation mechanisms. By essentially immersing the generator in liquid hydrogen, cryogenic interface problems are minimized. The conductor windings will utilize pure metals such as aluminum to minimize the weight and the ohmic heat loss in the machine. Complications of liquid helium cooling for superconducting windings and quench phenomena due to thermal instabilities in the superconductors are eliminated. The use of extremely low resistance of liquid hydrogen cooled aluminum permits heat removal in the confined space of the rotor field winding at magnetic field and current density that can exceed that of superconductors. Because iron is not required in the generator, very high voltages can be generated.

Cryogenic wound rotor for lightweight, high voltage generators

A repeatable explosive-driven electrical pulse generator system includes an explosive propellant driver in which the chemical charge in a cartridge is exploded by impact of the driver's firing pin by the hammer of an actuator. The chemical energy released by the explosion drives a piston and piston rod within a cylinder of the driver from an initial retracted position to an extended position. Simultaneously, a high coercivity permanent magnet attached to the piston rod and disposed between the poles of a magnetic circuit in a slot of a ferromagnetic core is ejected from the magnetic circuit. Such rapid ejection causes rapid decrease in the flux flow in the magnetic circuit and generation of an electrical pulse in a coil coupled in the magnetic circuit. The restoring action of a reset spring and pneudraulic device compressed by the movement of the permanent magnet returns the magnet and piston rod to their initial positions where they are set for a repetition of the operating cycle of the generator system.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Rex L Schlicher