Westinghouse Electric Corporation

William F Hughes

Frederick J Young

George A Kemeny

Daniel W Deis

Ian R McNab

A multiple bore electromagnetic projectile launcher is provided with series circuit elements connected to the muzzle end of conductive rails of a bore to continue current conduction in those rails following the launch of a projectile and during the launch of a successive projectile. This current flow augments the flux in the successive bore during the launching of a successive projectile. Individual firing switches can be provided for each bore or additional conductive rails can be provided in an automatic switching arrangement to conduct current from a muzzle of a fired bore to the breech of a successive bore.

Rapid burst firing electromagnetic launcher

An electromagnetic projectile launching system utilizes two cylindrical rail configurations. In one configuration, multiple conductive armatures are electromagnetically accelerated along rails which are located on the inner surface of a cylindrical barrel. The second configuration utilizes armatures located between concentric cylindrical rails. Rifling provides for spin stabilization of the projectile.

Electromagnetic projectile launching system with a concentric rail

The conductivity of the laminations in an armature which conducts current between the launcher rails or switch rails of an electromagnetic propulsion system is graded such that uniform current density is achieved in each lamination. The conductivity of each lamination, which increases from the breech end to the muzzle end of the armature, is related to that of the lamination at the breech end by a single proportionality factor which is a function of the length of the armature in the direction of armature travel, the half-width of the gap between the rails, the velocity of the armature, the magnetic permeability of the rails, and the conductivity of the breech laminations and of the rails.

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Cambridge Springs, PA, United States of America

William F Hughes