The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 1990
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1988
Wendell Neugebauer, Ballston Spa, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Pittsfield, MA (US);
Abstract
To improve the performance and life of a charging current-conducting commutating switch in an inductor storage-type electromagnetic launcher, the energy expended in propelling a mass through a breech rail gun section at a high velocity is utilized to generate a current in the breech section rails which flows through the commutating switch in opposition to the inductor charging current. The switch is opened in coordination with the movement of the mass through the launcher with little or no arcing when the current therethrough has been depressed to a minimal level to commutate inductor discharging current into the rails of a longitudinally aligned launch rail gun section of the launcher to accelerate the mass therethrough to a high exit velocity.