초록 ▼

A projectile is accelerated along a confined path by supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the rear of the projectile as the projectile traverses the path. The jet enters the confined path at a non-zero angle relative to the projectile path. The pulse is derived from a dielec

A projectile is accelerated along a confined path by supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the rear of the projectile as the projectile traverses the path. The jet enters the confined path at a non-zero angle relative to the projectile path. The pulse is derived from a dielectric capillary tube having an interior wall from which plasma forming material is ablated in response to a discharge voltage. The projectile can be accelerated in response to the kinetic energy in the plasma jet or in response to a pressure increase of gases in the confined path resulting from the heat added to the gases by the plasma.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising means forming a confined path having a longitudinal axis along which the projectile traverses, and means for supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the path from outside the path and to the rear of the projectile as the projec

Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising means forming a confined path having a longitudinal axis along which the projectile traverses, and means for supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the path from outside the path and to the rear of the projectile as the projectile traverses the path to accelerate the projectile along the path, the jet entering the confined path at a non-zero acute angle relative to the confined path axis, the projectile and confined path geometries being such that the plasma to the rear of the projectile has a tendency to leak around the projectile so the leaked plasma is in front of the projectile, the plasma in front of the projectile tending to accumulate and to impede the acceleration of the projectile, and means for venting the plasma in front of the projectile from the confined path to substantially overcome the tendency of the leaked plasma to accumulate and impede the projectile acceleration. Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising means forming a confined path having a longitudinal axis along which the projectile traverses, and means for supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the path from outside the path and to the rear of the projectile as the projectile traverses the path to accelerate the projectile along the path, the jet entering the confined path at a non-zero acute angle relative to the confined path axis, the means for supplying a pulsed high pressure, high velocity plasma jet to the path including a tube having an interior wall forming a capillary passage, means for applying a discharge voltage between spaced regions along the length of the interior wall while a dielectric ionizable substance is between the regions, the dielectric substance including at least one element that is ionized to form a plasma in response to the discharge voltage being applied between the spaced regions, the diametric length across the passage being short relative to the distance between the spaced regions, first and second ends of the passage being respectively open and blocked while the discharge voltage is applied between the spaced regions to respectively enable and prevent the flow of plasma through them, the plasma forming an electric discharge channel between the spaced regions while the discharge voltage is applied between the regions, ohmic dissipation occurring in the electric discharge channel in response to the discharge voltage being applied between the regions to produce a high pressure in the passage to cause the plasma in the passage to flow longitudinally in the passage and through the first end to form the pulsed plasma jet.