Patent US1190868A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4429612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for accelerating a solid mass
Assignee: General Dynamics OTS Inc
•
Filing: 1979-06-18
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Granted: 1984-02-07
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Expires: 1999-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An axi-symmetrical projectile, having a mass ranging from fractions of a gram to kilograms, is accelerated to velocities in the range of 10 5 to 10 7 centimeters per second by a propelling force produced by a plasma resulting from electric discharge. The discharge is imploded against the projectile surface so lines of the magnetic fields are approximately azimuthal around the projectile axis. The projectile is tapered so it experiences a net, stable axial accelerating force along the accelerator axis by the combined action of the magnetic field producing radially directed momentum and pressure on the plasma, the interaction of the magnetic field and ions induced by the plasma on the surface, as well as material the plasma ablates from the surface. The plasma discharge is initiated either in low density background gas between anode and cathode of a discharge module, or along an insulator surface between the electrodes in low density background gas. Alternatively, in either of these situations the discharge can be initiated in a gas which is produced by ablation of the projectile surface. In an alternative situation, the projectile acts as a switch for triggering discharges. Eddy current heating of the projectile is minimized by shaping the discharge current pulse so the plasma has a relatively weak magnetic field when it arrives at the surface, or by making the projectile electrically non-conducting. To provide a long acceleration path, a series of modules is aligned. In one embodiment, the projectile position, as it advances between modules, is sensed and discharges are switched on sequentially in the modules.
Inventors
- 👤 Derek A. Tidman
- 👤 Shyke A. Goldstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/54; F; F41; F41B; F41B6/00; H05H1/02; H05H1/04; H05H1/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 90
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of accelerating a solid mass along a predetermined path, said mass having an axis initially positioned at a point on the path and a peripheral cross sectional surface region surrounding, but not intersecting the axis, the axis moving along the path during acceleration, comprising the steps of imploding a plasma discharge toward the path in response to current flowing in the plasma, the plasma arriving on the region of the surface to impart force components to the mass along and normal to the path and accelerate the mass along the path, and synchronizing the imploding of the plasma with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the region is matched with movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of accelerating a solid mass along a predetermined path, said mass having an axis initially positioned at a point on the path and a peripheral cross sectional surface region surrounding, but not intersecting the axis, the axis moving along the path during acceleration, comprising the steps of imploding a plasma discharge toward the path in response to current flowing in the plasma, the plasma arriving on the region of the surface to impart force components to the mass along and normal to the path and accelerate the mass along the path, and synchronizing the imploding of the plasma with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the region is matched with movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma arrives at the region on opposite sides of the surface with substantially equal forces so the normal components are balanced and the mass is accelerated by the components along the axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the region is a surface of revolution about the axis and the plasma has a circular inner imploding periphery at right angles to the axis when it arrives at the region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 3 wherein the region is tapered toward the axis in a direction opposite from the direction of acceleration and the plasma implodes toward the path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the region is tapered toward the axis in a direction opposite from the direction of acceleration and the plasma implodes toward the path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 3 or claim 6 wherein the plasma is synchronized by initiating separate plasma discharges at spaced regions along the path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma is synchronized by initiating separate plasma discharges at spaced regions along the path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein the plasma induces an ionized liquid layer in abuttment with the region, a magnetic field from the plasma interacting with the ionized liquid layer to accelerate the mass along the path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 wherein a magnetic field from the plasma compresses the plasma against the region to impart momentum and pressure to the region and accelerate the mass along the path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein the plasma interacts with the region to ablate material from the region in a direction generally normal to the region to impart force to the mass generally in the direction of the axis and the acceleration direction to accelerate the mass along the path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein a magnetic field from the plasma compresses the plasma against the region to impart momentum and pressure to the region and assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma induces an ionized liquid layer in abuttment with the region, the magnetic field interacting with the ionized layer to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein a magnetic field from the plasma compresses the plasma against the region to impart momentum and pressure to the region and assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma interacts with the region to ablate material from the region in a direction normal to the region to impart a force to the mass generally in the direction of the axis and the acceleration direction to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein a magnetic field from the plasma compresses the plasma against the region to impart momentum and pressure to the region to assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma interacts with the region to ablate material from the region in a direction generally normal to the region to impart a force to the mass generally in the direction of the axis and the acceleration direction to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein a magnetic field from the plasma compresses the plasma against the region to impart momentum and pressure to the region to assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma interacts with the region to ablate material from the region in a direction generally normal to the region to impart a force to the mass generally in the direction of the axis and the acceleration direction to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma compresses against the region to impart momentum and pressure to the region to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein the plasma implosion is initiated by applying a discharge voltage through a gas in a region spaced radially from and surrounding the path, the discharge voltage inducing a current flow in the gas which continues as the current flow in the plasma that produces the magnetic field, said magnetic field and plasma being initiated to surround the path to cause the plasma to implode toward the path from all radial directions and to arrive on the region of the mass from all radial directions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 4 or claim 6 or claim 8 or claim 3 wherein the plasma implosion is initiated by applying a discharge voltage through a gas in a region spaced radially from the path, the discharge voltage inducing a current flow in the gas which continues as the current flow in the plasma that produces the magnetic field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising injecting the mass along the path so it has a non-zero velocity when it initially encounters the force components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for accelerating a solid mass along a predetermined path, said mass having an axis initially positioned at a point on the path and a peripheral cross sectional surface region surrounding but not intersecting the axis, the axis moving along the path during acceleration, comprising means for imploding a plasma discharge inwardly toward the path, the plasma being imploded so it arrives on the region of the surface to impart force components to the mass along and normal to the path and accelerate the mass along the path, and means for synchronizing the imploding of the plasma discharge with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the region is matched with movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for accelerating a solid mass along a predetermined path, said mass having an axis initially positioned at a point on the path and a peripheral cross sectional surface region surrounding but not intersecting the axis, the axis moving along the path during acceleration, comprising means for imploding a plasma discharge inwardly toward the path, the plasma being imploded so it arrives on the region of the surface to impart force components to the mass along and normal to the path and accelerate the mass along the path, and means for synchronizing the imploding of the plasma discharge with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the region is matched with movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for synchronizing includes means for sensing the movement of the accelerating mass along the path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the imploding means includes a plurality of cascaded accelerating sections along the length of the path, each of said sections including spaced anode and cathode electrodes along the path direction, and the synchronizing means includes means responsive to the sensing means for initiating successive high voltage electric discharges between the electrodes of the successive sections.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 19 or 20 wherein the region is formed as a surface of revolution about the axis, and the means for imploding includes means for shaping the imploding plasma so it has a circular inner imploding periphery at right angles to the axis when it arrives at the region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
134 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the imploding means includes an envelope containing a gas as well as anode and cathode electrodes longitudinally spaced along and remote from the path, a solid dielectric remote from and surrounding the path extending between the electrodes and a high voltage source connected to said electrodes, said electrodes and the dielectric being shaped and the voltage applied by the source to the electrodes being such that the plasma discharge is initiated in the gas proximate the surface of the dielectric and surrounding the path and current in the plasma produces a magnetic field surrounding the path, the field imploding the plasma radially inwardly to collect the gas and convert the collected gas into a plasma annulus that moves toward the axis in response to activation of the source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein a plurality of said anode and cathode electrodes are in cascaded sections along the path, and the synchronizing means includes means for successively applying voltages from the source to the electrodes of the cascaded sections.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus of claim 24 or claim 27 or claim 23 wherein the solid dielectric is a ring coaxial with the path and the electrodes are annular plates coaxial with and at right angles to the path, the plates having an inner diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of the ring, whereby the plates and ring intersect so the plasma is initiated in a gas at the surface of the ring between the electrodes in response to a high voltage pulse from the source and current continues to flow in the gas to establish a magnetic field that implodes the plasma toward the path.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 24 or claim 25 or claim 23 wherein the solid dielectric is a ring coaxial with the path and the electrodes have a circular periphery coaxial with the path, the minimum diameter of the ring and electrodes being approximately the same.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the means for synchronizing includes means for sensing the movement of the accelerating mass along the path, and means responsive to the sensing means for activating the means for successively applying the pulses to the cascaded sections.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 24 or claim 25 or claim 23 wherein the envelope has an exit end through which the mass passes into an environment exterior to the device and means for establishing a pressure differential across the exit end between the environment and the envelope.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the imploding means is located in an envelope having an exit end through which the mass passes into an environment exterior to the device and means for establishing a pressure differential across the exit end between the environment and the envelope.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further including means for injecting the mass along the path into the imploding means with an axial non-zero velocity.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
145 words
In combination, a projectile having a longitudinal axis and a region formed as a surface of revolution about the axis, said region being tapered toward the axis, apparatus for accelerating the projectile along a predetermined path so that the projectile axis moves along the path, the projectile being positioned so the tapered region is directed oppositely from the direction of movement, said apparatus comprising means for imploding a plasma discharge inwardly toward the path, the plasma being imploded so it arrives on the region to impart force components to the projectile along and normal to the path so as to accelerate the projectile along the path, and means for synchronizing the imploding of the plasma discharge with the acceleration of the projectile along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the region is matched with the movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
145 words
In combination, a projectile having a longitudinal axis and a region formed as a surface of revolution about the axis, said region being tapered toward the axis, apparatus for accelerating the projectile along a predetermined path so that the projectile axis moves along the path, the projectile being positioned so the tapered region is directed oppositely from the direction of movement, said apparatus comprising means for imploding a plasma discharge inwardly toward the path, the plasma being imploded so it arrives on the region to impart force components to the projectile along and normal to the path so as to accelerate the projectile along the path, and means for synchronizing the imploding of the plasma discharge with the acceleration of the projectile along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the region is matched with the movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 32 wherein the force components have a center of action against the region and the projectile has a center of mass behind the center of action.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 33 wherein the projectile includes nose and tail sections and has a non-uniform density with a greater density toward the tail section than toward the nose section.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination of claim 33 wherein the projectile region is conical.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 33 wherein the projectile region has a greater curvature in proximity to the nose section than in proximity to the tail section.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 36 wherein the tail section is elongated and has a slight curvature to stabilize the projectile movement along the path despite the tendency of kink instability of the plasma pinching behind a main tapered portion of the projectile.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 32 wherein the imploding means is located in an evacuated envelope having an exit end through which the projectile passes into the atmosphere, and means for establishing a pressure differential across the exit end between the atmosphere and evacuated envelope.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 32 further including means for injecting the projectile along the path into the imploding means with an initial non-zero velocity.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 32 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
113 words
A projectile adapted to be accelerated along a longitudinal axis thereof by an apparatus that accelerates the projectile along a predetermined path, the apparatus imploding a fluid toward the path so the fluid arrives on a region of the projectile surface to impart force components to the projectile along and normal to the path, the projectile comprising a peripheral tapered surface of revolution being the region, the tapered surface forming directed oppositely from the direction of movement along the path, the taper and the mass within the projectile being arranged so the projectile has a center of mass behind a center of action of the force components along the path against the region.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
113 words
A projectile adapted to be accelerated along a longitudinal axis thereof by an apparatus that accelerates the projectile along a predetermined path, the apparatus imploding a fluid toward the path so the fluid arrives on a region of the projectile surface to impart force components to the projectile along and normal to the path, the projectile comprising a peripheral tapered surface of revolution being the region, the tapered surface forming directed oppositely from the direction of movement along the path, the taper and the mass within the projectile being arranged so the projectile has a center of mass behind a center of action of the force components along the path against the region.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 or 39 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The projectile of claim 41 wherein the projectile includes nose and tail sections and has a non-uniform density with a greater density toward the tail section than toward the nost section.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The projectile of claim 43 wherein the projectile region is conical.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The projectile of claim 43 wherein the projectile region has a greater curvature in proximity to the nose section than in proximity to the tail section.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
42 words
The projectile of claim 45 wherein the tail section is elongated and has a slight curvature to stabilize the projectile movement along the path despite the tendency of kink instability of the fluid pinching behind a main tapered portion of the projectile.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
The projectile of claim 41 or claim 43 or claim 44 or claim 45 or claim 46 wherein the fluid is a plasma discharge and the projectile is fabricated of a dielectric so currents are not induced therein by the plasma discharge.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
46 words
The projectile of claim 40 or claim 41 or claim 44 or claim 45 or claim 46 wherein the fluid is a plasma discharge, the magnetic fields associated with the imploding plasma and adjacent the projectile are relatively weak, and the projectile is fabricated of metal.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of accelerating a solid mass along a flight path comprising the steps of accelerating the mass while in free flight along the path by imploding a plasma discharge radially toward the path in response to current flowing in an azimuthal magnetic field flux coaxial with the axis to establish the plasma generally parallel to the flight path axis.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of accelerating a solid mass along a flight path comprising the steps of accelerating the mass while in free flight along the path by imploding a plasma discharge radially toward the path in response to current flowing in an azimuthal magnetic field flux coaxial with the axis to establish the plasma generally parallel to the flight path axis.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the plasma discharge is timed such that the plasma contacts the mass to impart force components to the mass along and normal to the path.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 49 or 50 wherein the plasma is imploded to have a radial taper toward the path such that at time t the imploded plasma at radius R 1 is at path position P 1 and the imploded plasma at radius R 2 is at path position P 2 , where R 1 is less than R 2 and P 1 is traversed by the projectile prior to P 2 , and P 1 and P 2 are selectively different positions of the plasma discharge along the path length.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the plasma arrives at the region on opposite sides of the mass with substantially equal forces so the normal components are balanced and the mass is accelerated by the components along the path.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 50 further including synchronizing the imploding of the plasma with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the mass is matched with movement of the mass along the path.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 52 further including synchronizing the imploding of the plasma with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the mass is matched with movement of the mass along the path.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 54, 55 or 53 wherein the plasma is synchronized by initiating separate plasma discharges at spaced regions along the path.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein the plasma induces an ionized liquid layer in abuttment with an exterior surface of the mass, a magnetic field from the plasma interacting with the ionized liquid layer to accelerate the mass along the path.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein a magnetic field plasma compresses the plasma against an exterior surface of the mass to impart momentum and pressure to the surface and accelerate the mass along the path.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein the plasma interacts with an exterior surface of the mass to ablate material from the surface in a direction generally normal to the region to impart force to the mass generally in the direction of the path and the acceleration direction to accelerate the mass along the path.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein a magnetic field from the plasma compresses the plasma against an exterior surface of the mass to impart momentum and pressure to the surface and assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma induces an ionized liquid layer in abuttment with the surface, the magnetic field interacting with the ionized layer to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein a magnetic field resulting from the current flowing in the plasma compresses the plasma against an exterior surface of the mass to impart momentum and pressure to the surface and assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma interacts with the surface to ablate material from the surface in a direction normal to the region to impart a force to the mass generally in the direction of the path and the acceleration direction to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein a magnetic field resulting from the current flowing in the plasma compresses the plasma against an exterior surface of the mass to impart momentum and pressure to the surface to assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma interacts with the surface to ablate material from the surface in a direction generally normal to the surface to impart a force to the mass generally in the direction of the path and the acceleration direction to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 50, 52, 54 or 53 wherein a magnetic field resulting from the current flowing in the plasma compresses the plasma against an exterior surface of the mass to impart momentum and pressure to the surface to assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma interacts with the surface to ablate material from the surface in a direction generally normal to the surface to impart a force to the mass generally in the direction of the path and the acceleration direction to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path and wherein the plasma compresses against the surface to impart momentum and pressure to the surface to further assist in accelerating the mass along the path.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 50, 52 or 54 wherein the plasma implosion is initiated by applying a discharge voltage through a gas in a region spaced radially from and surrounding the path, the discharge voltage inducing a current flow in the gas which continues as the current flow in the plasma that produces the magnetic field, said magnetic field and plasma being initiated to surround the path to cause the plasma to implode toward the path from all radial directions and to arrive on the mass from all radial directions.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 50, 52 or 54 wherein the plasma implosion is initiated by applying a discharge voltage through a gas in a region spaced radially from the path, the discharge voltage inducing a current flow in the gas which continues as the current flow in the plasma that produces the magnetic field.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 18, 52, 54, 55, 49 or 50 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for accelerating a solid mass in free flight along a flight path comprising means for establishing a plasma discharge along the path, means for imploding the plasma discharge radially toward the path, said means for imploding including means for establishing a current flow in the plasma generally parallel to the flight path axis to establish azimuthal magnetic field flux coaxial with the axis so the plasma is imploded toward the path to accelerate the mass in free flight along the path.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for accelerating a solid mass in free flight along a flight path comprising means for establishing a plasma discharge along the path, means for imploding the plasma discharge radially toward the path, said means for imploding including means for establishing a current flow in the plasma generally parallel to the flight path axis to establish azimuthal magnetic field flux coaxial with the axis so the plasma is imploded toward the path to accelerate the mass in free flight along the path.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the imploding means is located in an envelope having an exit end through which the mass passes into an environment exterior to the device and means for establishing a pressure differential across the exit end between the environment and the envelope.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 67 whereifn the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the current flow implodes the plasma to impart force components to the mass along and normal to the path.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the plasma imploding means includes means for imploding the plasma such that at time t the imploded plasma at radius R 1 is at path position P 1 and the imploded plasma at radius R 2 is at path position P 2 , where R 1 is less than R 2 and P 1 is traversed by the projectile prior to P 2 , and P 1 and P 2 are selectively different positions of the plasma discharge along the path length.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
136 words
The apparatus of claim 67 or 71 wherein the imploding means includes an envelope containing a gas as well as anode and cathode electrodes longitudinally spaced along and remote from the path, a solid dielectric remote from and surrounding the path extending between the electrodes and a high voltage source connected to said electrodes, said electrodes and the dielectric being shaped and the voltage applied by the source to the electrodes being such that the plasma discharge is initiated in the gas proximate the surface of the dielectric and surrounding the path and current in the plasma produces a magnetic field surrounding the path, the field imploding the plasma radially inwardly to collect the gas and convert the collected gas into a plasma annulus that moves toward the axis in response to activation of the source.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 67 further including means for synchronizing the imploding of the plasma discharge with the acceleration of the mass along the path so the arrival of the plasma on the mass is matched with movement of the projectile along the path.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 73 wherein the means for synchronizing includes means for sensing the movement of the accelerating mass along the path.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the imploding means includes a plurality of cascaded accelerating sections along the length of the path, each of said sections including spaced anode and cathode electrodes along the path direction, and the synchronizing means includes means responsive to the sensing means for initiating successive high voltage electric discharges between the electrodes of the successive sections.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 72 wherein a plurality of said anode and cathode electrodes are in cascaded sections along the path, and the synchronizing means includes means for successively applying voltages from the source to the electrodes of the cascaded sections.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 72, 76 or 69 wherein the solid dielectric is a ring coaxial with the path and the electrodes are annular plates coaxial with and at right angles to the path, the plates having an inner diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of the ring, whereby the plates and ring intersect so the plasma is initiated in a gas at the surface of the ring between the electrodes in response to a high voltage pulse from the source and current continues to flow in the gas to establish a magnetic field that implodes the plasma toward the path.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 72, 76 or 69 wherein the solid dielectric is a ring coaxial with the path and the electrodes have a circular periphery coaxial with the path, the minimum diameter of the ring and electrodes being approximately the same.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the means for synchronizing includes means for sensing the movement of the accelerating mass along the path, the means responsive to the sensing means for activating the means for successively applying the pulses to the cascaded sections.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 72, 76 and 69 wherein the envelope has an exit end through which the mass passes into an environment exterior to the device and means for establishing a pressure differential across the exit end between the environment and the envelope.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 20, 24, 25, 28, 30, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79 or 68 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79 or 68 wherein the imploding plasma has substantial velocity components radially toward the path and insubstantial velocity components in the direction of the path.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 32 or claim 33 or claim 34 or claim 35 or claim 36 or claim 37 or claim 69 wherein the projectile is fabricated of a low electrical conductivity material so substantial eddy currents are not induced therein by the plasma discharge.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 32 or claim 33 or claim 34 or claim 35 or claim 36 or claim 37 or claim 69 wherein the magnetic fields associated with the imploding plasma, when the plasma is adjacent the projectile are relatively weak, and the projectile is fabricated of a material having a high electric conductivity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-06 | 1987-08-08 | 1988-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-06 | 1991-08-08 | 1992-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-06 | 1995-08-08 | 1996-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |