Acceleration of objects to high velocity by electromagnetic forces

Abstract

Two exemplary approaches to the acceleration of projectiles are provided. Both approaches can utilize concepts associated with the Inductrack maglev system. Either of them provides an effective means of accelerating multi-kilogram projectiles to velocities of several kilometers per second, using launchers of order 10 meters in length, thus enabling the acceleration of projectiles to high velocities by electromagnetic forces.

1 . A method for accelerating an object, comprising:
 placing an object within a launcher, wherein said object comprises conductors A, wherein said launcher comprises means for producing a traveling and accelerating wave of magnetic field in proximity to said conductors A; and   producing said traveling and accelerating wave of magnetic field in proximity to said conductors A.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing a traveling and accelerating wave of magnetic field in proximity to said conductors comprises a series of Halbach arrays, wherein each Halbach array of said arrays can be pulsed, wherein the step of producing said traveling and accelerating wave comprises pulsing each Halbach array of said series of Halbach arrays in a sequence with respect to each other said Halbach array of said series. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each said Halbach array comprise conductors B that carry pulsed currents. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said conductors B replace the permanent-magnet bars of conventional Halbach arrays 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said conductors B of each said Halbach array of said series of Halbach arrays are excited by a circuit of a series of circuits containing charged condensers to produce pulse-current trains with a frequency that increases from one train to the next. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said traveling and accelerating wave is created with high-power inverters the output frequency of which increases with time to produce a corresponding increase in wave velocity produced by said series of Halbach arrays. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said object comprises fins, wherein said conductors A are located on said fins. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said Halbach arrays produce an inducing magnetic field, wherein said currents interact back on said inducing magnetic field to produce both strong accelerating forces and a high-stiffness centering action which guides said object within said launcher 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said each Halbach array comprises a dual Halbach array. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said dual Halbach array is configured to cancel magnetic fields located on a side of said dual Halbach array that is away from said object and wherein said dual Halbach array is configured to add magnetic fields located on a side of said, dual Halbach array that is near said object. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for accelerating an object, comprising:
 an object comprising conductors A; and   a launcher comprising means for producing a traveling and accelerating wave of magnetic field in proximity to said conductors A.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said means for producing a traveling and accelerating wave of magnetic field in proximity to said conductors comprises a series of Halbach arrays, further comprising means for pulsing each Halbach array of said series of Halbach arrays in a sequence with respect to each other said Halbach array of said series. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each said Halbach array comprise conductors B that carry pulsed currents. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said conductors B replace the permanent-magnet bars of conventional Halbach arrays 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a series of circuits for exciting said conductors B of each said Halbach array of said series of Halbach arrays, wherein said circuits comprise charged condensers to produce pulse-current trains with a frequency that increases from one train to the next. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein means for producing a traveling and accelerating waves comprises high-power inverters the output frequency of which increases with time to produce a corresponding increase in wave velocity produced by said series of Halbach arrays. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said object comprises fins, wherein said conductors A are located on said fins. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said Halbach arrays produce an inducing magnetic field, wherein said currents interact back on said inducing magnetic field to produce both strong accelerating forces and a high-stiffness centering action which guides said object within said launcher 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said each Halbach array comprises a dual Halbach array. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said dual Halbach array is configured to cancel magnetic fields located on a side of said dual Halbach array that is away from said object and wherein said dual Halbach array is configured to add magnetic fields located on a side of said dual Halbach array that is near said object.