Electromagnetic Gun With Parallel Wall Conductor Assembles

Info

Publication number: 20060162536
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 2, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 27, 2006
Inventor: JOSEPH FRASCA (ATLANTA, GA)
Application Number: 11/164,727

Abstract

Narrow cavity rail guns with: a power rail proximal each edge, a wall conductor assembly in each cavity wall there between with barrel bus at one rail and extending therefrom to distal contact means at the cavity, an array of parallel, spaced, cavity orthogonal wall conductors. Armatures for use therein have: a propulsion bus orthogonal the cavity axis with continuity the barrel buses proximal power rail at one end and the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means the other, and at the second power rail, a forward current shunt with continuity said contact means and said power rail, and an aft current shunt with continuity said contact means and propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means. Armature shunts via the wall conductor assembles and said circuit means circulate the device's current around the armature propulsion bus during cavity traverse and its magnetic fields interact with the propulsion bus current propelling the armature.

Description

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of patent application: Ser. No. 10/707,607 filed Dec. 24, 2003 and claims the benefit of the filing dates of provisional patent application: 60/319,820 filed Dec. 30, 2002, provisional patent application: 60/320,208 filed May 21, 2003, and provisional patent application: No. 60/481,159.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The following invention is related electromagnetic propulsion devices such as rail guns. In rail guns a magnetic field perpendicular to an electrical current path through an armature interacts with the path current, creating force on the armature which is perpendicular to both the current path and the magnetic field. The armature of a rail gun is located between and has electrical contact with the gun's parallel power rails. In the rail gun, armature current flow is resultant a voltage potential between the power rails.

2. Description of Related Art

The source of the armature accelerating magnetic fields in a rail gun is often only its very large rail currents. Among the oldest patented rail gun inventions are those of Fauhon-Villeplee which include U.S. Pat. No. 1,370,200. The Fauhon-Villeplee devices have, in addition to the magnetic fields of the rail currents, magnetic fields for armature acceleration supplied by electromagnets and/or permanent magnets arranged along the armature path between the power rails. The power rails primary function is the supply of armature current. These devices, although more cumbersome, permits more latitude in accelerator design.

Pyrotechnic projectile acceleration means such as gun powders and more esoteric explosives pervasive civilian and military armaments today have upper projectile velocity limits. These upper velocity limits are determined by the molecular velocity of the projectile propelling explosion gases at the maximum pressure and temperature permitted in the barrel. Rail guns do not share this limitation. Therefore, the massive supporting power generation and distribution systems, which can include cryogenic equipment, required to supply the immense electric currents required by a rail guns to propel projectiles to hyper velocities are seen as acceptable overhead.

With the effective development of gas cartridge fired power sources similar to those used for emergency power in some commercial and military aircraft, a significant reduction in the mass of rail gun support equipment should be possible.

The equations and examples herein are intended as aides to practitioners of the arts relevant the topic devices and are not part of the claimed devices, and the degree of their veracity is not intended to reflect adversely on the veracity, spirit, intent, merit or scope of this application for letters of patent.

A simplified formula for a rail gun armature accelerating force due to one rail is:
df=dq(U×B)=(dQ·dl/dt×B)=Idl×B=Idl×μI/(2πr), where μ=4π×10⁻⁷H/m. 1)
The force on the armature due to the current in both rails is then: $\begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} Force = 2 [I^{2} (4 π \times 10^{- 7})] \int_{r_{0}}^{r_{1}} ⅆ r / (2 π r) \\ = I^{2} (4 \times 10^{- 7}) \ln (r_{g} / r_{o}) Newton \end{matrix} & 2) \end{matrix}$
where r_ois effective radius of one of the rails and r_ais the straight line distance from that rail to the second rail.

The following example illustrates the magnitude of the currents required by conventional rail guns.

A hypothetical gun with a 11.43 mm cylindrical bore (0.45 inches) and an approximate 0.6264 m (24 inches) barrel length, fires a 6.48 gram (100 grain) bullet with muzzle velocity of 1524 m/s (5000 ft/s). Ignoring air and barrel friction, a like muzzle velocity would also result from a steady force of 12344.2 N (2775 lbf) applied to the bullet during its 0.0008 second barrel traverse. At the muzzle the bullet has 7525 J (5550 ft-lbf) kinetic energy.

Applying equation 2, above, for the rail gun force (with an r_a/r_oratio of 5.4) for like performance of a 0.6264 m (24 inches) long rail gun propelled bullet and ignoring air and barrel friction and circuit losses, a current of approximately 135,065 Amperes at a rail potential of 69.6 Volts is required to produce the 12344.2 N force on the armature for the 0.8 millisecond barrel traverse time.

For a like performance in a rail gun that has a 0.6264 m long barrel (24 inches) cavity with a rectangular right section and a r_a/r_oratio of 15, propelling a 6.48 gram (100 grain) flat projectile with a 0.0422 m (1.66 inches) long propulsion bus, an approximate current of 106,751 Amperes at a rail potential of 88.1 volts is required to produce the 12344.2 Newton (2775 lbf) force on the armature for the 0.0008 second barrel traverse time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, the total magnetic field strength interacting with the armature current in the device is increased resultant the current circulation through barrel wall conductors immediately forward and immediately aft and closely proximal the armature current path during the armature's barrel cavity traverse. The proper current circulation through said wall conductors is maintained by current shunt means carried in the armature which interact with barrel wall conductors' contact means, a barrel power rail, and the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means.

Said current circulation about the armature current path during its barrel cavity traverse and the resultant increase the magnetic field strength acting on the armature current path per Ampere current, reduces the current requirement per Newton force on the armature. The basic power requirement remains unchanged [e.g. 7525 Joules (5550 ft-lbf) in the above example]; however, the power profile is shifted from one with an extremely large current to one with larger voltage and significantly diminished current. With their greatly reduced current requirement, devices of the invention might be designed to utilize commercially available power sources.

The reduced current requirement in rail guns of the invention reduces the power loss due to resistance; i.e. I²R. Resistance losses increase linearly with increase in current path length and the number of sliding contacts; however, they are reduced to proportional the square of the reduced current flow. Therefore there is an expected reduction in overall power consumption.

In the invention, the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means provides continuous electrical continuity between the propulsion bus and aft current shunt of the armature [herein after also referred to as “the aft shunt”] and inclusion of a third barrel rail as part of said circuit means eliminates the need for an electric current bus in the armature as the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means. Said bus, when extant, and the current therein is parallel to the armature's direction of travel (and the barrel cavity axis) and the proximal power rail's electric current flow and large forces of attraction are extant between said armature current bus and the power rail creating increase friction losses.

The use of two wall conductor assembles in the invention, one in each barrel cavity wall, neutralizes the forces on the armature directed lateral to the armature's plane which are extant in devices with only one wall conductor assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a oblique sectioned view of the breach end of the gun with projectile;

FIG. 2 is a oblique view of the gun in FIG. 1 disassembled;

FIG. 3 is an oblique sectioned partially cut away view of the gun in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a projectile for use in the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the projectile in FIG. 4 disassembled;

FIG. 6 is an oblique view of a disassembled projectile with a current bus as the propulsion bus-aft shunt means;

FIG. 7 is an oblique sectioned view of the breach end of the rail subassembly for the gun in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an oblique cutaway view of the device in 1 to illustrate current paths on the first side of the gun side;

FIG. 9 is an oblique cutaway first side view of the device in 1 to illustrate current paths on the second side of the gun;

FIG. 10 is an oblique view of a section of a barrel with twist and a projectile for use therein.

FIG. 11 is an oblique broken away, cut away view of a projectile retained at the breach end of a gun of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Devices of this invention have a barrel with a narrow cavity, the barrel cavity, extending there through. The barrel cavity has a breach end opening at one barrel end and a muzzle end opening at the other barrel end and a central axis extending its length parallel to the cavity surfaces. Disregarding slight variations at port openings for contact means and said means, right sections taken to the cavity axis throughout the cavity are alike.

The devices have two barrel power rails. A power rail is located at, in or proximal each of the narrow parallel edge walls of the cavity and has continuous barrel cavity surface thereat and extends from proximal the cavity's breach end to proximal the cavity's muzzle end. Each power rail has a power connection lug to outside the barrel at its breach end.

There are armatures for the device—also referred to as projectiles—for propulsion through the barrel cavity from breach end to muzzle end. Armatures have an axis which in the barrel cavity is parallel to the direction of armature's barrel cavity traverse and coincident with or very close and parallel the cavity axis and all armature right sections are smaller then the barrel cavity right section profile and a portion of said right sections can be like but slightly undersized a barrel cavity right section.

The armatures have a muzzle end and a breach end which when in the barrel cavity are the ends closest to the cavity's muzzle and breach end, respectively.

Each armature has a propulsion bus approximately midway along its axial extent and orthogonal to its axis and, when in the barrel cavity, orthogonal the barrel cavity axis and the direction of the armature's barrel cavity traverse.

Herein when an electrically conducting element of the armature has electrical continuity with an electrically conducting element or elements in the barrel said electrical continuity is sliding electrical continuity with armature movement in the barrel cavity.

When the armature is in the barrel cavity, one end of its propulsion bus has electrical continuity with one power rail and said bus extends therefrom across the armature to proximal the second power rail where it has electrical continuity with the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means.

The propulsion bus of an armature in the barrel, except for its electrical continuity with the power rail on one end and its electrical continuity with the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means at its other end is electrically isolated from other conducting elements of the armature and the barrel. The propulsion bus divides the armature into two sections: the muzzle section with the muzzle end and the breach section with the breach end.

The invention has two wall conductor assembles. A wall conductor assembly is located in each of the two barrel cavity walls segments between the power rails and extends the approximate length of the barrel cavity. Each wall conductor assembly has a barrel bus which is located proximal and parallel to the power rail that has electrical continuity with the propulsion bus of armatures in the cavity and is of similar length said rail and electrically isolated therefrom.

Each wall conductor assembly also has an array of parallel spaced wall conductors which are orthogonal the cavity axis and at or closely proximal the cavity surface. The wall conductors of said array are electrically continuous on one end with the barrel bus and extend therefrom to proximal the barrel bus distal power rail. At their barrel bus distal end, each wall conductor has a contact means with which it is electrically continuous. Each said contact means has surface at the barrel cavity. Each wall conductor beyond the barrel bus is electrically isolated from other wall conductors and conducting elements in the barrel. The wall conductor assembly is electrically isolated from other elements of the barrel and, except at the contact means, the conducting elements of an armature in the barrel cavity.

The twin elements of the device (i.e. the wall conductor assembles, the barrel cavity walls and surfaces, the armature surface sides and current shunt surfaces therein, etc.) are referred to herein as the “first” and the “second” element of twin elements; e.g. the first wall conductor assembly or the second wall conductor assembly. Each element of twin elements has its identification as “first” or “second” element dependant on its proximity to the palm and fingers of a right hand grasping the barrel and whose thumb, located along the barrel bus distal power rail, points towards the muzzle. The element of the twin elements which is closest to the right hand palm is the “first” element and the remaining twin element is the “second” element. An armature for the device has a forward current shunt [also referred to herein as the forward shunt] located in its muzzle section. With the armature in the barrel cavity, the forward current shunt is at the armature edge parallel and with close proximity the barrel bus distal power rail where it has surface that has continuous electrical continuity with said power rail.

The forward current shunt has a first surface in the armature's first surface that in the barrel cavity is located proximal the cavity's first wall segment and the first wall conductor assembly therein. Said shunt surface, at its barrel cavity location, has electrical continuity with the contact means of said assembly's wall conductor.

The forward current shunt also has a second surface in the armature's second surface that in the barrel cavity is located proximal the cavity's second wall segment and the second wall conductor assembly therein and said shunt surface, at its barrel cavity location, has electrical continuity with the contact means of said assembly's wall conductor.

With an armature in the cavity, the group of one or more wall conductors of the first wall conductor assembly that has electrical continuity, via their contact means, with the forward current shunt's first surface at any instant is first forward wall conductor and the group of one or more wall conductor of the second wall conductor assembly that have electrical continuity, via their contact means, with the second surface of the forward current shunt at any instant is second forward wall conductor. ‘Forward wall conductor’ herein refers to either forward wall conductor of the first or second wall conductor assembly or both, collectively.

By means of its first and second surface proximal the cavity segments with the first and second wall conductor assembly and the continuity of said surfaces with the contact means of forward wall conductor of said assembles and its surface with continuity the proximal barrel power rail, the forward current shunt of an armature in the barrel cavity, maintains electrical continuity between said power rail and first and second wall conductor assembles. With power supplied to the device the forward current shunt thereby provides a current path between the proximal power rail and said wall conductor assembles.

The forward current shunt is electrically isolated from all other conducting elements in the armature and when in the barrel cavity is, except for its electrical continuity with the proximal power rail and the contact means of the first and second forward wall conductor of the respective wall conductor assembles, electrically isolated from all other electrical conducting elements of the barrel.

An armature for the device has an aft current shunt [also referred to herein as the aft shunt] located in its breach section. With the armature in the barrel cavity, the aft current shunt is at the armature edge parallel and with close proximity the barrel bus distal power rail but without continuity therewith; i.e. at the same armature edge as the forward current shunt. The aft current shunt has electrical continuity with a propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means proximal said power rail.

The aft current shunt has a first surface in the armature's first surface that in the barrel cavity is located proximal the cavity's first wall segment and the first wall conductor assembly therein. Said shunt surface, at its barrel cavity location, has electrical continuity with the contact means of said assembly's wall conductor.

The aft current shunt also has a second surface in the armature's second surface that in the barrel cavity is located proximal the cavity's second wall segment and the second wall conductor assembly therein and said shunt surface, at its barrel cavity location, has electrical continuity with the contact means of said assembly's wall conductor.

With an armature in the cavity, the group of one or more wall conductors of the first wall conductor assembly that has electrical continuity, via their contact means, with the aft current shunt's first surface at any instant is first aft wall conductor and the group of one or more wall conductor of the second wall conductor assembly that has electrical continuity, via their contact means, with the second surface of the aft current shunt at any instant is second aft wall conductor. ‘Aft wall conductor’ herein refers to either aft wall conductor of the first or second wall conductor assembly or both, collectively.

By means of its first and second surface proximal the cavity segments with the first and second wall conductor assembly and the continuity of said surfaces with the contact means of aft wall conductor of said assembles and its electrical continuity with the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, the aft current shunt of an armature in the barrel cavity, maintains electrical continuity between said circuit means and first and second wall conductor assembles via the contact means of their respective aft wall conductor. With power supplied to the device the aft current shunt thereby provides a current path between the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and said wall conductor assembles.

The propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means can be a current bus in the armature between and connecting the aft current shunt and the end of the propulsion bus distal its end with power rail continuity. When in the barrel cavity, said current bus is proximal the power rail located distal the barrel bus.

Alternatively, the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means can include a third barrel rail in close proximity and isolated from the power rail distal the barrel bus. Said third rail is parallel, of similar length, and with a like location along the barrel length as said power rail and has a continuous cavity surface along its length. With an armature in the barrel cavity, the third rail maintains electrical continuity between the aft current shunt, which has a surface with electrical continuity the third rail cavity surface and the propulsion bus which also has surface with electrical continuity the third rail cavity surface. Except for said propulsion bus and aft shunt continuities, the third rail is electrically isolated from all other conducting element of the barrel and armatures.

With power supplied to the power rail lugs from an outside power source and with the polarity of the power rail distal the barrel bus positive with reference the power rail proximal the barrel bus, current flow is muzzle directed in the positive rail and the magnetic fields of said current interacts with the current in the armature propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed, cavity axis parallel components.

The current flow is from said positive rail through the armature's forward current shunt and is divided thereby for parallel distribution to the forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles, via the continuity of said wall conductor contact means with the first and second surface of said shunt. The current is barrel bus directed in said forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly; i.e. away from the positive power rail. The magnetic fields of the current in forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly interact with the armature's propulsion bus current creating forces therein with barrel cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components.

The current flow continues from forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles to the barrel bus of each assembly, wherein it has a breach direction. The magnetic fields of the current in the barrel bus of the first wall conductor assembly and the barrel bus of the second wall conductor assembly interacts with the current in the armature's propulsion bus creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components.

Current flow is from the barrel bus to aft wall conductor in the first wall conductor assembly and from the barrel bus to aft wall conductor in the second wall conductor assembly and therein toward the positive power rail. The magnetic fields of the current in aft wall conductor of their respective wall conductor assembly interact with the propulsion bus current creating therein forces with a muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current flow from the first wall conductor assembly rejoins the current flow from the second wall conductor assembly in the aft current shunt via the electrical continuity of aft wall conductor contact means of the first and second wall conductor assembles with the first and second surface of the aft current shunt, respectively. Current flows from the aft current shunt to the propulsion bus via the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means.

When the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means includes a third barrel rail, and surfaces on the propulsion bus and aft current shunt with continuous electrical continuity the cavity surfaced of said third rail the current flow is from the aft current shunt to the propulsion bus in said third barrel rail. The third rail current has muzzle direction and the magnetic fields of said current interacts with the current in the armature's propulsion bus creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components. Current from the third rail flows to the propulsion bus and therein away from the third rail.

When the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is a current bus in the armature connecting the aft current shunt to the end of the propulsion bus there proximal. Current flows directly from the aft current shunt to the propulsion bus with a muzzle direction. The magnetic fields of the current in the proximal power rail, whose current is also muzzle directed, interacts with the current flow in the armature's current bus creating forces therein perpendicular to the cavity axis and direction of armature cavity traverse and towards the proximal power rail. This increases friction losses between the barrel and the armature.

The current flow in the armature's propulsion bus is from the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means towards its electrical continuity with the power rail proximal the barrel buses.

The current flows from the armature's propulsion bus to the power rail proximal the barrel buses and therein towards the breach and therefrom to the outside power supply return terminal. The magnetic fields of the current in said power rail interacts with the current in the propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed, cavity axis parallel components.

The magnetic fields of the current in the above described circuitry surrounding the propulsion bus during the armature's traverse of the barrel cavity, interacts with the propulsion bus current creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components which propel the armature in said barrel cavity traverse.

With power supplied to the power rail lugs from an outside power source and with the polarity of the power rail proximal the barrel buses positive with reference the power rail distal the barrel buses, current flow is muzzle directed in the positive rail and the magnetic fields of said current interacts with the current in the armature propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current flows from said positive rail through the propulsion bus towards the power rail distal the barrel buses and into the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means.

When the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means includes a third rail, the current in said rail is breach directed and the magnetic fields of said current interact with the armature's propulsion bus current creating forces therein with muzzle directed, cavity axis parallel components.

When the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is a current bus in the armature connecting the propulsion bus with the aft current shunt, the current from the propulsion bus therein is breach directed and the magnetic fields of the current in the proximal barrel power rail, also breach directed, interacts with the current in said armature bus creating forces therein with cavity axis perpendicular, proximal power rail directed components, which increase the friction between the armature and barrel.

Current flows from the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means through the armature's aft current shunt and is divided thereby for parallel distribution to aft wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles, via the continuity of said wall conductor contact means with the first and second surface of said shunt.

The current is barrel bus directed in said aft wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly and the magnetic fields of said currents interact with the propulsion bus current creating therein forces with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

Current flow continues from the aft wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles to the respective barrel bus of each assembly, wherein it has a muzzle direction. The magnetic fields of the current in the barrel bus of the first wall conductor assembly and the barrel bus of the second wall conductor assembly interacts with the current in the armature's propulsion bus creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components.

Current flow is from the barrel bus to forward wall conductor in the first wall conductor assembly and from the barrel bus to forward wall conductor in the second wall conductor assembly and therein towards the barrel bus distal power rail. The magnetic fields of the current in forward wall conductor of their respective wall conductor assembly interact with the propulsion bus current creating therein forces with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current flow from the first wall conductor assembly rejoins the current flow from the second wall conductor assembly in the forward current shunt via the electrical continuity of contact means of forward wall conductor of the first wall conductor assembly with the first surface of the forward current shunt and the electrical continuity of contact means of forward wall conductor of the second wall conductor assembly with the second surface of the forward current shunt.

The current flows from the forward current shunt to the proximal power rail and therein towards the breach and therefrom to the return terminal of the outside power supply. The magnetic fields of the current in said power rail interacts with the current in the propulsion bus creating therein forces with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The magnetic fields of the currents in the above described circuitry surrounding the propulsion bus during an armature traverse of the barrel cavity, interacts with the propulsion bus current creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components which propel the armature in said barrel cavity traverse.

As can be seen in the above description, the reversal of power rail polarity does not effect a change to the armature's propulsion in the device of the invention. With power supplied to the device via the power rail lugs at the breach, regardless its polarity, the current direction in forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles is always in the same direction as the armature's propulsion bus current and said forward wall conductor currents' magnetic fields interact with the electric current in said propulsion bus creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components acting on the armature—an apparent forces of attraction of the armature propulsion bus towards forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly.

The electric current in aft wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles is always oppositely directed the current in the armature's propulsion bus and the magnetic fields of said aft wall conductor current interact with said propulsion bus current creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components acting on the armature—an apparent force of repulsion of the armature propulsion bus from aft wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly.

The electric current flow in the barrel bus of the first wall conductor assembly and the barrel bus of the second wall conductor assembly is in the same direction as the current in the proximal barrel power rail and the electric current flow in the third rail part, when extant, of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, is in the same direction as the electric current flow in its proximal barrel power rail. Said power rail electric currents are oppositely directed and parallel the cavity central axis.

The magnetic fields of the current flow in the power rail proximal the barrel buses and in the barrel bus of the first wall conductor assembly and the barrel bus of the second wall conductor assembly along with the magnetic fields of the electric current in the power rail distal said barrel buses and the third barrel rail of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, when extant, interact with the electric current in armature propulsion bus as in a conventional rail gun creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components.

A generalized equation for approximating forces in this design is: $\begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} Force = [2 + .9 + 2 (.5) (.9)] \int_{r_{o}}^{r_{a}} I ⅆ r \times μ_{0} I / (2 π r) + \\ 2 [2 (.5) (.9)] \int_{L_{0}}^{L_{1}} I ⅆ l \times μ_{0} I (Cos α) / (2 π d) . \end{matrix} & 3. \end{matrix}$

The first integral expression is for the rail gun type propulsion forces with the 0.9 and 2(0.5)(0.9) terms of the coefficient compensations, respectively, for the displacement of the axes of the barrel rail (i.e. the third rail) of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and the barrel buses from the cavity axial plane that includes the midline of the propulsion bus.

The second integral expression is an approximation of the combined forces attributed to forward and aft wall conductor. The ‘d’ in the (Cos α)/(2πd) term is the instant distance between the center line of a forward or aft wall conductor and the center line of the propulsion bus and α is the instant angle ‘d’ has to above said axial plane. The (Cos α)/(2πd) term has a mean value acquired by computer iteration and is dependant on the physical dimensions of a particular design and the number of wall conductors with shunt electrical continuity at any instant and their distribution. The dl limits are the ends of the minimum common length of said wall conductor and propulsion bus and the length (L₁-L₀) of only importance regardless the source.

The particular advantage of using a wall conductor assembly in both the first and second cavity walls is that the components of the force directed toward the forward wall conductor of both wall conductor assembles cancel each other out and the components of force directed away from aft wall conductor of both wall conductor assembles cancel each other out.

An equation approximating these forces by forward wall conductor is: $\begin{matrix} {Force}_{⊥} = (.9) (.5) \int_{L_{0}}^{L_{1}} I ⅆ l \times μ_{o} I (Sin α) / (2 π d) + \\ (.9) (.5) \int_{L_{0}}^{L_{1}} I ⅆ l \times μ_{o} I (Sin - α) / (2 π d) = 0. \end{matrix}$

Replacing the angle α by (π−α) in the first integral and −α by (π+α) in the second integral gives the equation of the net lateral force on the armature due to aft wall conductors of the first and second wall conductor assembles.

Terminology

AFT WALL CONDUCTOR: With an armature for the device in the barrel cavity, the aft wall conductor is the group of one or more consecutive wall conductor of a conductor assembly which has continuous electrical continuity via contact means with a surface of the armature's aft current shunt at said contact means location in the barrel cavity and during armature movement in the barrel cavity, said continuity is continuous sliding electrical continuity between said surface of the aft current shunt and said contact means at said shunts instant barrel cavity location.

Alternatively, the first aft wall conductor is the group of one or more consecutive wall conductors of a wall conductor assembly with contact means that have electrical continuity with surface of the armature's aft current shunt located at the barrel cavity location of said contact means and during armature movement in the barrel cavity said contact means has sliding electrical continuity with the surface of the armature's aft current shunt passing by said contact means barrel cavity location.

Aft wall conductor is either the aft wall conductor of the first wall conductor (i.e. first aft wall conductor) or the aft wall conductor of the second wall conductor assembly (i.e. second aft wall conductor) or both taken collectively.

ARMATURE CENTRAL AXIS: The armature central axis is the line through the area centroid centers of right sections of that portion of the armature in the barrel cavity which has right sections identical to barrel cavity right sections in shape but slightly undersized thereof. The armature central axis in the barrel cavity is coincident the cavity axis or parallel and closely proximal said axis. Alternatively the armature central axis is the line at the armature that when in the barrel cavity is coincident the barrel cavity axis.

AXIAL PLANE: A plane that is coincident with an axis; e.g. an axial plane of the barrel cavity completely contains the barrel cavity axis.

BARREL AXIS: A barrel axis is any line through the barrel that is parallel or coincident with the barrel cavity central axis and said central axis is a barrel axis.

BARREL AND BARREL CAVITY: The barrel and barrel cavity is that section of a barrel and barrel cavity in which the barrel rails and wall assembly are extant; i.e. where barrel elements of the invention are extant. Barrel and barrel cavity means also a continuous barrel section which contains the calmed device and which may have sections before and/or after the barrel section with the invention with functions outside those of the calmed device.

BARREL BUS AND RAIL LENGTH AND LOCATION: The length and location along the barrel cavity length of the two power rails and the third rail, when extant, might vary slightly from one another in a design. Therefore, the spacial and size relationships between barrel rails and barrel bus herein are described using the terms ‘like’ or ‘similar’. E.g. The power rail with sliding continuity with an armature forward current shunt might at the breach be shortened or displaced in the muzzle direction by as much as the distance between the breach proximal edge of an armature's aft current shunt and the breach proximal edge of said armature's forward current shunt. The power rail having sliding continuity with an armature's propulsion bus might at the breach be shortened or displaced in the muzzle direction by as much as the distance between the breach proximal edge of an armature's propulsion bus and the breach proximal edge of said armature's aft current shunt and the third rail, when extant, of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means might be shortened at the muzzle or displace in the breach direction by as much as the distance between the muzzle proximal edge of an armature's forward current shunt and the muzzle proximal edge of said armature's propulsion bus. The barrel bus might be shortened at its breach and muzzle ends by as much as the width of the wall conductors at said ends while retaining continuity therewith.

BARREL RAIL: A barrel rail is a conductor in the barrel cavity wall, which is parallel the cavity central axis or has a twist at constant radius about said axis, extends the length of the barrel of the invention and has barrel cavity surface along its length.

CAVITY AXIS: A cavity axis is any line through the barrel cavity that is parallel or coincident with the cavity central axis. The cavity central axis is a cavity axis.

CAVITY CENTRAL AXIS: The cavity central axis is the line through all barrel cavity right section area centroid centers.

CONTACT MEANS: Although shown herein as a surface on a wall conductor projection into the barrel cavity, a wall conductor contact means can be a separate entity such as a pin, electric motor type brush assembly or other structure mounted in the cavity wall proximal the barrel bus distal end of the wall conductor with a lead for electrical continuity therewith.

DIAMETRIC PLANE: A diametric plane is any plane perpendicular to an axis; i.e. a right section plane

ELECTRICAL ISOLATION: An element that is electrically isolated or an isolated element is limited in meaning to lacking low resistance direct electrical paths to a neighboring element; i.e. the electrically isolated element is electrically insulated from its neighbor; however, an element can be electrically isolated from one element while having electrical continuity therewith through another element its not isolated from that has direct or indirect continuity with said isolated element. Magnetic and electric fields couplings are ignored.

FIRST AFT WALL CONDUCTOR: The first aft wall conductor is an aft wall conductor of the first wall conductor assembly.

FIRST CAVITY WALL SEGMENT: The first cavity wall segment is proximal the palm of said right hand grasping the barrel and is proximal the first side of an armature in the barrel cavity and has the first barrel cavity surface and the first wall conductor assembly and first contact means therein.

FIRST ELEMENTS: With the right hand grasping the barrel and its thumb along the power rail distal the barrel buses pointing to the muzzle, the element of a set of twin elements of the barrel or an armature when therein proximal the palm of said right hand are indicated as the ‘first’ of the twin elements; e.g. The first cavity wall (between the power rails), the fist cavity surface, the first wall conductor assembly, the first barrel bus, the armature's first side, the aft current shunt's first surface, the forward current shunt's first surface, etc.

FIRST FORWARD WALL CONDUCTOR: The first forward wall conductor is forward wall of the first wall conductor assembly.

FIRST SURFACE OF THE AFT CURRENT SHUNT: The first surface of the aft current shunt is in the armature's first surface and, when in the barrel cavity, the first surface of the aft current shunt has electrical continuity with a group of one or more wall conductors (aft wall conductor) of the first wall conductor assembly via said conductor's contact means.

FIRST SURFACE OF THE FORWARD CURRENT SHUNT: The first surface of the forward current shunt is in the armature's first surface and, when in the barrel cavity, the first surface of the forward current shunt has electrical continuity with a group of one or more wall conductors (first wall conductor) of the first wall conductor assembly via said conductor contact means.

FIRST WALL CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLY: The first wall conductor assembly is in the first barrel cavity wall; i.e. proximal the first armature surface and the shunt first surfaces therein.

FORWARD WALL CONDUCTOR: With an armature for the device in the barrel cavity, the forward wall conductor is the group of one or more consecutive wall conductor of a wall conductor assembly which has continuous electrical continuity via respective contact means with an armature's forward current shunt surface, at said contact means location in the barrel cavity and during armature movement in the barrel cavity, said continuity is continuous sliding electrical continuity between said surface of the forward current shunt and said contact means at said shunt surface's instant barrel cavity location.

Alternatively, the forward wall conductor is the group of one or more consecutive wall conductors of a wall conductor assembly with contact means that have electrical continuity with surface of the armature's forward current shunt located at the barrel cavity location of said contact means and during armature movement in the barrel cavity said contact means has sliding electrical continuity with said surface of the armature's forward current shunt passing by said contact means barrel cavity location. Forward wall conductor is forward wall conductor of the first or second wall conductor assembly or both collectively.

ORTHOGONAL: The terms ‘orthogonal’ and ‘orthogonal to’ indicate perpendicular orientation of the space occupied by one element to the space occupied by a second element with or without intersection there between or perpendicular orientation in space between two direction vectors with or without intersection there between or perpendicular orientation in space between the space occupied by one element and a direction vector with or without intersection there between or perpendicular orientation in space of a line with another line or an element's space or vector with or without intersection there between.

POWER RAIL: A power rail is a barrel rail which has connection means at its end for attachment of the outside power supply which supplies the electric power required for operation of the claimed device.

SECOND AFT WALL CONDUCTOR: Second aft wall conductor is aft wall conductor of the second wall conductor assembly.

SECOND ARMATURE SIDE OR SURFACE: The second side of the armature when in the barrel cavity is proximal the second barrel cavity section surface and the second wall conductor assembly therein and has a surface, the second armature surface, proximal said cavity surface.

SECOND ELEMENT: With the right hand grasping the barrel and its thumb along the power rail distal the barrel buses pointing to the muzzle, the element of a set of twin elements of the barrel or an armature in the barrel cavity, which is distal the palm of said right hand compared to the location of the other twin element are indicated as the “second” of the twin elements; e.g. The second cavity wall (between the power rails), the second cavity surface, the second wall conductor assembly, the second barrel bus, the armature's second side, the armature's second surface, the aft current shunt's second surface, the forward current shunt's second surface, etc.

SECOND FORWARD WALL CONDUCTOR: The second forward wall conductor is forward wall conductor of the second wall conductor assembly.

SECOND SURFACE OF THE AFT CURRENT SHUNT: Second surface of the aft current shunt is in the armature's second surface and when in the barrel cavity, the second surface of the aft current shunt has electrical continuity with a group of one or more wall conductors (aft wall conductor) of the second wall conductor assembly via the contact means of said wall conductor.

SECOND SURFACE OF THE FORWARD CURRENT SHUNT: Second surface of the forward current shunt is in the armature's second surface and when in the barrel cavity, the second surface of the forward current shunt has electrical continuity with a group of one or more wall conductors (forward wall conductor) of the second wall conductor assembly via contact means of said wall conductor.

SECOND WALL CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLY: The second wall conductor assembly is in the second barrel cavity wall; i.e. proximal the second armature surface and the shunt second surfaces therein. The second wall conductor assembly is the mirror image of the first wall conductor assembly.

THIRD RAIL: The third rail is the barrel rail of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means which includes a barrel rail.

TWIST: Normally, the collection of differential area elements (rdθdr) comprising the profiles of the barrel in consecutive right section planes taken at incrementally increasing distance from a barrel reference point have like shape and area at fixed radii to a barrel cavity axis common to all said differential area elements [the axis about which each differential area element (rdθdr) is generated] and constant angles about said axis relative to each other and relative to a fixed axial reference plane of the barrel.

In armatures for use in said barrel, the collection of differential area elements (rdθdr) comprising the profiles in consecutive right section planes taken at incrementally increasing distance from a reference point on the armature have like shape and area at fixed radii to the armature axis common to all said differential area elements [the axis about which each differential area element (rdθdr) is generated] and constant angles about said axis relative to each other and a fixed axial reference plane of the armature.

The collection of differential areas (rdθdr) comprising the profiles in consecutive right sections of a barrel with a twist taken at incrementally increasing distance from a barrel reference point have like shape and area at fixed radii to the barrel cavity axis common to all said differential area elements [the axis about which each differential element (rdθdr) is generated] and constant angles about said axis relative to each other and incrementally increasing angular displacement about said axis to said axial reference plane. The rate of increasing angular displacement of the collection of differential areas (rdθdr) comprising said right section profiles relative to said axial reference plane is constant; i.e. [φ_i−φ_o]/[d_i−d_o]=constant, where φ_oand d_oare any initial angle of said group of differential area elements comprising said right section profile about their axis relative to the axial reference plane and its distance along the axis, respectively, and φ_iand d_iare said group's instant angle to said axial reference plane about said axis and distance along the axis, respectively.

In armatures with a twist for use in said barrel with a twist, the collection of differential area elements (rdθdr) comprising the profiles in consecutive right section planes taken at incrementally increasing distance from an armature reference point have like shape and areas at fixed radii to the armature axis common to all said differential area elements [the axis about which each differential area element (rdθdr) is generated] and constant angles about said axis relative to each other and incrementally increasing angular displacement about said axis to an armature's axial reference plane. The rate in angle increase per axis distance between said profiles and said armature's axial reference plane is constant and equal to the rate of angle increase between said barrel profiles and said barrel axial reference plane.

General Comments

The right section profiles of the barrel cavity may have slight irregularities at the contact means and their cavity surface ports; however, these irregularities are disregarded herein and said right sections, regardless said irregularities, are regarded as the same as all other cavity right sections.

Mathematical expressions used herein; e.g. perpendicular, tangent, parallel, etc., to describe physical characteristics, spacial orientations etc., are limited in their accuracy to the practical limitation of any of the manufacturing and assembly methods that might be used for the device.

Whether by design or unavoidable, when an arc between the power rails develops behind the armature of the invention, it will be confined to the space immediately behind the armature propulsion bus rather then extend through the entire barrel cavity region behind the armature. This is the effect of the forces imposed on the arc current by the magnetic fields of the currents in aft wall conductor.

In one shot disposable cartridge device of the invention the wall conductor assembly and barrel rails need only be substantial enough for one use.

Though the wall conductors for devices illustrated herein have constant cross section areas, in applications where barrel mass is an important constraint, the cross section area of wall conductors at the barrel breach, where the conduction time intervals of wall conductors are many times the conduction time intervals of wall conductors located near the muzzle, will be larger then the cross section areas of wall conductors at the muzzle. There can be one wall conductor, or the equivalent sum in cross section areas to one wall conductor, in contact with the forward or aft armature current shunts, or many.

Additionally the wall conductors near the breach might be closer together while still parallel and insulated from each other; i.e. the wall conductors would no longer have uniform distribution along their common barrel buss.

For clarity of presentation, the invention embodiments portrayed in the following illustrations are chemically bonded together in assembly. In practical application and for quick refurbishment or repair, the devices would be assembled using mechanical fastening means well know in the art.

Molding methods well know in the art can be used for armature and barrel fabrication. Barrel and armature structures can be of proprietary plastics or engineered ceramics such as SiC. The armature's propulsion bus and current shunts—whose operation life is measured in fractions of a millisecond—are simple formed pieces of sheet metal Aluminum or Copper, mass restriction permitting, or other conductor. As a safety measure the propulsion bus should after the anticipated barrel cavity traverse time melt or burst open from heat build up.

Voids and masses necessary to locate the armature's center of mass for in flight stability are not shown in the following figures.

The surfaces of elements of the invention with sliding continuity with other elements thereof might be treated and/or machined and/or formed to effect a smooth more effective sliding continuity; e.g. a surface with boundary edges rounded and surface treated with low friction conducting substances and/or textured to assure a correct current path when elevated voltages are extant in the invention. The armature may have variation in its surface extruded in the direction of its cavity traverse; e.g. corrugated surface with troughs parallel the barrel cavity axis.

The barrel and its cavity may extend at the muzzle and/or breach beyond the electromotive propulsion elements of the invention and in said extensions the armature may or may not be acted on by additional motive, orientation, material modifying or other devices not part of the invention; i.e. the invention may share a common barrel and barrel cavity with other devices not part of the invention.

All electrical continuities between conducting elements in the barrel and conducting elements in the armature are sliding electrical continuities with movement of the armature in the barrel cavity.

DISCUSSION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout the drawings indicated elements with like tens and units digits have like function and names.

FIG. 1 is a breach end section view of the assembled embodiment of a gun of the invention 10 with an armature 32 for propulsion there through. The gun barrel is comprised of sections 111 and 111a, the first and second barrel sections, respectively, and has narrow barrel cavity 33, with uniform right section profiles, extending thoughout its length.

Indicated is the barrel power rail 26 with open channel 27, which extends the length of the barrel and channel 27 surfaces are cavity surfaces. Power rail 27 has power connection lug 28 at the breach end of the barrel.

Across the barrel cavity 33 from power rail 26 is barrel rail subassembly 25 with barrel rail 1, the barrel rail of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, also referred to herein as the third rail and barrel power rail 29 which is parallel and electrically isolated from barrel rail 1. Barrel power rail 29 has power connection lug 31 at the breach end of the barrel. Subassembly 25 has open channel 47 between power rail 29 and third rail 1 and said channel extends the length of the barrel cavity and its surfaces are barrel cavity surfaces. Details of said channels and other elements indicated in FIG. 1 are best illustrated in latter figures.

Indicated are the first wall conductor assembly, 16, its barrel bus 17 and wall conductor 18; i.e. the first barrel bus and the first wall conductor of the device. The second wall conductor assembly, 16a, its barrel bus 17a and wall conductor 18a; i.e. the second barrel bus and second wall conductor of the device are also indicated.

At the breach end of the barrel are indicated the breach end cap 5 and an armature or projectile 32 for use in the barrel of 10. Armature 32 has guide 45 and guide 46 which, during barrel cavity traverse, travel in open channels 47 and 27, respectively, and an armature's correct orientation during said traverse is maintained thereby.

Shown in projectile 32 is the propulsion bus 41 surface 42, which in the barrel cavity has electrical continuity with the surface of open channel 27 of power rail 26. Also indicated are forward current shunt 34 whose surface 36 in the barrel cavity has continuous electrical continuity with power rail 29 and surface 35 which in the barrel cavity 33 has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor contact means 19 of the first wall conductor assembly. Aft current shunt 37 is indicated along with its surface 38 which in the barrel cavity has continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor contact means 19 of the first wall conductor assembly 16.

FIG. 2 is the rail gun 10 of FIG. 1 disassembled. Shown is the breach end cap 5 and the extension of the barrel cavity there through, 33a. Indicated is barrel section 111 with relief 13 in which mount first wall conductor assembly 16 in the gun. Also indicated are channel 12 which aligns with channel 25a of the barrel subassembly 25 and through which extends lug 31 of power rail 29 in the assembly to outside the barrel.

The first wall conductor assembly 16 with barrel bus 17 and a wall conductor 18 and its contact means 19 of its array of wall conductors with their respective contact means is indicated.

First insulating lamina 20, a barrel cavity surface, is shown and an opening 21 of its array of openings 21 indicated. In the assembly openings 21 align with and permit the individual wall conductor contact means 19 of the first wall conductor assembly access to the barrel cavity 33.

Also shown are the second wall conductor assembly 16a with its barrel bus 17a and a wall conductor 18a and its contact means 19a of the of the second wall conductor assembly's array of wall conductors and their respective contact means.

Second insulating lamina 20a, a barrel cavity surface, is also shown and an opening 21a of its array of openings 21a indicated. In the assembly openings 21a align with and permit the individual wall conductor contact means 19a of the second wall conductor assembly 16a access to the barrel cavity 33.

The second barrel section 11a is shown with channel 14 through which lug 28 of power rail 26 extends in the assembly. Barrel section also has relief 13b, not shown, on which the second wall conductor assembly 16a mounts in the assembly.

An armature 32 for use in the barrel is indicated and its guides 45 and 46. The barrel rail subassembly 25 is indicated disassembled. Power rail 29 with its connection lug 31 which extends through channel 25a in said subassembly and channel 12 in first barrel section 11 to outside the barrel in the assembly is shown. Power rail 29 surface 30 and third rail 1 surface 2 are cavity wall surfaces and form there between in the assembly open channel 47 in which armature guide 45 travels for alignment.

Power rail 26 is shown with lug 28 which in the assembled gun extends through channel 14 in the second barrel section 11a. Power rail 26 has throughout its length open channel 27 which in the assembled gun is part of the barrel cavity and whose surfaces are barrel cavity surfaces. During an armature's barrel cavity traverse guide 46 travels in channel 27 of power rail 26. Power rail 26 is referred to herein as the barrel bus proximal power rail and power rail 29 is referred to herein as the barrel bus distal power rail and barrel rails 29 and 1 are referred to individually or together as barrel bus distal barrel rail.

FIG. 3 is a cut-a-way view of the rail gun 10 in FIG. 1 to illustrate its various parts and their physical relation to each other in the assembly. Second barrel section 11a has relief 13a in which mount the second wall conductor assembly 16a with its barrel bus 17a and has one of its array of wall conductors 18a indicated. One of the array of openings 21a in the barrel cavity 33 insulating lamina 20a is indicated and each element of the array of openings 21a aligns with and permits its matting contact means 19a of the array of wall conductors 18a access to the barrel cavity 33.

Barrel power rail 26 has open channel 27, part of the annular cavity 33, and guide 46 of an armature 32 in the barrel is therein and power rail 26 has lug 28 to outside the barrel. The barrel subassembly 25 is indicated with the parallel barrel rails, power rail 29 and third rail 1 therein and with the open channel 47 formed there between and part of the barrel cavity.

Armature guide 45 of an armature 32 in the barrel cavity 33 is in open channel 47 and surface 36 of the forward current shunt 34 has electrical continuity with power rail 29 surface 30 therein. Aft current shunt 37 also has a surface 39 in open channel 47 where it has continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of barrel rail 1. These relationships are better illustrated in latter figures. The leading edge 43 of the armature in the barrel cavity 33 is indicated.

The rail subassembly 25 is only a convenience for manufacture, assembly and repair of the gun. Each rail, 29 and 1 would otherwise be mounted their respective relief channel in the barrel structure with open channel 47 formed there between. Also shown in FIG. 3 is power rail 29 lug 28 to outside the device and the first wall conductor assembly 16, its barrel bus 17 with one of its array of wall conductors 18 indicated along with cavity insulating lamina 20. The barrel breach cap 5 is also indicated.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the second side of an armature 32 for the gun 10. Indicated is guide 45, which in the barrel cavity 33 travels in open channel 47 and is part of armature end cap 53 which is integral the assembled armature. Guide 45 has surface 40 of the armature propulsion bus 41 which in the gun has continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of third rail 1. Surface 39 of aft current shunt 37 is also in armature guide 45 and in the gun also has continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of third rail 1. With armature 32 in the barrel cavity 33, surface 40 of the propulsion bus 41 and its continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of third rail 1 and surface 39 of aft current shunt 37 and its continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of the third rail and third rail 1 is the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means in the topic gun.

Second surface 35a of the forward current shunt 34 and second surface 38a of the aft current shunt 37 are indicated. In the gun, said surfaces have continuous electrical continuity with contact means 19a of wall conductors 18a of second wall conductor assembly 16a at their respective cavity locations. The group of one or more wall conductors 18a which have electrical continuity via contact means 19a with surface 35a of the forward current shunt are forward wall conductor and the group of one or more wall conductors 18a which have electrical continuity via contact means 19a with surface 38a of the aft current shunt 37 are aft wall conductor.

The armature's front and aft edges in the barrel cavity, 43 and 44, respectively, are indicated in FIG. 4. Armature guide 46 which in the gun travels in open channel 27 of barrel power rail 26 has armature propulsion bus 41 through it with surface 42a on the armature's second side indicated. Either or both the first surface 42 and second surface 42a of propulsion bus 41 of an armature in the gun has electrical continuity with channel 27 surfaces of barrel power rail 26, so that propulsion bus 41 has continuous electrical continuity with power rail 26 and said electrical continuity is sliding continuous electrical continuity with armature traverse of the barrel.

FIG. 5 is the armature 32 for the gun 10 in FIG. 4 disassembled. Shown are the propulsion bus 41 which extends through channel 54 in the armature body with one end in relief 54b of armature guide 45 of armature end cap 53 and its other end in opening 54c in armature guide 46. The propulsion bus 41 has surface 40 in relief 54b which in the gun has continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of third barrel rail 1 and surfaces 42 and 42a in channel extension 54c through guide 46. In the gun surfaces 42 and 42a are in channel 27 of power rail 26 where one or both have electrical continuity with power rail 26.

Forward current shunt 34 mounts in relief 50 of the armature body and its extension 50b in guide 45. Indicated is shunt surface 36 which in the assembled armature is in relief 50b and which in the gun has continuous electrical continuity with surface 30 of the power rail 29. The first and second surface 35 and 35a, respectively, of forward current shunt 34 in the gun have electrical continuity via contact means 19 and 19a of wall conductor 18 and 18a, forward wall conductor, of the first and second wall conductor assembles 16 and 16a, respectively.

Aft current shunt 37 mounts in relief 52 of the armature body and its extension 52b (not shown) in guide 45. Indicated is shunt surface 39 which in the gun has continuous electrical continuity with surface 2 of third barrel rail 1 and first and second surfaces 38 and 38a which in the gun have continuous electrical continuity with the contact means 19 and 19a of wall conductors 18 and 18a, aft wall conductor, of the first and second wall conductor assembly 16 and 16a, respectively. Also shown in the figure are the leading edge 43 and aft edge 44 of the armature in the gun.

FIG. 6 is a disassembled partition, 132, which contains a second type of propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means. The third rail 1 and the aft shunt surface 39 and propulsion bus surface 40 in the above armature are replaced by current bus 181 between the propulsion bus 141 and the aft current shunt 137 in armature 132. Armature 132 can be use in gun 10 and when used therein, the third rail 1 takes on the passive role of a spacer to maintain proper armature alignment during traverse of the barrel cavity 33. Shown in addition to features discussed previously are relief 151, for current bus 181. Relief 151 is between and connects relief 152 for aft current shunt 137 and propulsion bus channel 154. Current bus 181 seats therein and is retained along with aft current shunt 137 in relief 152 and propulsion bus 141 in channel 154 and forward current shunt 134 in armature relief 150 and relief 150b by armature end cap 153.

FIG. 7 portrays a section of the breach end of the barrel rail subassembly 25. The assembly is a convenience of manufacturing, assembly and maintenance. Its rails might otherwise be individually mounted in their respective barrel walls on either side of armature guide 45 path in the barrel cavity. Shown are power rail 29, its barrel cavity surface 30 and its power connection lug 31. Barrel rail 1 is the rail portion of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and open channel 47 of subassembly 25 is between surface 2 of rail 1 and surface 30 of rail 29 and said rail surfaces are continuous barrel cavity surfaces.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the current path in the gun. In FIG. 8 is the current path on armature's first side and in FIG. 9 is the current path on the armature's second side. The current paths in the gun are represented by Italic letters ‘a’ ‘b’ ‘c’ ‘d’ ‘e’ ‘f’, ‘g’ ‘h’ and ‘l’ with letters ‘c_a’, ‘d_a’, ‘e_a’, ‘f_a’ ‘g_a’ ‘h_a’ indicating the parallel current path through the second surface 35a of the forward current shunt 34 and the second wall conductor assembly 16a and the second surface 38a of the aft current shunt 37.

With the barrel power rail 29 positive with reference to barrel power rail 26, the current path in power rail 29 is muzzle directed; i.e. from ‘a’ to ‘b’ in FIG. 8. The continuous electrical continuity that cavity surface 30 of power rail 29 has with surface 36 of forward current shunt 34 in the current path is indicated as ‘b’ in FIG. 8. The magnetic fields of the current in power rail 29 interacts with the current in the armature's propulsion bus 41, creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components.

The current path continues from ‘b’ into forward current shunt 34 wherein the current path branches equally from surface 36 to said shunt's first and second surfaces, 35 and 35a, respectively; i.e. from ‘b’ to ‘c’ and ‘b’ to ‘c_a’ in the figure. The current path continues with barrel bus direction in forward wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles 16 and 16a; i.e. from ‘d’ to ‘e’ and from ‘d_a’ to ‘e_a’ in the figures. Forward wall conductor of an assembly are the group of one or more wall conductors of the array of wall conductors of the assembly which at any instant have electrical continuity with surface 35 or 35a of forward current shunt 34. The magnetic fields of the current in forward wall conductors interact with the propulsion bus current creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis components. The current in forward wall conductor and the armature's propulsion bus are parallel and like directed and the armature propulsion bus appears to be attracted to said forward wall conductors.

The current paths continue from the forward wall conductors to the assembles' barrel buses wherein they have a breach direction; i.e. from ‘e’ to ‘f’ and from ‘e_a’ to ‘f_a’ in FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively. The magnetic fields of the currents in the barrel busses interact with the armature propulsion bus current creating therein forces with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current paths continue from the barrel buses of wall assembly 16 and wall assembly 16a to aft wall conductor of said assembles. Aft wall conductor of an assembly are the group of one or more wall conductors of the array of wall conductors of the assembly which at any instant have electrical continuity with surface 38 or 38a of aft current shunt 37. The direction of the current path in aft wall conductor is towards the barrel rail assembly; i.e. from ‘f’ to ‘g’ and ‘f_a’ to ‘g_a’ in the figures. The magnetic fields of aft wall conductor current interacts with the current in the armature's propulsion bus creating therein forces with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components. The current paths in the propulsion bus and said aft wall conductors are parallel and oppositely directed and the armature propulsion bus appears to be repulsed by the aft wall conductors.

The current paths in wall conductor assembles 16 and 16a continues to surface 38 and 38a of aft current shunt 37 wherein the are recombined and exit to third rail 1 via the continuous electrical continuity of said shunt's surface 39 with the cavity surface 2 of said third rail; from ‘h’ to ‘i’ and from ‘h_a’ to ‘i’ in the figures.

The current path continues from the aft current shunt to third rail 1 and has therein muzzle direction to said rail cavity surface's continuous electrical continuity with surface 40 of propulsion bus 41; i.e. from ‘i’ to ‘j’ in FIG. 9. Third rail 1, the aft current shunt surface 39 and propulsion bus surface 40 constitute the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means in the topic gun. The magnetic fields of current in the third rail interacts with the armature propulsion bus current creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current path continues in the propulsion bus away from the barrel rail subassembly to the propulsion bus's continuous electrical continuity with return power rail 26 via said bus's surfaces 42 and 42a continuity with cavity surface of open channel 27 of said power rail; i.e. from ‘j’ to ‘k’ in the figures. The current path in the return power rail is breach directed; i.e. from ‘k’ to ‘l’ in the figures. The magnetic fields of the currents in power rail 26 interacts with the propulsion bus current creating therein forces with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The collection of forces, discussed above, created by the magnetic fields of the currents circulating about the propulsion bus of an armature traversing the barrel cavity propel the armature in the barrel cavity from breach to muzzle.

With the polarity of the power rails reversed the current path in power rail 26 is muzzle directed and exits to armature propulsion bus 41 via its surfaces 42 and 42a continuity with open channel 27 of said power rail; i.e. current path is from ‘l’ to ‘k’ in the topic figures. The magnetic fields of the current in power rail 26 interacts with the current in the propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current path in propulsion bus 41 is towards the barrel rail subassembly 25 whereat it continues from the propulsion bus to third rail 1 of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means; i.e. from ‘k’ to ‘j’ in the topic figures.

The current path in the third rail is breach directed from the propulsion bus to the aft current shunt surface 39; i.e. from ‘j’ to ‘i’ in the third rail. The magnetic fields of the current in the third rail interact with the current in the propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current path continues from the third rail to aft current shunt 37 wherein it is split equally between surfaces 38 and 38a which supply the aft wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly; i.e. from ‘i’ to ‘h’ and ‘i’ to ‘h_a’ in the figures.

The currents paths in aft wall conductor of said first and second assembles are directed away from the barrel rail subassembly 25 and are parallel and oppositely directed the current in the propulsion bus 41; i.e. from ‘h’ to ‘g’ to ‘f’ in FIG. 8 and from ‘h_a’ to ‘g_a’ to ‘f_a’ in FIG. 9. The magnetic fields of the currents in said aft wall conductor interact with the current in the propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

Current paths continue in the wall conductor assembles from the aft wall conductor to the barrel buses of said assembles wherein they have muzzle direction; i.e. from ‘f’ to ‘e’ in FIG. 8 and from ‘f_a’ to ‘e_a’ in FIG. 9. The magnetic fields of the current in said barrel buses interact with the current in the armature propulsion bus creating therein forces with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current paths continue from the barrel buses to forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembles and therein have barrel rail subassembly direction and are parallel and like directed the propulsion bus current; i.e. from ‘e’ to ‘d’ in FIG. 8 and from ‘e_a’ to ‘d_a’ in FIG. 9. The magnetic fields of the currents in forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly interact with the current in the armature propulsion bus creating forces therein with muzzle directed cavity axis parallel components.

The current paths in forward wall conductor of the first and second wall conductor assembly recombine in the forward current shunt 34 and continue therefrom via shunt surface 36 to return power rail 29; i.e. from ‘d’ to ‘c’ to ‘b’ and from ‘d_a’ to ‘c_a’ to ‘b’ in the topic figures.

The current path continues in the return power rail with breach direction; i.e. from ‘b’ to ‘a’ in the FIG. 9. The magnetic field of the current in the return power rail interacts with the armature's propulsion bus current creating therein forces with cavity axis parallel muzzle directed components.

The collection of above enumerated muzzle directed force components propel the armature in the barrel cavity from breach to muzzle.

Regardless the polarity of the barrel power rails with reference to each other: the currents in forward wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles are parallel and like directed the current in the armature propulsion bus; the currents in aft wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles are parallel and oppositely directed the current in the armature propulsion bus; the current in the barrel bus of each wall conductor assembly is parallel and like directed the current in their proximal barrel power rail; and the current in the third rail of the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is parallel and like directed the current in its proximal barrel power rail.

FIG. 10 illustrates a section of a barrel of the invention with twist and an armature for use therein. Although putting a spin on a cylindrical projectile increases its in flight stability, it has the opposite effect on the rectangular lamina projectiles utilized in the invention. Inducing a spin in the projectiles of the device shortens their flight path; however, the environment along said path suffers a large increase in perturbation. The rate of twist in the topic figure is 15° every 15 inches of cavity axis distance.

FIG. 11 illustrates a means for retaining an armature at the barrel breach prior to use. In the device, a fuse pin is used to retain the armature at the breach end of the barrel until sufficient current is supplied to the power rail lugs to vaporize the fuse pin and release the armature for acceleration in the barrel cavity toward the muzzle. This arrangement is particularly suitable for one shot disposable cartridge type devices. A section of the end cap covering 305 the breach end of said cartridges is shown in the figure.

FIG. 11 has fuse pin 365 which extends from clearance channel 358 in barrel section 311a then through cylindrical channel 359 in power rail 326 where it is retained with good electrical continuity, then through clearance channel 361 through fixture 360 at the aft edge of the armature 332 then to cylindrical opening 362 in power rail 329 where it is also retained with good electrical continuity. In other words the fuse pin 365 is retained at the breach by mating channels 359 in power rail 326 at one end and mating channel 362 in power rail 329 at its other end and has good electrical continuity with said power rails and armature 332 is retained at the breach by passage of fuse pin 365 through channel 361 in its fixture 360. With power applied to the power lugs 331 and 328, current flows there between through fuse pin 365 until said pin is vaporized releasing the armature and the current flow between the two power lugs thereafter follows the armature accelerating path of the device discussed above.

Claims

1. Electromagnetic propulsion devices comprising:

a barrel; and

a narrow cavity therein which extends the length of said barrel and having: a uniform right section profile its length and a breach end opening at one barrel end and a muzzle end opening at the other barrel end and a central axis which extends from said breach end opening to said muzzle end opening; and

two barrel rails which are: power rails, and parallel to said cavity axis and located across the cavity from each other, and located at, in, or proximal the narrow end walls of the barrel cavity and

each said power rails has: continuous barrel cavity surface along its length and power connection means at its breach end to outside the device for attachment to an outside power source, and

said power rails divide the barrel cavity walls into two barrel cavity wall segments with boundaries of: the breach end boundary of the cavity, and the muzzle end boundary of the cavity, and the cavity surfaces of the two power rails and ray extension therefrom to said breach and muzzle end boundaries; and

a wall conductor assembly located in each said barrel cavity wall segment and one wall conductor assembly is the mirror image of the other across the barrel cavity, and

each wall conductor assembly is comprised of: a barrel bus which is: in the barrel cavity wall segment with said assembly and adjacent, parallel and in close proximity one of the power rails and proximal the barrel bus of the wall conductor assembly in the second barrel cavity wall segment, and electrically isolated from said power rail and said second barrel bus and similar in length as said power rail and said second barrel bus and at similar location along the length of the barrel cavity as said power rail and second assembly's barrel bus, and an array of wall conductors which are: in the barrel cavity wall segment with said assembly and proximal or at the barrel cavity surface of said segment and parallel to each other, and of equal length, and spaced from each other, and orthogonal the barrel cavity axis, and each wall conductor of said array: has at one end, physical and electrical continuity with the barrel bus and extends from the barrel bus to proximity the narrow cavity wall distal the barrel bus and the barrel rail thereat, and contact means for each wall conductor of said array that: is located proximal the barrel bus distal end of the wall conductor and has electrical continuity with said wall conductor and has surface in the barrel cavity; and

armatures for propulsion through said barrel cavity having: a central axis that is, with the armature in the barrel cavity, coincident the central axis of said cavity or very close to and parallel the cavity central axis, and a muzzle end that is, with the armature in the barrel cavity, the armature end closest the cavity muzzle end, and a breach end that is, with the armature in the barrel cavity, the armature end closest the cavity breach end, and profiles in all right sections to said axis smaller then the barrel cavity right section profile, and

a propulsion bus that: is oriented orthogonal the armature axis, and is located midway between the armature's muzzle and breach ends and, with the armature in the barrel cavity, extends across the cavity between the cavity's narrow end walls and has surface at one end that has continuous electrical continuity with the cavity surface of the barrel bus proximal power rail and has continuous electrical continuity at its other end with propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means; and

a forward current shunt that: is located between the propulsion bus and the muzzle end of the armature and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity, is proximal the barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface with continuous electrical continuity with cavity surface of the barrel bus distal power rail and has surface at contact means of the first wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor of said assembly and has surface at contact means of the second wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor of said assembly; and

an aft current shunt that: is located between the propulsion bus and breach end of the armature and, with the armature in the barrel cavity, is proximal the barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface at contact means of the first wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor of said assembly and has surface at contact means of the second wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor of said assembly and, has continuous electrical continuity with propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means; and

propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means comprised of: a third barrel rail that is: in, at, or proximal the barrel bus distal narrow end wall of said cavity and proximal the power rail thereat and parallel said power rail and electrically isolated from said power rail, and of length similar said power rail's length, and at similar location along the barrel cavity length as said power rail, and that has continuous barrel cavity surface along its length and surface at the end of said propulsion bus that: is proximal the current shunts and, with an armature in the barrel cavity, has continuous electrical continuity with the barrel cavity surface of said third barrel rail; and surface on the aft current shunt that, with an armature in the barrel cavity, has continuous electrical continuity the barrel cavity surface of said third barrel rail.

2. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein an armature is retained in the breach end of the barrel cavity for release and propulsion in the barrel cavity towards the barrel muzzle on application of sufficient power to the power rails.

3. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 2 wherein the armature is retained at the cavity breach by a fuse pin which:

at one end is retained at one power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

at its other end is retained in the second power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

extends through an armature channel there between and, with power supplied the power rails, provides a short circuit between said rails until vaporized and thereby freeing the armature for traverse of the barrel cavity.

4. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 1 but wherein the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is comprised of an electric current bus in the armature that is located proximal the current shunts therein and is between and connects the armature's aft current shunt and the propulsion bus.

5. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrel and barrel cavity has a twist so that:

area elements in right sections to the barrel, when taken at incremental increasing distance from a barrel reference point, have like shape, area, and angle relative to each other at fixed radii about a barrel cavity axis at incremental increasing angular displacement about said axis from an axial reference plane and the angular displacement per unite axial distance is constant; and

said armatures for use in said barrel cavity have therein an axis coincident said barrel cavity axis and a like twist so that area elements in right sections to said armature, when taken at incremental increasing distance from an armature reference point, have like shape, area, and angle relative to each other at fixed radii about the said armature axis at incremental increasing angular displacement about said axis from an axial reference plane and the angular displacement per unite axial distance is constant and identical to said barrel and barrel cavity constant.

6. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 5 but wherein said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is comprised an electric current bus in the armature that is proximal the current shunts therein and is located between and connects the armature's aft current shunt and the armature's propulsion bus.

7. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 5 wherein an armature is mounted in the breach end of the barrel cavity for release and propulsion in the barrel cavity towards the barrel muzzle on application of sufficient power to the power rails.

8. Electromagnetic propulsion devices comprising:

a barrel; and

a narrow cavity therein which extends the length of said barrel having: a uniform right section profile its length and a breach end opening at one barrel end and a muzzle end opening at the other barrel end and a central axis which extends from said breach end opening to said muzzle end opening; and

two barrel rails which are: power rails, and parallel to said cavity central axis and located across the cavity from each other and located at, in, or proximal the narrow end walls of the barrel cavity and

each said power rail has: continuous barrel cavity surface along its length and power connection means at its breach end to outside the device for attachment to an outside power source and

said barrel rails divide the barrel cavity walls into two barrel cavity wall segments with boundaries of: the breach end boundary of the cavity, and the muzzle end boundary of the cavity, and the cavity surfaces of the two power rails and ray extensions therefrom to said breach and muzzle end boundaries; and

a wall conductor assembly located in each said barrel cavity wall segment and one said assembly is the mirror image of the other across the barrel cavity, and each said wall conductor assembly has: a barrel bus that is: adjacent, parallel, and in close proximity one of the power rails, and proximal, and parallel the barrel bus of the wall conductor assembly in the second barrel cavity wall segment which is also located at said power rail, and electrically isolated from said power rail and said barrel bus, and of length similar to the lengths of said power rail and said barrel bus and at similar location along the length of the barrel as said power rail, and said barrel bus, and an array of wall conductors that are: in said barrel cavity wall segment and proximal or at said barrel cavity wall segment's barrel cavity surface and parallel to each other, and of equal length, and spaced from each other, and orthogonal the barrel cavity axis, and each wall conductor of said array has at one end physical and electrical continuity with the barrel bus and extends from the barrel bus to proximity the narrow cavity wall distal the barrel bus and the barrel rail thereat, and contact means for each wall conductor of said array that: is located proximal the barrel bus distal end of its wall conductor and has electrical continuity with said wall conductor and has surface coincident the barrel cavity surface and/or in the barrel cavity; and

armatures for propulsion from the breach end to muzzle end of said barrel cavity having: a muzzle end that is, with the armature is in the barrel cavity, closest the barrel cavity muzzle end, and a breach end that is, with the armature is in the barrel cavity, closest the barrel cavity breach end, and a central axis that is, with the armature in the barrel cavity, coincident or very close to and parallel the barrel cavity central axis, and all right section profiles to said axis smaller then the barrel cavity right section profile and a portion of right section profiles similar to the cavity profile but slightly undersized thereof, and

a propulsion bus that: is oriented orthogonal the armature's central axis, and is located midway between the armature's muzzle and breach ends, and, with the armature in the barrel cavity, extends across the barrel cavity between said cavity's narrow end walls, and has at one end surface with continuous electrical continuity with the cavity surface of the power rail proximal the barrel buses, and has at its other end continuous electrical continuity with propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and maintains continuous electrical continuity between the barrel buses proximal power rail and propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a continuous current path between the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and the barrel buses proximal power rail in a direction orthogonal to: the barrel cavity, and the barrel cavity axis, and the armature axis and the direction of barrel cavity traverse by the armature, and a direction parallel to the wall conductors of the wall conductor assembles; and

a forward current shunt that: is located between the armature's propulsion bus and the armature's muzzle end, and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity, is proximal the barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface with continuous electrical continuity with cavity surface of the barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface that is at contact means of the first wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor of said wall conductor assembly, and has surface that is at contact means of the second wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor of said wall conductor assembly, and maintains continuous electrical continuity between forward wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles and the barrel bus distal power rail and

with the armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a current path between the barrel bus distal power rail and forward wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles; and

an aft current shunt that: is located between the armature's propulsion bus and the armature's breach end, and,

with an armature in the barrel cavity, is proximal barrel bus distal barrel rail, and has surface at contact means of the first wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor of said assembly, and has surface at contact means of the second wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor of said assembly, and has continuous electrical continuity with propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and maintains continuous electrical continuity between aft wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles and the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails maintains a current path between said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and aft wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles; and

propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means comprising: a third barrel rail that has continuous barrel cavity surface its length, and that is: in, at or proximal the barrel bus distal narrow cavity end wall and proximal the barrel bus distal power rail thereat, and located parallel to said power rail, and electrically isolated from said power rail, and of length similar said power rails length, and at similar location along the barrel cavity length as said power rail; and

surface on the propulsion bus that has, with an armature in the barrel cavity, continuous electrical continuity with the barrel cavity surface of said third barrel rail; and

surface on the aft current shunt that has, with an armature in the barrel cavity, continuous electrical continuity with the barrel cavity surface of the third barrel rail; and

said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, with an armature in the barrel cavity, maintains continuous electrical continuity between the propulsion bus and aft current shunt of said armature, and

said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, with an armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a current path between the propulsion bus and aft current shunt of said armature.

9. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 8 wherein an armature is retained in the breach end of the barrel cavity for release and propulsion in the barrel cavity towards the barrel muzzle on application of sufficient power to the power rails.

10. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 9 wherein the armature is retained at the cavity breach by a fuse pin which:

at one end is retained at one power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

at its other end is retained in the second power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

extends through an armature channel there between and,

with power supplied the power rails, provides a short circuit between said rails until vaporized and freeing the armature for traverse of the barrel cavity.

11. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 8 but wherein said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is comprised of an electric current bus in the armature that is located proximal the current shunts therein and that is between and connects the armature's aft current shunt and the armature's propulsion bus.

12. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said barrel and barrel cavity has a twist so that right sections to the barrel and elements therein,

when taken at incremental increasing distance from a barrel reference point, have like shape, area, and angle relative to each other at fixed radii about a barrel axis at incremental increasing angular displacement about said axis from an axial reference plane and the angular displacement per unite axial distance is constant; and

armatures for use in said barrel cavity have therein an axis coincident said barrel axis and have a like twist so that right sections to said armature and elements therein, when taken at incremental increasing distance from an armature reference point, have like shape, area, and angle relative to each other at fixed radii about the said armature axis at incremental increasing angular displacement about said axis from an axial reference plane and the angular displacement per unite axial distance is constant and identical to said barrel and barrel cavity constant.

13. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 12 wherein the armature is retained at the cavity breach by a fuse pin which:

at one end is retained at one power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

at its other end is retained in the second power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

extends through an armature channel there between, and

with power supplied the power rails, provides a short circuit between said rails until vaporized and freeing the armature for traverse of the barrel cavity.

14. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 12 but wherein said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is comprised of an electric current bus in the armature that is located proximal the current shunts therein and is between and connects the armature's aft current shunt and the armature's propulsion bus.

15. Electromagnetic propulsion devices comprising:

a barrel; and

a narrow cavity therein which extends the length of the barrel and having: a uniform right section profile throughout its length and a breach end opening at one barrel end and a muzzle end opening at the other barrel end and a central axis which extends from said breach end opening to said muzzle end opening; and

two barrel rails which are: power rails, and parallel to said cavity axis and located across the cavity from each other and located at, in, or proximal the narrow end walls of the barrel cavity and

each said power rail has: a continuous barrel cavity surface along its length and a power connection means at its breach end to outside the device for attachment to an outside power source and

said barrel rails divide the barrel cavity walls into two barrel cavity wall segments with boundaries of: the breach end boundary of the cavity, and the muzzle end boundary of the cavity, and the cavity surfaces of the two power rails and ray extensions therefrom to said breach and muzzle end boundaries; and

a wall conductor assembly located in each barrel cavity wall segment and one wall conductor assembly is the mirror image of the other across the cavity, and

each wall conductor assembly has: a barrel bus that is: adjacent, parallel, and in close proximity one of the power rails, and proximal and parallel the barrel bus of the second wall conductor assembly, and electrically isolated from said power rail and the barrel bus of said second assembly, and of length similar to said power rail's length and said second assembly's barrel bus length and at similar location along the length of the barrel as said power rail and said second assembly's barrel bus, and an array of wall conductors which are: in said barrel cavity wall segment and proximal or at its barrel cavity surface and parallel to each other, and of equal length, and spaced from each other, and orthogonal the barrel cavity axis, and each wall conductor of said array has at one end physical and electrical continuity with the barrel bus and extends from the barrel bus to proximity the narrow cavity wall distal the barrel buses and barrel rail thereat, and contact means for each wall conductor of said wall conductor array that: is located proximal the barrel bus distal end of its wall conductor and has electrical continuity with the distal end of its wall conductor and has surface coincident the barrel cavity surface and/or in barrel cavity; and

armatures for propulsion from the breach end to muzzle end of said cavity having: a muzzle end which, when the armature is in the barrel cavity, is closest to the barrel cavity muzzle end, and a breach end which, when the armature is in the barrel cavity, is closest to the barrel cavity breach end and a central axis which is, when the armature in the barrel cavity, coincident or very close to and parallel the cavity central axis, and all right section profiles to said axis smaller then the barrel cavity right section profile and a portion of right section profiles similar to the cavity profile but slightly undersized thereof, and

a propulsion bus that: is oriented orthogonal the armature axis, and is located midway between the armature muzzle and breach ends and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity, extends across the cavity between the cavity's narrow end walls, and has at one end, surface with continuous electrical continuity with the cavity surface of the barrel bus proximal power rail, and has at its other end, continuous electrical continuity with propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and maintains electrical continuity between said power rail and propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a continuous current path between the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and said power rail in a direction orthogonal: the barrel cavity, and the barrel cavity axis, and the armature axis and the direction of barrel cavity traverse by the armature, and in a direction parallel to wall conductors of the wall conductor assembles; and

a forward current shunt that: is located between the armature's propulsion bus and the armature's muzzle end, and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity, is proximal the barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface with continuous electrical continuity with the cavity surface of the barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface that is at the contact means of the first wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor of said assembly, and has surface that is at the contact means of the second wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with forward wall conductor of said assembly, and maintains continuous electrical continuity between forward wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles and said power rail, and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a current path between the barrel bus distal power rail and forward wall conductors of the wall conductor assembles; and

an aft current shunt that: is located between the armature's propulsion bus and the armature's breach end, and,

with an armature in the barrel cavity, is proximal barrel bus distal power rail, and has surface at contact means of the first wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor of said assembly, and has surface at contact means of the second wall conductor assembly and, via said contact means, has continuous electrical continuity with aft wall conductor of said assembly, and has continuous electrical continuity with the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and maintains continuous electrical continuity between aft wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles and the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, and,

with the armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a current path between aft wall conductor of the wall conductor assembles and the propulsion-aft shunt circuit means; and

propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means having: a third barrel rail with continuous barrel cavity surface its length and that is: located in, at, or proximal the narrow end of said barrel cavity distal the barrel buses of the wall assembles, and proximal the barrel bus distal power rail, and located parallel with said power rail, and electrically isolated from said power rail, and of length similar said power rail's length, and at similar location along the barrel cavity length as said power rail; and surface on the propulsion bus that has, with an armature in the barrel cavity, continuous electrical continuity with the barrel cavity surface of said third barrel rail; and surface on the aft current shunt that has, with an armature in the barrel cavity, continuous electrical continuity with the barrel cavity surface of the third barrel rail; and,

said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, with an armature in the barrel cavity, maintains continuous electrical continuity between the propulsion bus and aft current shunt of said armature, and, with an armature in the barrel cavity and power supplied to the power rails, maintains a current path between the propulsion bus and the aft current shunt of said armature; and

in which with an outside power supply attached to said power rail connection means and an armature in or inserted into the breach end of the barrel cavity,

the electric current path in the device effecting electromagnetic propulsion of the armature in the barrel cavity towards the barrel muzzle is extant and

the magnetic fields of the electric current in: the barrel rails and the wall conductor assembles' forward wall conductor and aft wall conductor and the barrel buses interact with the electric current in the armature propulsion bus creating forces therein with cavity axis parallel, muzzle directed components that propel the armature in the barrel cavity towards the barrel muzzle.

16. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 15 wherein an armature is retained in the breach end of the barrel cavity for release and propulsion in the barrel cavity towards the barrel muzzle on application of sufficient power to the power rails.

17. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 16 wherein the armature is retained at the cavity breach by a fuse pin which:

at one end is retained at one power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

at its other end is retained at the second power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

extends through an armature channel there between, and

with power supplied the power rails, provides a short circuit between said rails until vaporized and freeing the armature for traverse of the barrel cavity.

18. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 15 but wherein the propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is comprised an electric current bus in the armature located proximal the current shunts therein and between and connecting the armature's aft current shunt and the armature's propulsion bus.

19. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 15 wherein,

said barrel and barrel cavity has a twist so that:

right sections to the barrel and elements therein, when taken at incremental increasing distance from a barrel reference point, have like shape, area, and angle relative to each other at fixed radii about a barrel axis, at incremental increasing angular displacement about said axis from an axial reference plane and the angular displacement per unite axial distance is constant; and

said armatures for use in said barrel cavity have therein an axis coincident said barrel axis and have a like twist so that right sections to said armature and elements therein, when taken at incremental increasing distance from an armature reference point, have like shape, area, and angle relative to each other at fixed radii about the armature axis coincident said barrel axis at incremental increasing angular displacement about said armature axis from an axial reference plane and the angular displacement per unite axial distance is constant and identical to said barrel and barrel cavity constant.

20. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 19 wherein the armature is retained at the cavity breach by a fuse pin which:

at one end is retained at one power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

at its other end is retained in the second power rail and has electrical continuity therewith, and

extends through an armature channel there between, and

with power supplied to the power rails, provides a short circuit between said rails until vaporized and freeing the armature for traverse of the barrel cavity.

21. Electromagnetic propulsion devices as claimed in claim 19 but wherein said propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means is comprised of an electric current bus in the armature located proximal the current shunts therein and between and connecting the armature's aft current shunt and the armature's propulsion bus.