Augmented EM Propulsion System

Abstract

An electromagnetic missile launcher is disclosed that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages of missile launchers in the prior art. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention uses a pilot accelerator that comprises an electromagnetic booster coil to improve the efficiency of an electromagnetic catapult that throws a missile clear of the launch platform—with sufficient velocity to attain aerodynamic flight—before the missile's engine is ignited.

Description

[0001] This invention was made with Government support under Cooperative Research and Development Agreement No. SC99 / 01573 awarded by the Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to missilery in general, and, more particularly, to missile launchers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A missile is propelled by fuel and a chemical-propulsion engine. A chemical-propulsion engine propels a missile by the reaction that results from the rearward discharge of gases that are liberated when the fuel is burned. For the purposes of this specification, a “missile” is defined as a projectile whose trajectory is not necessarily ballistic and can be altered during flight (as by a target-seeking radar device and control elements). [0004] When a missile is launched, the discharge of the hot gases causes several problems. First, the hot gases heat the launch platform, which renders the launch platform more vis...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention provides a technique for launching a missile that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a pilot accelerator to accelerate an armature for throwing a missile from its rest position into motion toward a series of rail coils that sustain the acceleration of the armature.

[0007] In the illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic coil arrangement includes a propulsion coil—the pilot accelerator—that is located behind the missile armature so as to direct its propulsive force on the armature along the launch axis. This provides a more efficient means of initiating the motion of the armature than is known in the prior art. The coupling efficiency of the electromagnetic force generated by the rail coils is improved by the use of the pilot accelerator, which results in an improvement in efficiency of the overall launcher system. This mitigates some of the problems associated with launching missiles in the prior art.

Problems solved by technology

When a missile is launched, the discharge of the hot gases causes several problems.

First, the hot gases heat the launch platform, which renders the launch platform more visible to enemy infrared sensors and, therefore, more vulnerable to attack.

Second, the hot gases can obscure the ability of personnel in the area of the launch platform to see, which might impair their ability to perform routine tasks, such as detecting enemy threats.

Third, the brightness of the flame exiting the engine can—especially at night—temporarily blind the launch-platform personnel.

Fourth, the missile's fuel often includes an aluminized compound that is dispersed in the atmosphere surrounding the launch platform, which can impair the operation of radar systems near the launch platform.

And fifth, as modern missiles become larger, their gases become hotter and more voluminous, and, therefore, cannot be adequately vented within the launching platform using current technology.

Inefficiencies inherent to this propulsion method, however, dictate that the electromagnetic coils be larger, more numerous, and carry more electric current than desirable.

The additional infrastructure adds to launcher cost and complexity.

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