Telescoping Rammer Drum Cam for Railgun Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loading machines for receivers, such as railguns, require a compact design with a long stroke and high insertion/extraction force to manage electrical arcing and rapid firing rates, while maintaining adjustability for various tactical applications.
Innovation Solution
A loading machine featuring a drum cam with intersecting cam paths that engage a telescoping rammer subassembly, allowing for longitudinal movement between home and deployed positions, enabling efficient and rapid loading/unloading of payloads with adjustable force and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a loading machine uses a relatively long stroke to reach the breech of a railgun, then the likelihood of electrical arcing is reduced, but the device size increases and interference with elevation and azimuth adjustability occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a telescoping rammer mechanism where the second member telescopes within the first member, creating a nested structure. This nesting allows the loading machine to achieve a long effective stroke length when needed while maintaining a compact retracted profile that minimizes device size and interference with railgun elevation and azimuth adjustability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a loading machine is designed to be compact to minimize interference with elevation and azimuth adjustability, then adjustability is improved, but the stroke length is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic telescoping mechanism where the rammer members can extend and retract based on operational requirements. During loading operations, the members telescope to provide the necessary long stroke for reliable payload insertion. During elevation and azimuth adjustments, the members retract to a compact configuration that minimizes interference, thus providing adaptability across different operational modes.
3Manufacturing precision
If a loading machine uses a relatively high insertion and extraction force to position a conductive projectile tightly between rails, then tight positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insertion and extraction functions into a single telescoping rammer mechanism. The same mechanical structure provides both the high insertion force needed for tight positioning and the high extraction force needed for rapid ejection. This merging of functions achieves tight positioning and high-force operations without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one integrated mechanism performs multiple critical functions.
4Productivity
If a loading machine is designed to keep pace with rapid firing rates of railguns, then productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous cyclic operation where the telescoping rammer mechanism repeatedly extends to insert payloads and retracts to extract them. The drum cam continuously rotates, driving the cam followers that control the telescoping motion in a continuous cycle. This continuous operation allows the loading machine to keep pace with rapid firing rates without requiring complex intermittent or batch processing systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compact design with a telescoping rammer subassembly and adjustable motor speed accommodates various payload delivery rates and forces, ensuring efficient and reliable operation with railguns and other receivers, while minimizing interference with adjustability.
Implementation Method 1
a drum cam that is configured to rotate. The drum cam includes, but is not limited to, a first cam path, and a second cam path... a first member that is configured to engage the first cam path and move longitudinally with respect to the drum cam upon a rotation of the drum cam
Data Source
AI summary
A loading machine for feeding a receiver includes, but is not limited to, a drum cam that is configured to rotate. The drum cam includes, but is not limited to, a first cam path, and a second cam path. A rammer subassembly is positioned proximate the drum cam. The rammer subassembly includes, but is not limited to, a first member that is configured to engage the first cam path and to move longitudinally with respect to the drum cam upon a rotation of the drum cam, and a second member that is configured to telescopically engage the first member and further configured to engage the second cam path and telescopically move with respect to the first member upon the rotation of the drum cam.