Linear motor geometry for use with persistent current magnets

An electrically powered launcher is disclosed that can accelerate small payloads to orbital velocities. The invention uses a novel geometry to overcome limitations of other design, and allows full exploitation of existing superconducting materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel linear motor or linear acceleration apparatus.

More particularly, the represent invention relates to a novel linear motor or acceleration apparatus utilizing superconductors in a persistent current mode for both a primary and secondary assemblies. The motor is well-suited as electromagnetic payload launch apparatus or as a projectile launch apparatus because sliding current pickups are not needed for the secondary assembly, the power supply can be arbitrarily small, and no quench or other switching of the primary assembly is necessary during a launch of a payload.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, electromagnetic (EM) launch apparatuses include superconducting motors such as the quench gun and collapsing field accelerator and other linear motors, such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) being developed by Northrop Grumman and General Atomics and chemical guns, such as the Industrial Sounding System from Columbiad.

Although considerable research and developments efforts have directed an EM launch apparatus both for use in payload delivery into space or in projectile delivery in weapons, the art is still in the state of rapid development and is still in need of new, different and possibly improved methods for achieving efficient payload delivery both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial payloads.

The possibility of using electrically powered or electromagnetic (EM) launch apparatus to drastically reduce the cost of placing small payloads in orbit or to delivery small payloads over a large distance has long been known; however, until now, technical obstacles have prevented realization of such launch apparatuses or vehicles. The present invention uses a novel geometry to overcome these technical hurdles, and allows full exploitation of existing superconducting materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an electrically powered launcher that can accelerate small payloads to orbital and sub-orbital velocities.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly and a secondary assembly, where the secondary assembly is designed to be accelerated by the primary assembly down a length of the primary assembly in response to electromagnetic fields in the primary assembly and the secondary assembly.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly having a left element and a right element, each element having a longitudinal slot herein and a secondary assembly comprising a closed loop designed to travels down the longitudinal slots and upon which a payload can be coupled.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly having a left element and a right element and a secondary assembly comprising a closed loop surrounding the left and right elements and designed to travel down an outside of the primary assembly.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly having a left element and a right element and a secondary assembly comprising a closed loop disposed between the left and right elements and designed to travel down between the primary assembly.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly comprising a closed cylindrical conductor and a secondary assembly comprising a magnet designed to travel down an interior of the primary.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly comprising a plurality of conducting segments, a secondary assembly comprising a magnet designed to travel down the primary adjacent the segments and sliding contacts or a plurality of solid state switches designed to produce a current flow in each successive tooth during a launch cycle.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic launch apparatus including a primary assembly comprising two comb members, each member having a plurality of teeth, a secondary assembly comprising a magnet designed to travel down the primary adjacent the segments and sliding contacts or a plurality of solid state switches designed to produce a current flow in each successive tooth during a launch cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have found that a linear motor can be constructed using superconducting materials that allow the motor to be used as a launching platform for payloads, where the platform can accelerate the payloads to orbital or sub-orbital velocities. The launching platform is, thus, ideally suited for delivery payloads into space or for other application requiring linear acceleration such as electromagnetic guns, cannons, or rocket launchers.

The geometry of the Linear Persistent Current Motor (LPCM) apparatus of this invention is related to existing EM launch concepts. The motor apparatus of this invention includes a wound-secondary with the secondary turned by 90 degrees. The motor apparatus of this invention is similar to an apparatus having two augmented railguns operating in parallel, but with links connecting the railgun armature segments.

The geometry of the LPCM apparatus of this invention has the following advantages: (1) a complete loop in the secondary can operate in persistent current mode, unlike an armature of an augmented railgun; (2) phases of the primary can operate on direct current, or in persistent current mode, unlike the multi-phase AC primary of devices such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) device; (3) the system as a whole can operate in persistent current mode throughout a launch, without a quench or switching of any kind during a launch. The third advantage means that the launcher apparatus of this invention can be charged gradually with an arbitrarily small power supply, and then, unlike the quench gun or collapsing field accelerator, the apparatus of this invention does not require fast-acting persistent current switches to open primary circuits during a launch cycle. Thus, the LPCM apparatus of this invention overcomes a major obstacle that has prevented adoption of superconducting electromagnetic launchers during the last 20 years.

The primary use of the linear motor apparatus of this invention will be launching small payloads to high altitudes, or, with rocket assist, into orbit or as a launch platform for projectiles to make EM guns, mortars, cannons, rockets or other types of projectiles. The low launch cost of the linear motor system of this invention will make possible new applications, such as assembly of satellites from multiple small payload launches, satellite maintenance and refueling, and space station resupply. The LPCM apparatus of this invention will be superior to competing chemical systems because it allows greater control flexibility, will likely be smaller and lighter, is likely to have higher maximum end speed, will have lower maintenance requirements, and will be safer to operate.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a linear motor apparatus including a primary assembly and a secondary assembly. The secondary assembly is designed to travel along a length of the primary assembly. The secondary assembly is designed to be mechanically linked or coupled to a projectile or payload to be launched. The primary assembly is fixed and is designed to generate a magnetic field that is approximately constant during motor operation and during a launch cycle. The primary assembly includes two sides, where the sides are similar if not identical except that they produce fields having opposite directions. The sides of the primary assembly can comprise any material that is capable of generating a magnetic field, such as superconducting windings operating either in persistent or pulsed current mode, arrays of permanent magnets, copper windings, arrays of monolithic superconductors or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof. Each side of the primary assembly can either be split, i.e., the primary assembly has a slot, where the secondary assembly traveling down the slot or down a middle section of the primary assembly, or a single piece that is either on the inside or the outside of the secondary assembly. The secondary assembly typically be a loop composed of any material that can carry a current, such as superconducting wire, copper wire, a ring-shaped superconducting monolith, or mixtures or combinations thererof. Current can be fed into the secondary assembly from rails, or a flexible conductor, or can be induced by a pulsed magnetic field in the primary assembly. Alternatively, the secondary assembly can include only one segment for each side of the primary assembly, oriented for the desired force on each segment. It should be recognized that the primary and secondary assemblies are the primary and secondary parts of a motor and can be made of any material capable of generating a magnetic field or intrinsically has a magnetic field. Of course, the size and uniformity of the magnetic fields will affect the launch velocity of the apparatus. It should also be recognized that the preferred materials out of which both the primary and secondary assemblies is made are superconducting materials.

The present invention also broadly relates to a method for launching a payload including the step of providing a launch apparatus of this invention. The method also includes coupling or linking a payload with the secondary assembly. Once the payload is coupled to the secondary assembly, the primary assembly is activated and the secondary assembly and the coupled payload is accelerated down a length of the primary assembly. At the end of the primary assembly, the secondary assembly stops and the payload is launched from the apparatus at a specified velocity. If the payload includes a supplemental acceleration component such as a rocket engine, then the method also includes the step of activating the supplemental acceleration component to increase provide additional lift or velocity of the payload. In certain situation, the supplemental acceleration component associated with the payload can be used to aid the payload to reach a desired terminal velocity and/or direction, e.g., the aid the payload reach earth escape velocity for launching payloads into space or into orbit.

Suitable superconducting materials for use in this invention include, without limitation, normal or classical superconducting metal, metal alloys, or mixtures or combinations thereof, high temperature superconductors, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Exemplary examples of high temperature superconductors include, without limitations, LaCu oxides, LaBaCu oxides, LaSrCu oxides, YbaCu oxides, BiSrCaCu oxides, TlBaCaCu oxides, other high Tc superconducting materials or mixtures or combinations thereof. Exemplary examples include La2-xBaxCuO4, La2-xSrxCuO4, La2-xSrxCaCuO4, YBa2Cu3O7-δ, Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10, Bi2Sr2Ca—Cu2O8, Bi2Sr2Ca2Ca3O8, Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferred HTS includes YBa2Cu3O7-δ, La2-xSrxCaCuO4, Bi2Sr2Ca2Ca3O8, Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Referring now toFIG. 1A, an embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally100, is shown to include102, which houses a primary assembly104having a left superconducting element106and a right superconducting element108. The left and right superconducting elements106and108have a longitudinal slot110and a central slot112. Positioned inside the longitudinal slot110is a secondary assembly114comprising a superconducting loop. The secondary assembly114is designed to travel down a length of the slot110in an accelerated fashion. By coupling a payload to the secondary assembly114and accelerating the secondary assembly114with the coupled payload down the length of the slot110, the payload can be launched out of the housing in the direction of a launch arrow116, the direction of motion of the secondary assembly114relative to the primary assembly104.

Referring now toFIG. 1B, a start end or start end cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. lA. The housing102is shown as left and right blocks118. Mounted on the blocks118are the left and right superconducting elements106and108. Positioned within the slot110is the secondary superconducting loop114. A direction of a current120flowing in the superconducting loop114is shown. Lines of magnetic flux122across the slot110that act on the loop114. The resulting interaction between magnetic field of the primary assembly104and the magnetic field produced by the current120flowing in the secondary assembly114produces an acceleration direction of motion of the secondary assembly114into the plane of the FIG. lA as shown by a direction indicator124.

Referring now toFIG.1C, a diagram of the magnetic lines of flux of the magnetic field produced by one of the elements106of the primary assembly104and the magnetic field produced by the secondary assembly114to produce an acceleration force on the secondary assembly114in the direction of the arrow116.

Referring now toFIG. 2, another embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally200, is shown to include a primary assembly204having a left superconducting element206and a right superconducting element208. The left and right superconducting elements206and208have a longitudinal slot210. Also shown are the lines and direction of magnetic flux222across the slot210. Positioned inside the longitudinal slot210is a secondary assembly214comprising a superconducting loop having a current flow direction220. The secondary assembly214is designed to travel down a length of the slot210in an accelerated fashion. By coupling a payload to the secondary assembly214and accelerating the secondary assembly214with the coupled payload down the length of the slot210, the payload can be launched in the direction of travel of the secondary assembly214as indicated by the direction indicator224, which represents an acceleration vector into the plane of the drawing.

Referring now toFIG. 3, another embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally300, is shown to include a primary assembly302having a left superconducting element306and a right superconducting element308. Also shown are the lines and direction of magnetic flux322generated by the elements306and308. The apparatus300also includes a secondary assembly314comprising a superconducting loop having a current flow direction220. The primary elements306and308are disposed in an interior of the secondary assembly314. By coupling a payload to the secondary assembly314and accelerating the secondary assembly314with the coupled payload down the length of the primary assembly302, the payload can be launched in the direction indicated by the direction indicator324, which represents an acceleration vector into the plane of the drawing.

Referring now toFIG. 4, another embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally400, is shown to include a primary assembly402having a left superconducting element406and a right superconducting element408. Also shown are the lines and direction of magnetic flux422generated by the elements406and408. The apparatus300also includes a secondary assembly414comprising a superconducting loop having a current flow direction420. The primary elements406and408are disposed in an exterior of the secondary assembly414. By coupling a payload to the secondary assembly414and accelerating the secondary assembly414with the coupled payload down the length of the primary assembly404, the payload can be launched in the direction indicated by the direction indicator424, which represents an acceleration vector into the plane of the drawing.

Referring now toFIG. 5, another embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally500, is shown to include a primary assembly504comprising a superconducting loop having a current flow direction505. The apparatus500also includes a secondary assembly514including two superconducting elements526and528. Also shown are the lines and direction of magnetic flux530generated by the elements526and528of the secondary assembly514. The secondary elements526and528are disposed on an exterior of the primary assembly504. By coupling a payload to the secondary assembly514and accelerating the secondary assembly514with the coupled payload down the length of the primary assembly504, the payload can be launched in the direction of travel of the secondary assembly514as indicated by the direction indicator524, which represents an acceleration vector out of the plane of the drawing. The apparatus500represents an inversion of the apparatus100. That is, in the apparatus100, the loop moves relative to the stationary field magnet, while in the apparatus500, the field magnet moves relative the stationary loop. In the apparatus500, the secondary assembly514is short in length compared to the primary windings504.

Referring now toFIG. 6, another embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally600, is shown to include a primary assembly602comprising a plurality of conductor segments640having a current flow I in a direction605. The apparatus600is similar to the apparatus500, but the current loop is replaced by conductor segments fed by sliding contacts as described more fully below. The configuration produces a magnetic force630and an acceleration force616adapted to accelerate a secondary assembly614.

Referring now toFIG. 7, another preferred embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally700, is shown to include two primary assemblies702a&bcomprising pluralities of conductor segments740a&bhaving a current flow I in directions705a&band arranged in a parallel configuration. It should be noted that the current flow direction705ais opposite to the current flow705bin the linear elements740aand740b, respectively, so that magnetic fields730a&bare in the same direction. The apparatus700also includes two secondary assemblies714a&b. The configuration produces the magnetic forces730a&band acceleration forces716a&b. Two of the alternate configuration motors can be used in parallel. A payload750can be placed between the secondary magnets714a&b, so that a symmetric force is exerted on the payload750.

Referring now toFIG. 8A-C, another embodiment of a linear acceleration motor apparatus or launch apparatus, generally800, is shown to include a p6nary assembly804. The primary assembly804includes a current rail855, sliding contacts870, a plurality of conductor tooth segments840extending from a base841, and an insulating support880. The apparatus800also includes a secondary assembly814comprising a magnet815and a cyrostat860. The arrow830represents the magnetic force B; the arrow824represent the direction of current flow I; and the arrow816represents the direction of motion of the secondary assembly814relative to the primary assembly804. Although the segments840are shown here as being short conduct elements, the segments840can also be loops.

In the alternate configuration, the secondary magnet, the two sliding contacts, and the payload are connected by a support structure and move as a unit. One terminal of a power supply (e.g., a capacitor bank) is electrically connected to the current feed rail, while the other terminal of the power supply is connected to the toothed primary. A sliding contact rides on the current feed rail, and is electrically connected to another sliding contact that rides the toothed part of the primary. The sliding contact that rides the toothed part of the primary is narrower than a tooth, so that current is fed from the current feed rail, through the sliding contacts, through a single tooth, and returns to the power supply. Each tooth in the primary is preferably narrower than the secondary magnet. The field magnets can comprise either permanent magnets, monolithic superconductors with a trapped field, or a wound superconducting magnet operating in persistent current mode or mixtures and combinations thereof. The toothed part of the primary can comprise a sheet of a good conductor such as copper or aluminum, or superconductors in tape or wire form or mixtures and combinations thereof. The sliding contacts can comprise carbon, copper, other metals or alloys with good conductivity, or a composite of carbon and metal or alloy or mixtures and combinations thereof. The toothed part of the primary is supported by an insulating material, such as polycarbonate or G10 or other similar structural insulators. If a superconducting magnet is used in the secondary, it should be contained in a cryostat that maintains a low temperature during a launch. Variations of this configuration are possible. The current feed rail can be placed in other locations relative to the toothed part of the primary. Multiple secondary magnets can be used, along with multiple sliding contacts. The secondary assembly can be supported by rolling bearings, low friction pads such as PTFE, or by a magnetic levitation structure that is either independent of or makes use of the field magnets.

The main advantage of the alternate configuration is that it takes advantage of the very high magnetic fields (up to 17 T) that have been demonstrated in small superconducting monoliths. Although this configuration uses a sliding contact, while the others do not, this is thought to be acceptable because sliding contacts have been demonstrated in rail guns to work up to a speed of about 6 km/s. At this speed, energy transfer becomes extremely inefficient (near zero percent efficiency). However, the configuration presented here differs from a rail gun in two important ways:1. The sliding contacts in a rail gun are in a high magnetic field regions. In the alternate configuration, the contacts need not be in a high field regions; additionally, a tailored magnetic field can be applied in this case in order to contain any generated plasma in the regions of the contact.2. In a rail gun, a significant pressure is exerted on the area of the sliding contact. In this configuration, the sliding contact is only required to support its own mass.

It is therefore expected that this configuration can accelerate payloads to speeds significantly higher than 6 km/s.

Another advantage of the alternate configuration is that the inductance of the toothed primary is very low. This minimizes the energy that must be dissipated as the sliding contact commutates current from one tooth to the next. It also provides the possibility of using solid-state switches rather than sliding contacts to control current in the teeth. In solenoidal coil guns, the inductance of the coils combined with the switch voltage limit is one of the main limitations of these types of devices achieving launch velocities.

A prototype of the alternate configuration has been constructed, and demonstrated to accelerate a payload. To date, the prototype has been used with permanent magnets in the secondary, but has been designed so that these permanent magnets can be replaced by existing monolithic superconducting magnets. The acceleration and back electromotive force measured during tests were found to agree with theoretical predictions.