Patent ID: 12196507

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Turning toFIGS.1and2, a projectile propulsion device10constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The projectile propulsion device10broadly comprises a base12, a firing mechanism14, a barrel16, and a helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18. The projectile propulsion device10may be configured to fire an internal projectile100. The projectile propulsion device10may be a tank gun, an airplane gun; a battleship gun, or the like.

The base12supports or houses the firing mechanism14and barrel16and may include a carriage, a gun mount, a firing platform, an elevator, and the like. The base12may be maneuverable about a vertical axis (azimuth) and may be configured to pitch the barrel16about a horizontal axis (altitude).

The firing mechanism14may be aft of the barrel16and activates an explosive charge102of the projectile100. The firing mechanism14may include a firing pin, a firing spring, a trigger, electrical or mechanical actuators, or the like.

The barrel16extends forward from the firing mechanism14and forms an open-ended bore20. The barrel16is configured to guide the projectile100out of the open end of the bore20towards a target. The barrel16may include rifling, muzzle brakes, propellant gas ports, and the like.

The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18broadly comprises an electrical energy source22, a positive rail24, a negative rail26, a plurality of brushes28A-D, a stator30, and a helical electromagnetic armature32. The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18at least partially encircles the barrel16so as to be external relative to the barrel. That is, the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may be considered to have an “external” configuration. The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may have a center of mass coaxially aligned with a center of mass of the barrel16.

The electrical energy source22provides electrical energy to at least one of the stator30and helical electromagnetic armature32via the positive rail24, negative rail26, and brushes28A-D when the firing mechanism14triggers the explosive charge102of the projectile100. The electrical energy source22may be a battery, a pulse-forming network (PFN), a capacitor, or other electrical energy sources.

The positive rail24is an electrical conduit electrically connecting the stator30to the electrical energy source22via brushes28A,B. To that end, the positive rail24may extend parallel to longitudinal axes of the stator30and helical electromagnetic armature32and the negative rail26.

The negative rail26is an electrical conduit electrically connecting the helical electromagnetic armature32to the electrical energy source22via the brush28D. To that end, the negative rail26may extend parallel to the longitudinal axes of the stator30and helical electromagnetic armature32and the positive rail24.

The brushes28A-D electrically connect the positive rail24, stator30, helical electromagnetic armature32, and negative rail26together while maintaining translatable freedom therebetween. Specifically, brush28A is configured to slideably engage the positive rail24. Brush28B is configured to slideably engage helical coils of the stator30. Brush28C is connected to helical coils of the helical electromagnetic armature32and is configured to slideably engage helical coils of the stator30. Brush28D is connected to the helical coils of the helical electromagnetic armature32opposite brush28C and is configured to slideably engage negative rail26.

The stator30includes helical coils34and is stationary relative to the helical electromagnetic armature32. The stator30may be longitudinally aligned with the barrel16. The stator30may also encircle at least a portion of the barrel16for more compact construction. The stator30is electrically connected to the positive rail24via brushes28A, B and to the helical electromagnetic armature32via brush28C.

The helical electromagnetic armature32includes helical coils36and is configured to longitudinally translate relative to the stator30. The helical electromagnetic armature32may encircle at least a portion of the stator30and may encircle at least a portion of the barrel16. The helical electromagnetic armature32is electrically connected to the stator30via brush28C and to the negative rail26via brush28D. The helical electromagnetic armature32may have a mass larger than a mass of the projectile100to minimize travel distance of the helical electromagnetic armature32. The helical electromagnetic armature32may be configured to be reset to an initial position after the projectile propulsion device10has fired.

The above-described helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18includes brush connections and a stator coil and armature coil configuration for channeling electricity through the stator30and the helical electromagnetic armature32. In this case, the stator30and helical electromagnetic armature32may impart an electromagnetic force on each other. Other helical electromagnetic configurations may also be used. For example, the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may be configured so that electricity is channeled only through the stator or only through the armature. Other configurations such as separate electrical circuits for the stator30and helical electromagnetic armature32may be used.

Use of the projectile propulsion device10will now be described in more detail. The projectile100may be loaded in the barrel16near an aft end of the bore20(e.g., in a loading chamber). The barrel16may then be aimed at a target or in the initial desired trajectory of the projectile100.

The projectile100may then be fired at or toward the target. Specifically, the firing mechanism14may engage the explosive charge102. The explosive charge102may then detonate, in turn propelling the projectile100in a first direction (i.e., out the open end of the barrel16). Due to rapid forward acceleration of the projectile100, the projectile propulsion device10(or more specifically, the base12and barrel16) receives a reaction force realized in the form of recoil, which is minimized or eliminated by the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18as described below.

Specifically, the electrical energy source22may provide electrical energy in the form of electrical current to the stator30and helical electromagnetic armature32via a circuit path routed through the positive rail24, brushes28A-D, and negative rail26. Current passing through the coils34of the stator30and/or the coils36of the helical electromagnetic armature32create an electromagnetic force that moves the helical electromagnetic armature32in a second direction opposite the first direction at substantially the same time the projectile100is propelled in the first direction. The projectile propulsion device10receives a reaction force from the helical electromagnetic armature32. In this way, the reaction force from the helical electromagnetic armature32counters the reaction force or recoil imparted on the projectile propulsion device10by the projectile100.

The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may then be reset. This may be done manually or via an application of reverse current or a reset mechanism.

The above-described projectile propulsion device10provides several advantages. For example, the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18minimizes or eliminates recoil from firing projectiles. The helical electromagnetic armature32may be coaxially aligned with the barrel16and bore20or may have a center of mass aligned with a center of mass of the projectile100so that a moment or rotational force is not imparted on the projectile propulsion device10. Aspects of the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18can be easily adjusted to optimize performance. For example, the amount of current or a current profile can be changed via electronic circuitry, computer control, or the like to precisely control movement of the helical electromagnetic armature32. In this way, the exact amount of force over time exerted by firing the projectile can be countered to eliminate any impulse peak, delayed reaction, reverberation, secondary forces, natural frequencies, variations in charge power (e.g., imperfect munitions), different projectile gauges and powers, and the like. To that end, the helical electromagnetic armature32can even reverse direction during recoil mitigation. The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may at least partially encircle the barrel16, which may reduce size of the projectile propulsion device10.

Turning toFIGS.3and4, a projectile propulsion device200constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The projectile propulsion device200broadly comprises a base202, a firing mechanism204, a guide rail206, and a helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208. The projectile propulsion device200may be configured to fire an external projectile. To that end, a ring projectile300is shown, but other projectiles with female orientation may be used.

The base202supports or houses the firing mechanism204and guide rail206and may include a carriage, a gun mount, a firing platform, an elevator, and the like. The base202may be maneuverable about a vertical axis (azimuth) and may be configured to pitch the guide rail206about a horizontal axis (altitude).

The firing mechanism204activates an explosive charge302of projectile300and may be positioned aft of the guide rail206. The firing mechanism204may include a firing pin, a firing spring, a trigger, electrical or mechanical actuators, or the like.

The guide rail206extends forward from the firing mechanism204and includes a central chamber210configured to house the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208. Alternatively, the central chamber210may be aft of the guide rail206in the base202. The guide rail206is configured to be encircled by the projectile300and to be aimed at a target (or directed to axially coincide with an initial trajectory of the projectile300) to guide the projectile300towards the target. The guide rail206may include rifling, muzzle brakes, propellant gas ports, and the like.

The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208is at least partially positioned in the central chamber210and broadly comprises an electrical energy source212, a positive rail214, a negative rail216, a plurality of brushes218A-D, a stator220, and a helical electromagnetic armature222. The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208is at least partially encircled by the guide rail206. That is, the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may be considered to have an “internal” configuration. The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism18may have a center of mass coaxially aligned with a center of mass of the guide rail206.

The electrical energy source212provides electrical energy to at least one of the stator220and helical electromagnetic armature222via the positive rail214, negative rail216, and brushes218A-D when the firing mechanism204triggers the explosive charge302of the projectile300. The electrical energy source212may be a battery, a pulse-forming network (PFN), a capacitor, or other electrical energy sources.

The positive rail214is an electrical conduit electrically connecting the stator220to the electrical energy source212via brushes218A,B. To that end, the positive rail214may extend parallel to longitudinal axes of the stator220and helical electromagnetic armature222and the negative rail216.

The negative rail216is an electrical conduit electrically connecting the helical electromagnetic armature222to the electrical energy source212via the brush218D. To that end, the negative rail216may extend parallel to the longitudinal axes of the stator220and helical electromagnetic armature222and the positive rail214.

The brushes218A-D electrically connect the positive rail214, stator220, helical electromagnetic armature222, and negative rail216together while maintaining translatable freedom therebetween. Specifically, brush218A is configured to slideably engage the positive rail214. Brush218B is configured to slideably engage helical coils of the stator220. Brush218C is connected to helical coils of the helical electromagnetic armature222and is configured to slideably engage helical coils of the stator220. Brush218D is connected to the helical coils of the helical electromagnetic armature222opposite brush218C and is configured to slideably engage negative rail216.

The stator220includes helical coils224and is stationary relative to the helical electromagnetic armature222. The stator220may be longitudinally aligned with the guide rail206and encircles the helical electromagnetic armature222. The stator220may also be encircled by at least a portion of the guide rail206for more compact construction. The stator220is electrically connected to the positive rail214via brushes218A, B and to the helical electromagnetic armature222via brush218C.

The helical electromagnetic armature222includes helical coils226and is configured to longitudinally translate relative to the stator220. The helical electromagnetic armature222may be encircled by at least a portion of the stator220and at least a portion of the guide rail206. The helical electromagnetic armature222is electrically connected to the stator220via brush218C and to the negative rail216via brush218D. The helical electromagnetic armature222may be configured to be reset to an initial position after the projectile propulsion device200has fired.

The above-described helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208includes brush connections and a stator coil and armature coil configuration for channeling electricity through the stator220and the helical electromagnetic armature222. In this case, the stator220and helical electromagnetic armature222may impart an electromagnetic force on each other. Other helical electromagnetic configurations may also be used. For example, the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208may be configured so that electricity is channeled only through the stator or only through the armature. Other configurations such as separate electrical circuits for the stator220and helical electromagnetic armature222may be used.

Use of the projectile propulsion device200will now be described in more detail. The projectile300may be loaded on the guide rail206. The guide rail206may then be aimed at a target or in the initial desired trajectory of the projectile300.

The projectile300may then be fired at or toward the target. Specifically, the firing mechanism204may engage the explosive charge302. The explosive charge302may then detonate, thus propelling the projectile300in a first direction off a distal end of the guide rail206. Due to rapid forward acceleration of the projectile300, the projectile propulsion device200(or more specifically, the base202and guide rail206) receives a reaction force realized in the form of recoil, which is minimized or eliminated by the helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208as described below.

Specifically, the electrical energy source212may provide electrical energy in the form of electrical current to the stator220and helical electromagnetic armature222via a circuit path routed through the positive rail214, brushes218A-D, and negative rail216. Current passing through the coils224of the stator220and the coils226of the helical electromagnetic armature222create an electromagnetic force that moves the helical electromagnetic armature222in a second direction opposite the first direction at substantially the same time the projectile300is propelled in the first direction. The projectile propulsion device200receives a reaction force from the helical electromagnetic armature222. In this way, the reaction force from the helical electromagnetic armature222counters the reaction force or recoil imparted on the projectile propulsion device200by the projectile300.

The helical electromagnetic counter recoil mechanism208may then be reset. This may be done manually or via an application of reverse current or a reset mechanism.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: