A compensated pulsed alternator (compulsator) is an attractive alternative to the homopolar-inductor switch system as a power source for a rapid-fire railgun. The design of the compulsator and a few other components of the system are presented. Results of the tests on various components of the system are also discussed. The system is designed to accelerate 80-g projectiles to 2 to 3 km/s at 60 Hz. The rapid-fire gun system consists of several components. The compulsator is the power source and provides current pulses to the injector and the railgun. The injector, which is a high inductance gradient EM gun, accelerates the projectile from rest to an initial velocity of 200 m/s in order to reduce damage at the breech of the rails. The railgun has a parallel rail geometry and accelerates the projectile from the injection velocity to a final velocity of 2 to 3 km/s. The rails are directly connected to the compulsator without a switch, whereas the injector is triggered with an ignitron.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A compulsator-driven rapid-fire railgun system


    Additional title:

    Ein Compulsator (Drehfeldmaschine mit geringer Induktivitaet) als Energiequelle fuer eine schnellfeuernde elektromagnetische Kanone


    Contributors:
    Pratap, S.B. (author) / Spann, M.L. (author) / Brinkman, W.G. (author) / Werst, M.D. (author) / Vaughn, M.R. (author)


    Publication date :

    1985


    Size :

    4 Seiten, 11 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 2 Quellen


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    A rapid fire, compulsator-driven railgun system

    Spann, M.L. | Tema Archive | 1986


    Sensor development for compulsator driven railgun systems

    Penney, C.E. / Hotz, T.J. / Hahne, J.J. | Tema Archive | 2003


    A compulsator driven rapid-fire EM gun

    Pratap, S.B. | Tema Archive | 1984


    Final design of an air core, compulsator driven, 60 caliber railgun system

    Kitzmiller, J.R. / Faidley, R.W. / Fuller, R.L. et al. | Tema Archive | 1991


    Design of a self-excited, air-core compulsator for a skid-mounted repetitive fire 9 MJ railgun system

    Walls, W.A. / Spann, M.L. / Pratap, S.B. et al. | Tema Archive | 1989