PERMANENT MAGNET ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCHER

ELECTROIMPACT PROPOSES THAT ELECTROMAGNETIC LAUNCH BE EMPLOYED WITH A PERMANENT MAGNET PUSHER MOTOR AND A TRAVELING WAVE LAUNCH TUBE. NEODYMIUM-IRON-BORON PERMANENT MAGNETS ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH POWER ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE MOVING LAUNCHING DEVICE. MAGNETIC SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY USING PERMANENT MAGNETS WILL PREVENT THEDEVICE FROM RATTLING DOWN THE LAUNCH TUBE. A PERMANENT MAGNET POTENTIAL WELL LATCH CAN SECURE THE DEVICE UNTIL THE MAGNETS ARE OVERWHELMED BY DRIVEN WINDINGS. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT FOR RELEASING A MECHANICAL LATCH WHICH COULD CREATE NOISE. WITH THESE COMBINED TECHNOLOGIES A UNIQUELY QUIET LAUNCHER CAN BE REALIZED. MOTOR LAMINATIONS, WINDING AXIS AND PITCH AXIS ARE ALL SIMILAR IN CONCEPT TO A CONVENTIONAL SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR BUT ARE ROTATED TO PROVIDE LINEAR MOTION. THE PERFORMANCE DEMANDED OF THIS SYSTEM IN THIS APPLICATION IS NOT GREATER THAN THAT REALIZED BY CONVENTIONAL ROTATING MOTORS, NOR IS IT GREATER THAN COMMERCIAL LINEAR MOTORS. FOR THAT REASON THE PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS SEEMS QUITE HIGH.