JP2571861B

PURPOSE:To attenuate or eliminate an armature current in the arbitrary place in the accelerating hole of a rail gun by employing only a simple circuit by a method wherein one part of the armature current is guided to an electric bridge when a plasma armature passes through the position of a small electrode so that generated plasma is injected through a plasma injection hole to generate the rupture of insulation between electrode gaps and convert the armature current into a discharging current between gap switches. CONSTITUTION:The end surface of a small electrode 8 is usually exposed on the surface of a rail electrode near a muzzle while being insulated from the rail electrode and is connected electrically to one end of an electric bridge 11. The other terminal of the electric bridge is connected electrically to an electrode in a cavity 10 in one electrode of a gap switch 9 connected in parallel to a rail gun. When an accelerated plasma armature has arrived at the position of the small electrode, one part of an armature current is guided to the electric bridge 11 through the small electrode and plasma 12 is generated in the cavity 10. The plasma is injected through a fine hole 13 and generates plasma 12 in the cavity 10. The plasma is injected through a fine hole 13 and the rupture of insulation is generated between gap switches. As a result, power supply current is branched to the armature current and a gap switch current.