Dec 16, 2025

US12498195 - Steady-field coilgun methods and devices

Steady-field coilgun methods and devices based on a steady-field coil(s). The fundamental operational basis is to leave the current running in the solenoid/coil during the operation of the gun or other projectile launcher, where the field must be built up only once—initially, when turning the gun or launcher on. Then firing involves loading a bullet or other projectile in the barrel and releasing it to be accelerated by the established magnetic field. To fire again, the system loads the next bullet into the barrel and releases it again to be accelerated by the same steady magnetic field. To stop the firing, simply prevent the next bullet from loading, or load it but do not release it in the barrel. To turn off the system, simply disconnect the DC voltage driving the current in the solenoid(s)/coil(s).

Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Inventors: Emil Paskalev Kartalov, Jeffrey Kyle Catterlin
Filing date: 2024-06-03

The patent describes a method for operating a steady-field coilgun that utilizes a continuous magnetic field to accelerate projectiles, allowing for repeated firing without needing to recharge the magnetic field each time. The system involves loading a magnetic sabot containing a nonmagnetic projectile, which is propelled by the established magnetic field, and can be easily turned off or paused by controlling the loading process.

Claim 1

1 . A method for operating an electromagnetic coilgun system, the electromagnetic coilgun system including a barrel and a longitudinally extending electrical excitation coil, the electrical excitation coil including a first portion arranged circumferentially around a muzzle end of a bore of the barrel and a second portion arranged circumferentially around a discharge region protruding beyond the muzzle end of the bore, the method comprising: energizing the electrical excitation coil to produce a steady-state magnetic field within and around the muzzle end of the bore of the barrel, the steady-state magnetic field extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and longitudinally beyond the muzzle end of the barrel; loading the barrel with a magnetic sabot at a breech end of the barrel, the magnetic sabot housing a nonmagnetic projectile; and firing the magnetic sabot and housed nonmagnetic projectile by magnetically propelling the magnetic sabot, with the housed nonmagnetic projectile, along the longitudinal axis of the bore by a magnetic force produced by the steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel, wherein the magnetic sabot is shed from the nonmagnetic projectile as the magnetic sabot and nonmagnetic projectile are launched from the muzzle end of the bore. energizing the electrical excitation coil to produce a steady-state magnetic field within and around the muzzle end of the bore of the barrel, the steady-state magnetic field extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrel and longitudinally beyond the muzzle end of the barrel; loading the barrel with a magnetic sabot at a breech end of the barrel, the magnetic sabot housing a nonmagnetic projectile; and firing the magnetic sabot and housed nonmagnetic projectile by magnetically propelling the magnetic sabot, with the housed nonmagnetic projectile, along the longitudinal axis of the bore by a magnetic force produced by the steady-state magnetic field within and around the bore of the barrel, wherein the magnetic sabot is shed from the nonmagnetic projectile as the magnetic sabot and nonmagnetic projectile are launched from the muzzle end of the bore.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12498195

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12498195