Safety switch for inductively driven electromagnetic projectile launchers

Abstract

A safety switch for use in an inductively driven electromagnetic launcher system includes three tubular conductors each having a substantially cylindrical internal surface, wherein these internal surfaces have substantially the same internal diameter and are positioned at spaced locations along a common axis. A fourth tubular conductor having a cylindrical external surface with a diameter which is substantially equal to the internal diameters of the first three conductors. This fourth conductor is mounted for movement along the common axis such that its external surface is capable of making sliding electrical contact with the internal surfaces of the first three conductors. The external surface of the fourth conductors has sufficient axial length to be capable of making electrical contact with each of the internal surfaces simultaneously. Means are provided for electrically connecting the first three tubular conductors to an external circuit and a switch actuating means serves to move the fourth tubular conductor axially along the common axis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.