Muzzle arc suppressor for electromagnetic railgun

Abstract

A muzzle arc suppressor allowing rapid repetitive refiring of railguns. A varistor or varistors electrically connect the muzzle ends of a railgun. Resistive inserts are placed inside the rails near the muzzle end. When the railgun projectile reaches the resistive inserts, the voltage across the varistor increases to above the varistor breakdown voltage, thereby commutating the railgun current from the projectile to the varistor, and dissipating excess magnetic energy through resistance heating of the varistor. The varistor is preferably made of zinc oxide, which is temperature invariant over a wide temperature range. The varistor may be pre-cooled to increase its energy absorbtion ability. A specific embodiment of the arc suppressor has the zinc oxide varistor conformably shaped to surround the rails. The conformably shaped varistor includes coolant passages.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.