Abstract: Electromagnetic propulsion device as a gun or reversible electric motor having a barrel with a cavity extending its length, an armature in said cavity with a permanent magnetic or energized propulsion bus coil, a plurality of wall conductors orthogonal and circumscribing the cavity distributed between the cavity ends with contact means at the cavity on one end and a bus common with all wall conductors on the other and wherein the magnetic fields of the barrel wall conductor coils immediately before and after the magnetic field source in an armature interacts therewith effecting armature motion. Forward and aft armature current shunts direct current from barrel rails to and from the armature coil with associated propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means, when extant, and to and from said armature propelling wall conductors via said contacts.

Abstract: Electromagnetic propulsion devices including rail guns comprised of a barrel with cavity, two barrel rails parallel the cavity axis supplying power, armatures with a current carrying propulsion bus orthogonal the cavity axis, plurality of spaced, cavity axis orthogonal, barrel wall conductors distributed from breach to muzzle which are parallel armature propulsion bus in the cavity. There are forward and aft current shunt on the armature and possible armature current bus which when extant comprise one or the other or both a propulsion bus-aft shunt circuit means and an aft shunt-forward shunt circuit means. Said circuit means may be otherwise extant as additional barrel rail coacting with said shunts. The shunts and said circuit means direct the current through said wall conductors and the magnetic fields of said wall conductor currents interact with the armature propulsion bus current to propel or aid in propulsion of the armature in the cavity.