Aug 26, 2025

US12398968 - Fault tolerant electromagnetic safety system for firearms

A fault tolerant electromagnetic safety system for firearms comprises an electromagnetic actuator with movable rotating member operably interfaced with the firing mechanism. The actuator is controlled via a programmable microcontroller coupled to an electric power source onboard the firearm. A safety actuatable by a user operably interfaces with the actuator and is manually movable between actuated and standby positions. In a blocking position, the actuator engages and prevents the firing mechanism from moving to prevent discharging the firearm. The safety when in the standby position is configured to prevent the actuator from disengaging the firing mechanism. Upon the detecting movement of safety to the actuated position, the microcontroller moves the actuator to a non-blocking position allowing discharge of the firearm via a trigger pull. The safety when moving to the standby position may be configured to mechanically reset the actuator to the blocking position in event of an electronics failure.

Inventors: Louis M. Galie, Robert Gilliom, John Klebes, John M. French, Gary Hamilton
Filing date: 2023-01-31

firearmsafetyelectromagnetic

The patent describes a fault tolerant electromagnetic safety system for firearms that utilizes an electromagnetic actuator to control the firing mechanism, ensuring that the firearm cannot discharge unless the safety is in the correct position. The system is designed to automatically reset to a blocking position in the event of an electronics failure, enhancing safety and reliability.

Claim 1

A firearm with fault tolerant electromagnetic safety system, the firearm comprising: a longitudinal axis; a frame arranged along the longitudinal axis; a firing mechanism linkage disposed in the frame and movable to discharge the firearm via a trigger pull; an energizable electromagnetic actuator comprising a rotating member configured to operably interface with the firing mechanism linkage; the electromagnetic actuator being operable to move the rotating member between a blocking position in which movement of the firing mechanism linkage is prevented, and a non-blocking position which allows movement of the firing mechanism linkage to discharge the firearm; a safety actuatable by a user and configured in turn to operably interface with the rotating member of the actuator, the safety being manually movable between an actuated position and a standby position; wherein the safety is configured to block movement of rotating member out of the blocking position when the safety is in the standby position. a longitudinal axis; a frame arranged along the longitudinal axis; a firing mechanism linkage disposed in the frame and movable to discharge the firearm via a trigger pull; an energizable electromagnetic actuator comprising a rotating member configured to operably interface with the firing mechanism linkage; the electromagnetic actuator being operable to move the rotating member between a blocking position in which movement of the firing mechanism linkage is prevented, and a non-blocking position which allows movement of the firing mechanism linkage to discharge the firearm; a safety actuatable by a user and configured in turn to operably interface with the rotating member of the actuator, the safety being manually movable between an actuated position and a standby position; wherein the safety is configured to block movement of rotating member out of the blocking position when the safety is in the standby position.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12398968

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12398968