US12710243 - Ram accelerator sweeper baffles
A ram accelerator for accelerating a projectile is provided. The ram accelerator includes a first tube body having a first projectile bore, a second tube body having a second projectile bore axially aligned with the first projectile bore, and a baffle positioned between and operably coupling the first and second tube bodies. The baffle can have an annular baffle wall defining a central bore that is axially aligned with the first and second projectile bores, and a chamber arranged adjacent to the annular baffle wall. The chamber can extend radially outward from the central bore and the annular baffle wall can be configured to sweep a combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile, leading to an unstart mechanism of the projectile in the ram accelerator.