Firearms can produce undesirable levels of acoustic noise during use. When using a firearm, for example, it can be desirable to reduce acoustic noise levels because the sound produced by firing the firearm can provide information as to the location of a firearm operator and/or can damage or impair the hearing of the operator or bystanders. To reduce acoustic noise levels, sound reducing devices such as sound suppressors, mufflers, and the like are commonly used. Suppressors typically operate through diverting gases and energy into chambers surrounding a bore line of the device. A wide variety of chamber designs and baffles have been used to redirect gases. Common suppressor baffles include a series of forward expanding frustoconical shapes which divert a portion of gases away from the bore line. Despite improvements and refinements in suppressor designs, numerous problems remain which reduce performance of the suppressors and accompanying firearms. For example, most suppressors result in a reduced muzzle velocity, changed point of projectile impact, substantial weight increase, and other factors which limit their desirability in certain applications.
Thus, there is a need for a firearm suppressor capable of reducing acoustic noise levels produced by a firearm while having a minimal effect on a speed and/or trajectory of a projectile. Accordingly, a firearm suppressor and associated systems are provided which provides improved performance. Such a firearm suppressor can comprise an outer shell, and a suppressor core disposed inside the outer shell. The suppressor core can have a projectile passageway for a projectile from a firearm to travel through. The projectile passageway can extend along a longitudinal axis or boreline. The suppressor core can also include a central support rib disposed along the longitudinal axis. In addition, the suppressor core can include a first baffle and a second baffle spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and supported by the central support rib. The first and second baffles can be oriented at different angles from one another. The first and second baffles and the central support rib can at least partially define the projectile passageway. The first and second baffles and the central support rib can also at least partially form two different sized expansion chambers on opposite sides of the central support rib in fluid communication with the projectile passageway to receive discharge gases associated with the projectile.
Furthermore, a firearm suppressor core in accordance with the principles herein can comprise a projectile passageway for a projectile from a firearm to travel through. The projectile passageway can extend along a longitudinal axis. The firearm suppressor core can also comprise a central support rib disposed along the longitudinal axis. Additionally, the firearm suppressor core can comprise a first baffle and a second baffle spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and supported by the central support rib. The first and second baffles can be oriented at different angles from one another. The first and second baffles and the central support rib can at least partially define the projectile passageway. The first and second baffles and the central support rib can also at least partially form two different sized expansion chambers on opposite sides of the central support rib in fluid communication with the projectile passageway to receive discharge gases associated with the projectile.
These figures are provided merely for convenience in describing specific embodiments of the invention. Alteration in dimension, materials, and the like, including substitution, elimination, or addition of components can also be made consistent with the following description and associated claims. Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
Reference will now be made to certain examples, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. Examples discussed herein set forth firearm suppressor and associated systems that can reduce acoustic noise levels produced by a firearm while having a minimal effect on a speed and/or trajectory of a bullet or projectile.
With the general embodiments set forth above, it is noted that when describing a firearm suppressor, or the related method, each of these descriptions are considered applicable to the other, whether or not they are explicitly discussed in the context of that embodiment. For example, in discussing the firearm suppressor per se, the system and/or method embodiments are also included in such discussions, and vice versa.
It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but is extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a chamber” includes one or more of such outer chambers and reference to “a baffle” includes one or more of such baffles.
Also, it is noted that various modifications and combinations can be derived from the present disclosure and illustrations, and as such, the following figures should not be considered limiting.
In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
As used herein, “adjacent” refers to the proximity of two structures or elements. Particularly, elements that are identified as being “adjacent” may be either abutting or connected. Such elements may also be near or close to each other without necessarily contacting each other. The exact degree of proximity may in some cases depend on the specific context.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.
Any steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims unless otherwise stated. Means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present in that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited; and b) a corresponding function is expressly recited. The structure, material or acts that support the means-plus function are expressly recited in the description herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined solely by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the descriptions and examples given herein.
Illustrated in
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
In one aspect, the entire suppressor core 120 can comprise a monolithic (i.e., single unitary) component, such as a single component manufactured from a single piece of stock material, which can increase longevity and reliability of the suppressor core 120. It should be recognized, however, that the suppressor core 120 can be constructed in any suitable manner and can include any number of individual components or elements. The suppressor core 120 can be made from any suitable material, such as carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium, steel, stainless steel, and the like. High temperature metal alloys such as, but not limited to, STELLITE, INCONEL, KOVAR, MONEL, and other high temperature alloys, or high nickel alloys can also be suitable.
The suppressor core 120 can include a projectile passageway 121 for a projectile from the firearm 102 to travel through. The projectile passageway 121 can extend along a longitudinal axis 104 of the firearm suppressor 101. The suppressor core 120 can also include baffles 122-125 spaced apart along the longitudinal axis 104. In addition, the suppressor core 120 can include a central support rib 126 disposed along the longitudinal axis 104. The baffles 122-125 can be supported by the central support rib 126. The baffles 122-125 and the central support rib 126 can at least partially define the projectile passageway 121. The suppressor core 120 can also include outer support ribs 127, 128 on opposite sides of the central support rib 126 coupled to radially outermost portions of the baffles 122-125.
In one aspect, the projectile passageway 121 can comprise a cylindrical configuration. In some embodiments, the cylindrical configuration can comprise a circular cross section, although any suitable cross-section can be incorporated. The projectile passageway 121 can exhibit a constant diameter along the longitudinal axis 104 of the firearm suppressor 101. The size of the projectile passageway 121 can be sized sufficiently large enough and free of obstructions so that a projectile may travel without impediment through the suppressor core 120. The size of the projectile passageway 121 can vary depending on the caliber of the firearm 102. For example, the larger the caliber of the firearm 102, the larger the projectile passageway 121. As a general guideline, the inner diameter of the projectile passageway 121 can be from 10% to 30% larger than an outer diameter of the corresponding projectile.
The baffles 122-125, the central support rib 126, and the outer support ribs 127, 128 of the suppressor core 120 can at least partially form expansion chambers 130a-b, 131a-b, 132a-b, 133a-b isolated from one another, but in fluid communication with the projectile passageway 121 to receive discharge gases associated with the projectile. The baffles 122-125 can be solid partitions with apertures for the projectile passageway 121. The baffles 122-125 can form a forward boundary of one expansion chamber and can also form a rearward boundary of an adjacent expansion chamber. The expansion chambers 130a-b, 131a-b, 132a-b, 133a-b can be in fluid communication with the projectile passageway 121 via longitudinal openings 114a-d in the central support rib 126. It should be recognized that the suppressor core 120 can include any number of expansion chambers.
The outer shell 110 can also serve to form the expansion chambers 130a-b, 131a-b, 132a-b, 133a-b. The outer shell 110 (i.e. outer cylindrical casing) and the baffles 122-125 can be disposed and formed such that outer perimeters of the baffles 122-125 meet the inner surface 119 of the outer shell 110 to form outer peripheral boundaries of the expansion chambers 130a-b, 131a-b, 132a-b, 133a-b. For example, the baffles 122-125 can include curved periphery edge profiles that are configured to match the curvature of the inner surface 119 of the outer shell 110. The baffles 122-125 can contact the outer shell 110 so that discharge gasses can only flow through the projectile passageway 121 to move through the suppressor core 120.
The expansion chambers 130a, 131a, 132a, and 133a are on opposite sides of the central support rib 126 from the expansion chambers 130b, 131b, 132b, and 133b. The baffles 123-125 can be slanted or angled such that the expansion chambers opposite one another about the central support rib 126 have different sizes or asymmetry (i.e., in reflection) about the central support rib 126. For example, the baffles 123, 124 forming chambers 131a, 131b can be oriented at different angles 143, 144 relative to the longitudinal axis 104 from one another. For example, the angle 143 can be less than 90 degrees and the angle 144 can be greater than 90 degrees. As a general rule, the angle 143 can range from about 60° to 88°, and most often from 75 to 85°. Supplementary angle 144 can thus range from 120° to 92°, and most often from 105 to 95°. In one aspect, the baffles 123, 124 can be oppositely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis 104. For example, a supplementary angle 144′ to angle 144 can be equal to the angle 143, but oriented opposite the angle 143 relative to the longitudinal axis 104. Radially outermost ends of the baffles 122-125 can be spaced from each other. The result is a relatively smaller trapezoidal shaped chamber 131a and a relatively larger trapezoidal shaped chamber 131b radially opposite one another as a differential trapezoidal chamber pair.
In addition, the baffle 125 can be oriented at an angle 145 relative to the longitudinal axis 104. In some embodiments, the angles 143, 145 can be equal, thus orienting the baffles 123, 125 at the same angle. The slant or angle direction of the baffles 123-125 can alternate sequentially along the longitudinal axis 104. As a result, not only can the size of expansion chambers opposite one another about the central support rib 126 differ, but the sizes of the expansion chambers 131a, 132a, 133a and the expansion chambers 131b, 132b, 133b on a same side of the central support rib 126 can alternate between relatively small and large along the longitudinal axis 104. Alternating chamber slant angles along a longitudinal direction allows for a substantially reduced resonant affect as projectiles pass along the suppressor. Accordingly, the projectile speed and trajectory (e.g. yaw) with respect to the longitudinal axis can be stabilized and adverse effects can be reduced.
In one aspect, the expansion chambers 130a-b, 131a-b, 132a-b, 133a-b are fluidly isolated from one another, except via the openings 114a-d of each expansion chamber in the central support rib 126 that fluidly couple the expansion chambers to the projectile passageway 121. Thus, discharge gases that enter the expansion chambers can be trapped, at least temporarily, in the expansion chambers, only exiting the expansion chambers through the openings in which the gases entered each expansion chamber. One benefit of this configuration can be little or no alteration of a trajectory or a speed of the projectile by the discharge gases, which can be diverted away from the projectile by the baffle structures described herein. In addition, the differently sized or asymmetric expansion chamber pairs isolated by, and opposite one another about, the central support rib 126 can slow down and cool the discharge gas flow as well as minimize or cancel out resonance, which can reduce the noise of gun shots. Discharge gases from conventional prior art suppressors often causes resonance, which can alter the bullet's speed and trajectory as well as negatively impact sound suppression. The asymmetric expansion chamber pairs of the present invention can substantially reduce such negative resonant effects. The central support rib 126 not only isolates expansion chambers, but can also be configured to provide increased strength and structural integrity for the suppressor core 120, which can enable other features (e.g., baffles and walls) to be thinner thereby increasing expansion chamber size and/or reducing weight and improving reliability.
As shown in
In one aspect, the suppressor core 120 can have an entrance portion 129 adapted to facilitate coupling (e.g., via the coupling feature 113) the suppressor core 120, and therefore the suppressor 101, to the firearm 102. The over-barrel sleeve 150 can be removably coupleable with the entrance portion 129 or integrally formed as a monolithic structure with the suppressor core 120. The over-barrel sleeve 150 can be configured such that a gap is maintained between the firearm barrel and the over-barrel sleeve 150. The over-barrel expansion chamber 151 can have substantial overlap with a muzzle and/or a barrel of the firearm 102 when coupled to the muzzle end of the firearm. Although the over-barrel expansion chamber 151 can extend over the barrel any length, lengths often run from 1 to 16 inches, and in some cases 4 to 9 inches.
The increased volume provided by the enlarged over-barrel expansion chamber 151, compared to that of a firearm suppressor with no over-barrel chamber, can accumulate and/or accommodate a higher volume of discharge gases to ensure that enough discharge gases are diverted away from and behind the projectile so that speed and/or trajectory of the projectile are not affected by the firearm suppressor and additional acoustic suppression can be obtained. Such a configuration may be beneficial for higher powered bullets, which typically produce more discharge gases than smaller, less powerful bullets. Although the illustrated firearm suppressor embodiment includes an over-barrel expansion chamber, it should be recognized that some embodiments of firearm suppressors may not include over-barrel expansion chambers. In such cases, the suppressor can include a rear end cap which is generally coplanar with the entrance portion 129 of the suppressor core 120 and which mates with the corresponding outer housing.
In one aspect, the secondary baffles can be supported by baffles 223-225. For example, the secondary baffles 262a, 262a′ disposed in larger expansion chamber 232a can be supported by both baffles 224, 224 forming the expansion chamber 232a, and the secondary baffles 261b, 261b′ disposed in larger expansion chamber 231b can be supported by both baffles 223, 224 forming the expansion chamber 231b. The secondary baffles 260a, 261a, 260b, 262b disposed in the smaller expansion chambers 230a, 231a, 230b, 232b can be supported by the baffle 223, 224, 223, 225 forming the respective expansion chambers 230a, 231a, 230b, 232b that is located toward the exit or distal end of the suppressor. Thus, the secondary baffles 260a, 261a, 260b, 262b disposed in the smaller expansion chambers 230a, 231a, 230b, 232b can extend opposite a direction of travel of the projectile. In some embodiments, secondary baffles 263a-b can be supported by and extending from an end cap 216. In addition, the secondary baffles can include curved transition surfaces to blend or smooth a transition between the secondary baffles and the supporting baffles and/or end cap.
The secondary baffles 260a, 261a, 262a, 262a′, 263a, 260b, 261b, 261b′, 262b, 263b can each be oriented at an angle 246, 247 relative to a longitudinal axis 204 of the firearm suppressor. The angles 246, 247 can range from about 20° to 45°, and most often from 25° to 35°. Oppositely extending secondary baffles be oriented at the same or different angles 246, 247 within each chamber. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the secondary baffles 261a, 262a extend in generally opposite directions within each chamber. The angles 246, 247 are equal and therefore the secondary baffles 261a, 262a can be parallel to one another.
In one aspect, the secondary baffles 260a, 261a, 262a, 262a′, 263a, 260b, 261b, 261b′, 262b, 263b may be laterally spaced or separated from an outer shell (not shown) disposed about the suppressor core 220. For example, as shown in
It is to be understood that the above-referenced embodiments are illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and described above in connection with the exemplary embodiment(s) of the invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180321008 A1 | Nov 2018 | US |