Patent Grant
9417023
When a firearm is discharged, gases generated by combustion of an explosive mixture in the firearm chamber propel a projectile through the firearm barrel and out the muzzle. These propellant gases exit the muzzle in the wake of the projectile and mix with the ambient air. The exiting gases cause or contribute to unwanted effects including, muzzle flash, recoil/muzzle lift, and interference with projectile stability.
Muzzle flash results from contact of the propellant with air at the muzzle. The propellant gas mixture, containing traces of unburned powder, remains extremely hot at the end of the barrel. Oxygen in the surrounding air combines with the hot gas to enable combustion of the residual chemicals, resulting in a visible flash of light just beyond the end of the barrel. Muzzle flash is undesirable because, among other things, it gives away the location of a shooter at night or under other low ambient light conditions.
Recoil is the reactive force against the gun barrel applied by the moving bullet and propellant. A substantial component of this reactive force is created by the forward ejection of the propellant out the muzzle. The recoil force is typically applied at a point above the center of gravity of the firearm and this, combined with the torque reaction generated by the rapidly spinning projectile, tends to pull the muzzle upward and to the right upon firing.
Projectile stability is affected by the exiting propellant gas that passes and surrounds the projectile immediately beyond the muzzle. The velocity of the propellant is typically about twice the velocity of the projectile, so that at exit some propellant moves around and in front of the projectile. The propellant immediately slows down in the air, causing drag on the projectile. More significantly, in the case of a firearm with a rifled barrel, the propellant exerts a force that makes the spinning projectile wobble or “yaw”, thereby causing the projectile to take longer to stabilize and decreasing the accuracy of the firearm.
Methods and apparatus for flash suppression according to various aspects of the present technology may comprise a body that is configured to be selectively coupled to a firearm. The body may be formed with curved and or arcing protrusions extending longitudinally along the body. Each protrusion is separated from another protrusion by a gap configured to dissipate gases and unburned materials exiting the barrel of the firearm.
A more complete understanding of the present technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.
The present technology may be described in terms of functional elements and various processing steps. Such functional elements may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the present technology may employ various types of materials, fastening devices, surface finishes and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the present technology may be practiced in conjunction with any number of processes for reducing secondary combustion, concealing locations, and sound suppression, and the system described is merely one exemplary application for the invention. Further, the present technology may employ any number of conventional techniques for metalworking, component manufacturing, tooling fabrication and/or forming surfaces.
Methods and apparatus for flash suppression according to various aspects of the present technology may operate in conjunction with any suitable flash suppression system. Representative implementations of the present technology may also be applied to a variety of devices capable of firing projectiles.
Referring now to
The body 102 may comprise any suitable material such as steel, iron, titanium, composite, plastic, and the like. The body 102 may be suitably adapted to withstand elevated temperatures associated with repeated and/or substantially continuous firing. The body 102 may also be adapted to be exposed to environmental conditions such as water, sunlight, and cold temperatures without becoming structurally and/or aesthetically compromised. For example, in one embodiment, at least a portion of the body 102 may be formed of a surface hardened 86L20 combat grade steel. The body 102 may further comprise any suitable surface finish or treatment.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The body 102 may farther comprise one or more notches 114 positioned along an exterior surface of the body 102 to facilitate tightening of the body 102 to the barrel of the firearm. Referring now to
Referring again to
The exit chamber 120 forms an interior space within the body 102 that is configured to allow a fired projectile to pass through the axial pathway 302 and continue its trajectory exiting the body 102 from the second end portion 110 unabated. The exit chamber 120 may comprise any suitable shape and/or dimensions for facilitating passage of the projectile. For example, in one embodiment, the exit chamber 120 may form a chamber pathway 308 having an inner diameter at least as large as the diameter of the axial pathway 302, wherein a center of the chamber pathway 308 is aligned, with the longitudinal axis 200. The chamber pathway 308 may extend from the second interior end 306 of the axial pathway 302 to the second end portion 110.
The body 102 may comprise any suitable number of protrusions 104. The number of protrusions 104 may be determined according to any suitable criteria, such as the outer diameter of the body 102, a type of firearm, a caliber of the projectile. and the like. With continued, reference to
The channel 122 may comprise any suitable size and may be determined according to any suitable factors. In one embodiment, the channel 122 between protrusions may comprise a gap of between one-sixteenth and three-sixteenths of an inch. In a second embodiment, the channel 122 between each protrusion 104 may be at least one-quarter of an inch. The channel 122 may be configured in any suitable length. In one embodiment, the channel 122 may extend substantially the entire longitudinal length of the protrusions 104. In a second embodiment, the channel 122 may extend between about fifty and ninety-five percent of the longitudinal length of the protrusions 104. For example, the protrusions 104 may have a longitudinal length of about one and one-half inches and the channel 122 may have a longitudinal length of about one and thirteen-thirty-seconds of an inch.
Each flute may be curved transverse to the axial pathway 302 as each flute extends longitudinally from the mid-portion 108 to the second end portion 110 of the body 102. For example, each flute may comprise a first sidewall 116 and a second sidewall 118 that extend outward from the chamber pathway 302 to an exterior surface of the body 102. At least a portion of first sidewall 116 and/or the second sidewall 118 may define an arc along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the flute such that the channel 122 between a first and second flute forms an arc-shaped opening 202 exposing the chamber pathway 302 to an ambient environment surrounding the body 102.
Referring now to
The arc-shaped opening 202 may further be defined by a shape of the first sidewall 116 and the second sidewall 118. In one embodiment, the first and second sidewalls 116, 118 may comprise a corresponding arc shape such that the first sidewall 116 and the second sidewall 118 are substantially parallel to each other between the closed end 208 and the open end 210. For example, the first and second sidewalk 116, 188 may comprise an arc segment having a radius between one and one-half inches and two inches. In a second embodiment, the first and second sidewalls 116, 118 may comprise an arc segment having a radius between about one inch and four inches. In a third embodiment, the first sidewall 116 and the second sidewall 118 may comprise arc lengths having different radii such that the first sidewall 116 and the second sidewall 118 are not parallel to each other between the closed end 208 and the open end 210.
The arc-shaped opening 202 may be oriented in any suitable direction. For example, the arc-shaped opening 202 may be oriented to coincide with the rifling of the firearm such that reactive forces of exiting gases act on the sidewalls of the protrusions 104 to tighten the flash suppressor 100 onto the firearm. In one embodiment, the arc-shaped opening 202 may form a downward curve when viewed from a first side. In a second embodiment, the arc-shaped opening 202 may form an upward curve when viewed from the first side.
Referring now to
The taper between each sidewall and the centerline 204 may comprise any suitable amount and may be fixed along the longitudinal length of the body 102 or may vary along the longitudinal length of the body 102. For example, the first sidewall 116 may taper from the centerline 204 by a first angle 608 and the second sidewall 118 may taper from the centerline 204 by a second angle 606. In one embodiment, the first angle 608 and the second angle 606 may taper between three and five degrees relative to the centerline 204. In a second embodiment, the taper of the first angle 608 and the second angle 606 may comprise an angle of up to fifteen degrees relative to the centerline 204.
The first angle 608 and the second angle 606 may be equal to each or they may differ. For example, in one embodiment, the first angle 608 and the second angle 606 may each be equal to about four and a half degrees relative to the centerline 204 such that the first sidewall 116 and the second sidewall 118 taper away from each other by combined amount of approximately nine degrees. In an alternative embodiment, the first angle 608 may be equal to about three and a half degrees and the second angle 606 may be equal to about seven degrees relative to the centerline 204 such that the first sidewall 116 and the second sidewall 118 taper away from each other by a combined amount of approximately ten and a half degrees.
Referring now to
Referring again to
In operation, the flash suppressor 100 may be screwed onto or otherwise attached to a barrel of a firearm. When a projectile is fired, the exiting projectile proceeds through the axial passageway 302 and through the chamber pathway 308. Any exiting propellant gases and/or unburned gun powder may not immediately ignite in the evacuated exit chamber, such as due to a lack of oxygen. These gases and unburned powder then disperse outward through the arc shaped openings 202 of the channels 122, resulting in a cooling and expansion of the gases, decreasing the likelihood of muzzle flash. Dispersal of the gases outward from the chamber pathway 308 may also decrease friction on the spinning projectile, making the bullet's trajectory more stable by decreasing the yaw of the projectile as it exits the flash suppressor 100.
The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or steps between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.
In the foregoing specification, the technology has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present technology as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.
For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/921,682, filed Dec. 30, 2013, and incorporates the disclosure of the application by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 61921682 | Dec 2013 | US |
