This invention concerns sound suppressors for firearms.
Small caliber ammunition, such as .22 long rifle, is extremely popular for sporting use such as “plinking”, competitive target shooting and target practice as well as gun handling practice. The small caliber rounds are popular because they are inexpensive and produce no significant recoil and thus lend themselves to prolonged practice periods wherein large numbers of rounds are expended.
However, when discharged, small caliber rounds can produce impulsive noise measured at greater than 160 dB. This is significantly greater than the OSHA standard of 140 dB (regarded as “hearing safe” for impulsive noise) and thus protection to avoid hearing loss is necessary for small calibers. Hearing protection, in the form of plugs, custom molded ear pieces and earmuffs are widely used, but are sometimes uncomfortable and less than effective. There is clearly a need to mitigate hearing loss when using small caliber ammunition while also increasing the comfort and hearing protection afforded the shooter.
The invention concerns a baffle for a firearm sound suppressor. In one example embodiment the baffle comprises a plate having a geometric center. A truncated cone projects from the plate. The truncated cone defines an opening through the plate. The opening is positioned offset from the geometric center of the plate.
In a specific example the truncated cone is a right circular truncated cone. In another example the plate is flat. By way of further example the truncated cone comprises an inner surface surrounding an axis projecting transversely to the plate. A lip is positioned on the inner surface. The lip extends around and projects toward the axis. In a particular example embodiment the lip is positioned at an end of the truncated cone distal to the plate.
In an example embodiment the truncated cone comprises a sidewall. An aperture is positioned in the sidewall. By way of example, the aperture is contiguous with the opening. Another example baffle further comprises a skirt surrounding the plate and projecting transversely thereto. In a specific example the skirt projects from the plate in a direction opposite to the truncated cone.
The invention also encompasses a sound suppressor for a firearm. In one example embodiment the sound suppressor comprises a container having an entrance orifice and an exit orifice aligned with the entrance orifice and defining a firing axis. A plurality of baffles are arranged in spaced apart relation adjacent to one another within the container. At least one of the baffles comprises a plate oriented transversely to the firing axis. The plate has a geometric center. A truncated cone projects from the plate toward the entrance orifice. The truncated cone defines an opening through the plate aligned with the firing axis. The opening is positioned offset from the geometric center of the plate.
In a particular example embodiment the truncated cone is a right circular truncated cone. In a further example, the plate is flat. Again by way of example, the plate is oriented perpendicular to the firing axis. In an example embodiment the truncated cone comprises an inner surface surrounding the firing axis. A lip is positioned on the inner surface. The lip extends around and projects toward the firing axis. By way of example the lip is positioned at an end of the truncated cone distal to the plate.
In a specific example embodiment the truncated cone comprises a sidewall. An aperture is positioned in the sidewall. By way of example, the aperture is contiguous with the opening. An example embodiment further comprises a skirt surrounding the plate and projecting transversely thereto. The skirt forms at least a portion of the container in this example. In a specific example the skirt projects from the plate in a direction opposite to the truncated cone. The example sound suppressor embodiment includes it being mounted on a firearm.
By way of further example, the invention encompasses a sound suppressor for a firearm comprising a container formed of a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end. The plurality of segments include a first segment defining an entrance orifice, a last segment defining an exit orifice aligned with the entrance orifice and thereby defining a firing axis, and a plurality of baffle segments therebetween. By way of example each of the baffle segments comprises a plate oriented transversely to the firing axis. Each the plate has a geometric center. A skirt surrounds each plate and projects transversely thereto. Each the skirt forms at least a portion of the container. A truncated cone projects from each plate toward the entrance orifice. Each the truncated cone defines an opening through each the plate. Each opening is aligned with the firing axis. Each the opening is positioned offset from the geometric center of each the plate in this example embodiment.
In a specific example embodiment the skirts project from the plates in a direction opposite to the truncated cone. By way of further example the skirts on each of the baffle segments engage one another to form the container.
In a particular example embodiment the first segment comprises a plate surrounded by a skirt projecting transversely thereto. The last segment comprises a plate surrounded by a skirt projecting transversely thereto. The skirt of the first segment engages a skirt of one of the baffle plates and the skirt of the last segment engages a skirt of another one of the baffle plates to form the container. By way of further example a rod extends between the first and the last segments. The rod passes through and holds the baffle segments attached to one another end to end. In a particular example the rod is threadedly attached to the first and the last segments. In an example embodiment the first segment comprises means for attaching the sound suppressor to the firearm. In a specific example the means for attaching comprises an internally threaded collar.
In a specific example, each of the truncated cones is a right circular truncated cone. Further by way of example, each of the plates is flat. In another example, each of the plates is oriented perpendicularly to the firing axis. In an example embodiment, each of the truncated cones comprises an inner surface surrounding the firing axis. A lip is positioned on the inner surface of each of the truncated cones. Each of the lips extends around and projects toward the firing axis. In a specific example each of the lips is positioned at an end of each of the truncated cones distal to the plates on which the truncated cones are respectively mounted.
In a further example embodiment, each of the truncated cones comprises a sidewall. An aperture is positioned in each of the sidewalls. In a specific example, each of the apertures is contiguous with one of the openings in each of the truncated cones. The example invention also includes the sound suppressor mounted on a firearm.
The invention further comprises a kit for a sound suppressor for a firearm. In one example the kit comprises a plurality of segments attachable to one another end to end. The plurality of segments include a first segment defining an entrance orifice, a last segment defining an exit orifice aligned with the entrance orifice and thereby defining a firing axis, and a plurality of baffle segments positionable between the first and last segments. In an example embodiment each of the baffle segments comprises a plate oriented transversely to the firing axis. Each plate has a geometric center. A skirt surrounds each the plate and projects transversely thereto. Each skirt forms at least a portion of the container. A truncated cone projects from each the plate toward the entrance orifice. Each truncated cone defines an opening through each the plate. Each opening is aligned with the firing axis. In this example embodiment each the opening is positioned offset from the geometric center of each plate. The kit also includes a plurality of rods having different lengths from one another in an example embodiment. In this example any one of the rods is positionable between the first and the last segments. The rods pass between and hold the segments attached to one another end to end. By way of specific example the rods are threadedly attachable to the first and the last segments.
As shown in detail in
A truncated cone 32 projects from plate 28 of the baffle segment 26. In this example, cone 32 is a right circular truncated cone and defines an opening 34 through plate 28 which is aligned with the firing axis 18. As shown in
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The advantage of using threaded attachments between the baffle segments as well as the excellent noise reduction performance achieved with fewer than six baffle segments allows the suppressor according to the invention to be supplied as a kit, including a first and a last segment, a plurality of baffle segments and a plurality of rods of different length to allow a suppressor of different practical lengths to be assembled as desired by the shooter.
It is expected that suppressors 10 according to the invention will effectively reduce the sound level of discharge for firearms, both handguns and long guns, for small caliber ammunition of .22 caliber, as well as pistol ammunition including .25 ACP and up to .380 ACP.
This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/216,420, filed Sep. 10, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62216420 | Sep 2015 | US |