Patent Application
20180038663
The present invention generally concerns firearms, such as rifles, and more particularly concerns sound and flash suppressors that are mounted by threading a generally cylindrical suppressor device onto the threaded end of the barrel of a firearm. More particularly, the present invention concerns a suppressed upper receiver group including an upper receiver mechanism and cartridge gas energized auto-loading mechanism and a barrel for a tactical rifle wherein a sound and flash suppressor device is provided at the forward end or muzzle of the barrel. Even more specifically the present invention concerns a sound and flash suppressor having a generally cylindrical suppressor body or housing having a muzzle brake device that extends completely through the tubular body of the suppressor body and is designed to substantially eliminate baffle strikes by hot gunpowder residue and thus significantly minimize the need for frequent cleaning of suppressor components.
A significant number of firearm sound suppressor devices and flash suppressor devices, generally referred to as suppressors herein, have been developed over the years for use with firearms such as rifles, shotguns and handguns. In most cases the suppressors are attached to the barrel of a firearm, such as by threaded attachment. In some cases suppressor are constructed integrally with a firearm barrel so as to be a permanent component of the firearm. United States patents of general interest to current suppressor manufacture and use are U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,038,770, 9,115,949, 9,222,747 and 9,273,920.
Typically, a suppressor comprises an elongate tubular body that attaches in any suitable manner to a firearm barrel and provides for the movement of a projectile from the bore of a firearm barrel and through the tubular body of the suppressor. To facilitate sound suppression a number of internal baffles are typically positioned in stacked relation within a suppressor housing with baffle partitions disposed in axially spaced relation within the housing and with central openings in each baffle partition for projectile and propellant passage. A number of chambers that are defined between the internal baffles, causing the propellant gas to progress in serial but serpentine fashion through the multiple chambers, with its velocity being diminished as it progresses.
Propellant gas emitted from the bore of a gun barrel enters the much larger volume of the internal chamber of the tubular body and progresses serially from chamber to chamber, with the gas expanding and its pressure being diminished within each successive chamber. The partitions of the baffles of most suppressors are impacted by the hot propellant gas and are designed to reflect propellant gas and cause gas agitation within the chambers to slow the progress of gas transition through the suppressor and increase the dwell time and reduce the typically sharp and loud noise of the propellant gas being discharged from the suppressor.
Hot propellant gas striking the baffles and other components within a surpressor housing typically creates significant problems which until the present time there has been no reasonable solution. The hot propellant gas contains gunpowder residue in the form of small particulate that strikes baffle surfaces with significant velocity and energy. As the extremely hot propellant gas progresses through a sound and flash suppressor the hot gas and its gunpowder residue strikes the baffle members and causes the gunpowder residue to build up, i.e., essentially become plated, onto the surfaces of the baffle members. In a relatively short period of time the buildup of propellant residue will cause the suppressor to begin to lose its optimum operational characteristics, requiring personnel to accomplish disassembly of the suppressor and thorough cleaning of the baffle members and other internal components as well. Removal of this residue buildup is difficult and time consuming because of its essentially plated nature and requires cleaning equipment and expensive residue solvent to accomplish. It is clearly seen therefore that there is a need to provide a sound and flash suppressor mechanism that is designed to virtually eliminate the potential for significant buildup of propellant gas residue on the internal components of a firearm suppressor. The present invention accomplishes this benefit.
It is a principal feature of the present invention to provide a novel firearm having a suppressed upper receiver cartridge incorporating a sound and flash suppressor that substantially eliminates gunpowder residue strikes on the internal baffles within the suppressor, thus minimizing the frequency of residue cleaning that is required to maintain optimum performance thereof.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide a novel sound and flash suppressor for firearms having a muzzle brake device that is mounted to the threaded end of the barrel of a firearm, is received within the tubular housing of a suppressor and extends completely through the housing, with its forward end defining a pronged flash reducing tip surrounding the discharge port.
It is an even further feature of the present invention to provide a novel sound and flash suppressor for firearms that incorporates a collet clamping mechanism for releasably mounting a suppressor to a suppressor mounting adapter that is affixed to a firearm barrel and having ratcheted surfaces that ensure that the suppressor is maintained in tight and secure assembly with the mounting adapter without inadvertently becoming loose or separating from the suppressor mounting adapter.
It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a novel sound and flash suppressor for firearms that defines primary and secondary internal flow paths for cartridge gas flow to ensure that the internal pressure within the suppressor remains within operational limits for efficient sound suppression and substantially eliminating visible gunpowder flash.
Briefly, the various objects and features of the present invention are realized through the provision of a tactical firearm, such as an M-4, M-16 or AR-15 cartridge gas energized autoloading rifle having a suppressed upper receiver group having an upper receiver to which is mounted a barrel cartridge including a barrel, handguard and cartridge gas actuation system for cycling the bolt carrier and bolt to retrieve cartridges from a magazine, charge a cartridge chamber of the barrel with cartridges for firing and extract and eject spent cartridge cases following firing of each cartridge. The barrel cartridge of the upper receiver group is provided with a sound and flash suppressor device which is mounted to the threaded muzzle end of the barrel by means of a suppressor mounting adapter. The suppressor mounting adapter includes an integral propellant gas processing section of member that extends completely through the suppressor housing, being positioned with its external surface in close proximity with a central opening being collectively defined by each of several multiple baffle members that have fixed locations within the housing of the suppressor. The integral propellant gas processing section has transverse passages and bores that intersect a central bore through which projectiles and propellant gas pass during firing of the firearm.
The suppressor device is designed to divide the propellant charge from cartridge firing into primary and secondary flow paths to ensure low pressure conditions and prevent excessive back pressure or blow-back to the bore of the firearm barrel. This feature minimizes propellant gas discharge from the cartridge chamber of the barrel toward the shooter as the spent cartridge case is unseated. This feature also ensures that the spent cartridge cases, typically referred to as “brass” are quite clean, i.e., quite free of gunpowder residue, when extracted and ejected.
The suppressor mounting adapter includes a propellant gas processing geometry and projects through the suppressor housing, with an integral front flash hider end thereof projecting through a central opening in the forward closure wall of the suppressor housing. The gas processing suppressor mounting adapter ensures minimal buildup of propellant residue within the suppressor housing so that internal cleaning of the suppressor is required with much less frequency.
For efficient and secure suppressor mounting with the barrel of the firearm the rear or connecting end portion of the suppressor is provided with a generally circular array of tapered spring fingers defining a locking collet and being integral with the housing mounting adapter. The tapered spring fingers each have a normal release position and are flexed to a locking position by application of a closing force by a locking ring member. The locking ring member is captured to the housing mounting adapter and is tightened by rotation on a threaded section of the housing mounting adapter to apply closing and locking force to the spring fingers. The housing mounting adapter and the spring fingers of the locking collet each have ratcheting surfaces having ridges and grooves that engage when the collet is locked by tightening of the locking ring. The engaged ratcheting surfaces prevent the locking ring from inadvertently backing off, such as during handling of a firearm or as the result of the vibration that occurs during sustained firing of the firearm.
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof.
It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
In the Drawings:
Referring now to the drawings and first to the side elevation view of
The firearm 10 has a barrel cartridge or upper receiver group shown generally at 12 in
To the upper receiver is typically pivotally mounted a lower receiver mechanism or group 20 having a hand-grip 22, a trigger guard 24 and a magazine receptacle 26 within which a box-type ammunition magazine 28 containing a supply of cartridges is releasably received. A pivot pin 30 is extended through pivot holes in the upper and lower receivers to establish the pivotal assembly and a locking pin 32 is extended through corresponding locking holes in the upper and lower receivers to secure the upper and lower receivers in operative assembly as shown in
A sound and flash suppressor, shown generally at 34, is provided at the muzzle end 36 of the rifle barrel 14 as shown in
The suppressor housing 38 defines an internal propellant gas processing chamber 54 within which is positioned a generally cylindrical spacer member 58 having a cylindrical wall 60 that is maintained in spaced relation with an inner cylindrical wall surface 62 of the suppressor housing, thus defining a secondary propellant gas flow passage 64 in the form of an annulus that extends along the length of the suppressor housing. The secondary propellant flow passage is also defined by an annular space between a plurality of baffle members 56 and the inner cylindrical wall surface 62 of the suppressor housing 38. Each baffle member 56 has an outer generally cylindrical wall 57 that is maintained in spaced relation with the inner cylindrical wall surface 62 of the suppressor housing by means of external annular spacer members 66. Each of the external annular spacer members is interrupted by a number of outwardly facing slots or grooves 68 about the periphery thereof that cooperatively segmented spacing members with the spaces defining portions of the secondary flow passage of the suppressor.
The secondary propellant flow passage or path 64 conducts the propellant gas into an annular gas discharge chamber 70 in which the gas is subjected to further energy dissipating turbulence. The gas is then discharged from the annular gas collection and discharge chamber 70 via a circular port array having a multiplicity of secondary discharge ports 72 that are formed in a front wall structure 74 of a front closure member 76 of the suppressor housing. Each of the secondary discharge ports 72 is angulated toward the center-line of the suppressor mounting adapter 120 and the suppressor housing 38. The front closure has a generally centrally located propellant gas discharge opening 75 that is of tapered configuration having its smallest dimension facing forward. The front closure member 76 defines a generally cylindrical extension 78 having an externally threaded section 80 that has threaded engagement with an internally threaded section 82 within the enlarged structurally enhanced end section 44 of the suppressor housing 38. An annular seal member 84 is located within an annular groove in the front closure member 76 and serves to maintain a sealed condition between the suppressor housing 38 and the front closure member 84. The secondary discharge ports 72 are each angulated inwardly so as to direct discharge jets of propellant gas toward the longitudinal center-line of the suppressor.
At the rear or connecting end of the sound and flash suppressor 34 the enlarged and structurally enhanced rear or connecting end section 42 of the suppressor housing 38 defines an internally threaded section 86 that is threadedly engaged with an externally threaded section 88 of a housing mounting adapter 90. A rearward extension 92 of the enlarged end section 42 of the suppressor housing overlies an annular seal groove 94 containing an annular sealing member that maintains sealing of the suppressor housing with respect to the housing mounting adapter 90. The circular rear end 96 engages an annular positioning shoulder 98 to accurately position the tubular suppressor housing with respect to the housing mounting adapter 90.
The extreme rear end portion of the housing mounting adapter 90 is provided with a plurality of moveable spring locking fingers 100 which are present in the section views 3-5 and are best seen in
A locking ring 108 is maintained captive with said housing mounting adapter 90 by an annular retainer wall 110. The locking ring has an internal thread section 112 that is received by an external thread section 114 of the housing mounting adapter to permit the locking ring 108 to be threaded onto the housing mounting adapter. The locking ring defines a rearwardly extending generally conical actuating portion 116 that engages and actuates the locking fingers to their locking positions when the locking ring is tightened on the housing mounting adapter. When the locking ring is rotated in the opposite rotational direction the generally conical actuating portion 116 is moved away from the locking fingers, allowing the small spring-like connector sections 102 to move the locking fingers back to their non-locking or release positions. When the locking fingers are at their release positions the suppressor housing 38 and its housing mounting adapter 90 can be rotated in a direction releasing the housing and housing adapter for removal from the suppressor mounting adapter 120.
A suppressor mounting adapter 120 defines a rearwardly oriented barrel mount receptacle 122 having an internally threaded section 124 that receives the externally threaded muzzle end of the firearm barrel 14 and defines an internal stop shoulder 126 against which is seated a positioning shoulder of the barrel. The suppressor mounting adapter defines external wrench flats 127, enabling a simple wrench to be employed to apply sufficient torque force to the suppressor mounting adapter to establish its threaded connection with the firearm barrel 14.
As best shown in
Centrally of the suppressor mount receptacle 122 extends a bore 128 through which a projectile, such as a bullet, and cartridge gas generated by combustion of the powder charge of a cartridge pass upon discharge or firing of a cartridge by the firearm.
It is necessary to ensure that the suppressor mechanism 34 remains positively aligned with respect to the bore of the barrel 14 at all times. This feature is achieved, as shown in
Each of the baffle members 56 defines an annular tapered reflecting wall 142 having an inner end portion 144 defining a relatively large central opening 146 as compared with most suppressor designs. The edges defining the large central opening are located in close proximity to the outer peripheral surface 151 of the propellant gas processing section. The suppressor mounting adapter 120 has a port 154 at the intersection of the axial bore 128 shown generally at 150 that is an integral part of the suppressor mounting adapter 120 and extends throughout the axial length of the suppressor housing 38. The forward end portion 148 of the propellant gas processing section 150 has a flash hider geometry that is defined by tapered projections 152 that surround a port 154 at the forward terminus of the axial bore 128. The flash hider geometry is in the form of an open, angled, four-prong flash reducing tip reduces the small residual muzzle flash to near invisibility. The axial bore 128 is of slightly greater diameter as compared with the diameter of the bore of the firearm barrel, thus permitting projectile travel through the axial bore 128 without contact of the projectile with the wall surface of the axial bore upon discharge of the firearm.
Transverse passages 160 and 162 extend through the propellant gas processing section 150 and communicate the propellant processing chamber 54 with the central bore 128 so that propellant gas is caused to enter the processing chamber 54 at greater volume and slightly higher pressure via transverse passage 160 as compared with the volume of propellant gas entering the processing chamber 54 via the transverse passage 162. Some of the propellant pressure entering the propellant gas processing chamber 54 via the transverse passages 160 and 162, because of the higher pressure in chamber 54, will enter an annular bypass chamber 164 via a generally circular array of bypass ports 166. The annular bypass chamber 164 is in the form of an annular groove that is defined by an axially spaced annular rim 165 that is supported by a generally cylindrical rim support 167. An annular seal member 169 is contained within an annular seal groove in the housing mounting adapter as shown in
Propellant pressure within the annular bypass chamber 164 will enter the secondary propellant flow passage or bypass passage 64 that is defined by the annular space between the cylindrical walls of the spacer and baffle members and the inner cylindrical surface of the housing 38 as mentioned above. From the secondary propellant flow passage the propellant gas is conducted past the multiple restrictions defined by the multiple slots and grooves 68 and enters an annular collection and discharge chamber 70. From the chamber 70 the propellant gas, now at a much reduced pressure, is directed through the circular array of secondary angulated discharge ports 72.
The axial bore 128 and the series arrangement of propellant gas processing chambers 54 and 172 serve to establish the primary flow path for gas propagation through the suppressor mechanism for conducting a majority of the propellant gas to the ejection port 154. The processed gas that is diverted into the secondary flow path decreases the gas flow and pressure that flows to and is discharged from the primary flow path, thereby ensuring decreased discharge pressure and prolonged discharge pulse, significantly decreasing the sound output of the suppressor.
Other transverse passages 168 are spaced along the length of the axial bore 128 and serve to conduct propellant gas from the central bore 128 into various annular chambers such as 170 and 172 that are defined between the annular tapered reflecting walls 142 of adjacent baffle members 56. The transverse passages and a number of transverse bores 174, also intersecting the oriented at 90° with respect to the transverse passages, function to create turbulence within each of the annular gas processing chambers that surround central bore 128 and to permit controlled flow of propellant gas from chamber to chamber serially toward the discharge end of the suppressor. Each of the segments 156 of the gas processing forward portion of the suppressor mounting adapter 120 reflect propellant gas energy and thus serve to further create turbulence within the gas processing chambers of the suppressor. This turbulence slows the propagation of gas flow through the suppressor mechanism. Various annular chambers such as 170 and 172 of
As shown in
As mentioned above, the baffles of the suppressor of this invention are essentially protected against buildup of gunpowder residue during use of the suppressor. The propellant gas contains residue particulate that has greater mass than the mass of the gas. As the gas is diverted from the central bore 128 the particulate, having greater mass, tends to resist being diverted and thus continues to be moved through the central bore to the discharge port 154, rather than being diverted into the gas processing chambers and impacting the baffle surfaces. This feature causes the baffle surfaces to remain clean for longer periods of time so that suppressor down time for cleaning is minimized.
When the housing 39 and the housing mounting adapter 90 are unthreaded from the suppressor mounting adapter 120 and removed the gas processing forward section 150 of the suppressor mounting adapter 120 remains as a portion of the barrel assembly of the firearm and is completely exposed. Being exposed and supported by the barrel, the suppressor mounting adapter, and particularly its forward section 150 are easily cleaned such as by means of a wire brush that is perhaps supplemented by a solvent for any buildup of gunpowder residue.
Since the internal baffles within the suppressor housing collectively define a relatively large central passage the baffles can be easily cleaned of gunpowder residue, such as by means of a rotary wire brush that is rotated within the large central passage and may be driven by an electrically powered rotary drill. In field conditions a cylindrical wire brush may be used alone or in combination with a solvent to easily and efficiently remove the slight accumulation of the gunpowder residue that may exist. Since the baffles will have minimal buildup of gunpowder residue as explained above, cleaning of the baffles is typically simple and relatively easy to accomplish.
In view of the foregoing it is evident that the present invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and features hereinabove set forth, together with other objects and features which are inherent in the apparatus disclosed herein.
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
