The field relates to suppressor devices for firearms.
Firearms are carried by private citizens, law enforcement, security, and military personnel, among others, for self-defense or used for recreational purposes. Often times the report of a firearm discharge can be damaging to the ears of the firearm operator or persons nearby. This is particularly the case with respect to firearms configured to discharge centerfire rounds. Various suppressors are available for civilian recreational and/or law enforcement/military use. However, existing suppressors are configured to have a single point of attachment to the muzzle of a firearm. Those suppressors may be generally considered to be either external or integral, with the vast majority of presently available suppressors being external.
External suppressors may be generally defined as devices that are not designed to be incorporated into the routine operation of a firearm. In other words, the legal or dimensional characteristics of what is legally considered to be the “barrel” of a firearm (e.g., as defined by U.S. law) is not changed by removing an external suppressor. External suppressors, which are attached to the muzzle of a firearm, are limited by the effects of their length and weight on the handling and balance of operating the firearm. Like external suppressors, existing integral suppressors rely on a single point of attachment; however, integral suppressors are incorporated into the design of a firearm, wherein the removal of the integral suppressor (if possible) may cause undesirable effects on ballistics or firearm operation. Whether external or integral, existing suppressors, having a single point of attachment, are susceptible to loosening, whether through incidental contact between the suppressor and an object, or simply through use.
This summary is intended to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description section of this disclosure. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, and it is not intended to be used as an aid in isolation for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In brief, and at a high level, this disclosure describes a suppressor and integrally suppressed barrel for reducing the audible report of a projectile discharged by the operation of a firearm. In one embodiment, the suppressor may be a multicameral device, encompassed by a suppressor housing. The various chambers of the suppressor and the components therein may be configured to allow for the channeling, diffusion, cooling, and expansion of escaping propellant (exhaust) gas.
The suppressor may include two or more discrete fittings, each of which is configured to receive and mate with an exterior-threaded portion of a firearm barrel. When coupled to a firearm barrel, the suppressor and barrel may comprise an integrally suppressed barrel system. By providing for two points of attachment to a firearm barrel, the suppressor is significantly more secured, thereby increasing resistance to being jarred or knocked loose and decreasing the likelihood of a catastrophic failure due to misalignment between the suppressor and barrel. By overlapping a portion of the suppressor with the barrel, advanced sound suppression may be achieved without adding undesirable length to the firearm, while also preserving a level of desired accuracy as a function of barrel length.
By including a muzzle attachment device to the forward end of the suppressor, an external muzzle device may be coupled to the suppressor. By creating a multicameral suppressor with an optionally adjustable expansion chamber baffle, the suppressor may be configured to balance the report of a cold bore shot, vis-à-vis subsequent shot reports. Any one or more of these features may be of particular use to law enforcement and military operators, who often have the need to operate a single firearm that is capable of accurate fire at greatly reduced sound levels (e.g., to preserve stealth or to allow for communication between users during firearm operation).
In one embodiment of the present invention, a suppressor for a reducing an audible report of a firearm is provided. The suppressor includes a tubular housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A first disk shaped body is disposed within the tubular housing in a first position and has a first through hole defining a first inner surface, at least a portion of the first inner surface being threaded and configured to mate with a first threaded portion of a firearm barrel. A second disk shaped body is disposed within the tubular housing in a second position and has a second through hole defining a second inner surface, at least a portion of the second inner surface being threaded and configured to mate with a second threaded portion of the firearm barrel, wherein the first position and the second position are spaced apart by a first longitudinal distance, the first longitudinal distance defining an expansion chamber.
In another embodiment hereof, an integrally suppressed barrel system is provided. The system includes a suppressor and a firearm barrel. The suppressor includes a housing, a first barrel receiving fitting disposed within the housing, and a second barrel receiving fitting disposed within the housing. The first barrel receiving fitting has a threaded through hole that defines a first inner surface and the second barrel receiving fitting has a threaded through hole that defines a second inner surface. The firearm barrel includes a first threaded portion on an outer-facing surface of the firearm barrel at a first position and a second threaded portion at a second position. A distance may separate the first threaded portion from the second portion, and at least a portion of the first barrel receiving fitting is configured to receive and mate with the first threaded portion of the firearm barrel and the second barrel receiving fitting is configured to receive and mate with the second threaded portion of the firearm barrel.
In yet another embodiment hereof, a method for coupling a suppressor to a barrel of a firearm barrel is provided. The method comprises inserting a first portion of the barrel of the firearm into a first portion of a suppressor housing, wherein the suppressor housing comprises a first threaded suppressor component and a second threaded suppressor component. The method further comprises engaging a first threaded portion of the barrel of the firearm with the first threaded suppressor component and engaging a second threaded portion of the barrel of the firearm with the second threaded suppressor component.
The subject matter disclosed herein is described in detail with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are intended to illustrate non-limiting examples of the disclosed subject matter related to suppressors and integrally suppressed barrel, in which like numerals refer to like elements, wherein:
The subject matter of the present invention is described herein to meet statutory requirements. However, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, to include different features, and/or combinations of features, similar to those described in this disclosure, and in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Throughout this disclosure, certain terminology may be used in common terms except when specifically defined herein. For example, as used herein, the terms “approximately” or “substantially,” when used to describe a particular number, may be used to refer to a range of numbers within 10% of the particular number. The terms “forward” and “rearward” may be used according to their common understanding in view of the discharging end of a device (e.g., suppressor or firearm barrel without suppressor) being a forward end (e.g., a muzzle). “Longitudinal” means the direction along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suppressor or firearm barrel (i.e., the axis in which a bullet would pass as it is being discharged from a firearm). The term “threads” or phrase “plurality of threads” are used to described any one or more threads, used according to their common understanding, to describe a continuous thread or a series of discontinuous threads that work cooperatively to mate and engage with another threaded feature.
At a high level, the subject matter of this disclosure relates generally to firearm suppressors, an integrally suppressed firearm barrel, and a method for coupling a suppressor to a firearm barrel. In particular, in one disclosed embodiment, a suppressor for reducing the report of a discharging bullet is provided. In such an embodiment, the suppressor includes a first threaded component and a second threaded component interiorly disposed along a longitudinal axis of the suppressor. The first threaded component is configured to engage and mate with a first threaded portion of a firearm barrel. The second threaded component is configured to engage and mate with a second threaded portion of the firearm barrel, wherein a minimum longitudinal distance separates the first and second threaded components. When coupled to the firearm barrel, the suppressor and firearm barrel cooperate to form an integrally suppressed firearm barrel system. Example embodiments of these suppressors and systems, as well as methods for coupling a suppressor to a firearm barrel, are discussed in further detail below with reference to
In some aspects, the inner surface of the suppressor housing 110 may comprise one or more threaded portions 118. The one or more threaded portions may be threaded in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard ANSI/ASME B1.1-1989 (R2001) (hereinafter referred to with reference to “ANSI” and any subsequent threading dimension(s)) and have Unified Fine (UNF) threads (e.g., a thread size of ANSI 1.5 inches nominal with a thread spacing of 12 threads per inch).
For example, the inner surface of the suppressor housing 110 may be continuously threaded between a first end 102 (i.e., a forward end or discharging end, from which a projectile fired by a firearm is discharged from the suppressor 100) and a second end 106 (i.e., a rearward end, which is capable for receiving at least a portion of a barrel of the firearm), opposite the first end 102, of the suppressor 100. Such an embodiment may be particularly useful for user-serviceable suppressors, in order that users may disassemble, reassemble, replace, or reconfigure internal components as desired.
In other aspects, the inner surface of the suppressor housing 110 may not comprise any threaded portion. An unthreaded inner surface may be desirable in embodiments where the suppressor 100 is not user-serviceable (that is, the suppressor 100 is not intended to be disassembled/cleaned by the user), in order to reduce time and cost in manufacturing. Whether the inner surface of the suppressor 110 is threaded, partially threaded, or unthreaded, any one or more components of the suppressor (e.g., a plurality of fittings that define various chambers) may be held in place via any one or more structural or chemical methods (e.g., chemical adhesive, pinning, welding, threads, barriers, or the like).
In some aspects, the suppressor 100 may additionally comprise a muzzle device adapter 150. Conventional suppressors do not allow for separate, external muzzle devices to be coupled to the discharging end of the suppressor. In some instances, it may be desirable for users to attach such an external muzzle device, such as a flash hider or muzzle brake (e.g., a breacher muzzle brake), to the first end 102 of the suppressor.
In order to accommodate such a device, the muzzle device adapter 150 comprises a first end 152 and a second end 154 opposite the first end 152, wherein the second end 154 is the portion of the muzzle device adapter 150 through which a discharging projectile enters and wherein the first end 152 is the portion of the muzzle device adapter 150 through which the discharging projectile exits. In order to receive an external muzzle device, at least a portion of the first end 152 of the muzzle device adapter 150 may be threaded. In such an aspect, a threaded portion 156 of the first end 152 may have Unified Extra Fine (UNEF) threads in a range of 0.5-1 inches nominal with a thread spacing in a range of 20-31 threads per inch (e.g., a thread size of ANSI ⅝ inches nominal with a thread spacing of 24 threads per inch). The muzzle device adapter may be of any desirable length; for example, it may have a length in a range of 0.5-3 inches (e.g., 2 inches).
In some aspects, the muzzle device adapter 150 may be removable from the suppressor 100. In such an aspect, a second end 154 may comprise a threaded portion that is configured to mate with a threaded portion of the suppressor 100 (e.g., a threaded inner surface of a muzzle seal retainer 104) and permit the muzzle device adapter 150 to be mounted to or removed from the suppressor 100. In other aspects, such as when an overall length is desired to be constant because of jurisdictional overall/barrel length requirements, the muzzle device adapter 150 may not be removable. In such an aspect, the second end 154 of the muzzle device adapter 150 may be threaded or unthreaded, and may be welded, pinned, unitarily formed with, or otherwise coupled to the suppressor 100 in such a manner that a user cannot remove the muzzle device adapter 150 from the suppressor 100 without tools and/or without damaging one or more components of the suppressor 100.
As mentioned, the suppressor 100 may have a plurality of fittings that define one or more chambers of the suppressor 100. In aspects, the suppressor 100 may have any combination of a blast chamber 112, a mid-seal chamber 114, and an expansion chamber 116. For example, in some aspects, the suppressor 100 may not comprise a mid-seal chamber 114. In one embodiment, the suppressor 100 may comprise, from the forward-most end to the rearward end, the muzzle device adapter 150, the blast chamber 112, the mid-seal chamber 114, and the expansion chamber 116. The length of the various chambers may vary based on the desired overall length of the suppressor 100 and/or the caliber of the firearm(s) that the suppressor 100 will be coupled to.
In one aspect, the longitudinal length of the blast chamber 112 and the expansion chamber 116 may be approximately equal and each greater than the longitudinal length of the mid seal chamber 114 (if it is present). In another aspect, the longitudinal length of the blast chamber 112 may not be equal to that of the expansion chamber 116. In any aspect, the blast chamber 112 may have a longitudinal length in a range of 2-6 inches (e.g., approximately 4 inches), the mid-seal chamber 114 may have a longitudinal length in a range of 1/16th-1 inch (e.g., approximately ⅛ inch), and the expansion chamber 116 may have a longitudinal length in a range of 2-6 inches (e.g., approximately 4 inches).
The blast chamber 112 may be said to be the forward-most chamber of the suppressor 100 and is generally defined as the space between a muzzle seal retainer 104 and a blast chamber fitting 122. A forward end of the blast chamber 112 is defined by a muzzle seal retainer 104 and a rearward end of the blast chamber 112 is defined by a blast chamber fitting 122. Disposed within the suppressor housing 110, between the muzzle seal retainer 104 and the blast chamber fitting 122, the blast chamber 112 may include one or more baffles 120 (e.g., 1-6 baffles). The one or more baffles 120 may be of any suitable type, including k-type or m-type baffles, that permit an amount of exhaust (i.e., propellant) gas to be redirected and cooled before exiting the suppressor 100. In the illustrated embodiment, and as best seen in
The muzzle seal retainer 104 is a fitting disposed at or near the first end 102 of the suppressor 100 that is generally configured to at least partially seal the discharging end of the suppressor 100. The structure of the muzzle seal retainer 104 allows the discharging projectile to exit the suppressor 100 while also preventing and/or restricting the amount of propellant gas that is directed back within the suppressor as opposed to escaping through the discharge end of the suppressor.
As seen in greater detail in
The muzzle seal retainer 104 may be further said to have a first face 406 and a second face 408 opposite the first face 406. Though shown as planar, one or more of the first face 406 and the second face 408 may be convex, concave, or any other desirable configuration, each of which may have varying effects on the sonic and/or ballistic characteristics of the suppressor. In some aspects, either the first face 406 or the second face 408 of the muzzle seal retainer 104 may face towards the forward end of the suppressor.
Each of the first face 406 and the second face 408 may be continuous in a plane spanning the distance from the outer surface 402 to the inner surface 404; that is, other than the through hole that defines the inner surface 404, the muzzle seal retainer 104 may be configured to not include apertures that extend from the first face 406 to the second face 408. In other aspects, the muzzle seal retainer 104 may include one or more apertures in the first face 406 and/or the second face 408 that extend toward or all the way through to the opposite face, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the one or more apertures is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the suppressor 100.
The muzzle seal retainer 104 may be said to have a thickness 410, as measured perpendicular to the first face 406 and/or the second face 408. In some aspects, the thickness 410 may be in the range of 0.25-0.5 inches; for example, the thickness 410 may be approximately 0.313 inches. In some aspects, the outer surface 402 may comprise outer surface threads 412, which, in some aspects, may be configured to mate with the threaded inner surface 118 of the suppressor housing 110 of
Returning to
As seen in greater detail with respect to
The blast chamber fitting 122 may also be said to have a through hole defining an inner surface 504 having an inner diameter in the range of 0.25-0.75 inches; for example, the inner diameter may be approximately 0.31 inches. In some aspects, the inner diameter of the blast chamber fitting 122 is less than the inner diameter of the muzzle seal retainer 104 of
The blast chamber fitting 122 may be further said to have a first face 506 and a second face 508 opposite the first face 506. Though shown as planar, one or more of the first face 506 and the second face 508 may be convex, concave, or any other desirable configuration each of which may have varying effects on the sonic and/or ballistic characteristics of the suppressor. In some aspects, either the first face 506 or the second face 508 of the blast chamber fitting 122 may face towards the discharging end of the suppressor.
In addition to the through hole that defines the inner surface 504, each of the first face 506 and the second face 508 of the blast chamber fitting 122 may comprise one or more apertures 514 that extend partially or completely through the blast chamber fitting 122, from the first face 506 to the second face 508, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the one or more apertures is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suppressor 100. When extending all the way through the blast chamber fitting 122, the apertures 514 allow exhaust gas to pass through the blast chamber fitting 122 between the blast chamber 112 and the mid seal chamber 114. In aspects, the blast chamber fitting 122 may comprise 1-10 apertures; for example, the blast chamber fitting 122 may comprise 2, 4, or 8 apertures, depending on the amount of exhaust gas desired to be allowed to pass through the blast chamber fitting 122. Each of the one or more apertures 514 may be circular, or any other desired geometric shape, and may have the same or varying diameters. Each of the one or more apertures 514 may have a diameter in the range of 0.0625-0.25 inches, depending on the amount of exhaust gas desired to be allowed to pass therethrough; for example, the aperture diameter may be 0.125 inches.
Each of the one or more apertures 514 may be centered at a range 515 from the center of the through hole defining the inner surface 504, wherein the range 515 is between 25% and 80% (e.g., approximately 75%) of a radius of the first face 506 or the second face 508 (i.e., the distance from the center of the through hole defining the inner surface 504 to the outer surface 502). The range 515 may be constant (i.e., the same for all apertures 514) or it may be variable (i.e., one or more apertures 514 may have different ranges 515).
In aspects where the blast chamber fitting 122 comprises a plurality of apertures 514, an inter-aperture angle 516 may be said to separate each of the plurality of apertures 514, with respect to the center of the blast chamber fitting 122. The inter-aperture angle 516 may be constant (i.e., the inter-aperture angle 516 may be the same between any two adjacent apertures) or it may be variable (i.e., the inter-aperture angle 516 may be different between two pairs of adjacent apertures). The inter-aperture angle 516 may be in a range of 30-180 degrees; for example, the inter-aperture angle 516 may be 36 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, or 90 degrees. In yet other aspects, the blast chamber fitting 122 may not comprise one or more apertures that extend from the first face 506 to the second face 508, other than the through hole opening defined by the inner surface 504.
The blast chamber fitting 122 may be said to have a thickness 510, as measured perpendicular to the first face 506 and/or the second face 508. In some aspects, the thickness 510 may be in the range of 0.25-0.75 inches; for example, the thickness 510 may be approximately 0.5 inches. In some aspects, the outer surface 502 may comprise outer surface threads 512, which, in some aspects, may be configured to mate with the threaded inner surface 118 of the suppressor housing 110 of
Returning to
In addition to governing the flow of exhaust gas between the mid-seal chamber 114 and the expansion chamber 116, the mid-seal mount 126 is configured to be a first, forward point of attachment to a firearm barrel. As seen in greater detail with respect to
The mid-seal mount 126 may also be said to have a through hole defining an inner surface 604 having an inner diameter in the range of 0.25-1.25 inches; for example, the inner diameter may be approximately 0.565 inches. In some aspects, the inner diameter of the mid-seal mount 126 is greater than the inner diameter of the blast chamber fitting 122 of
In addition to the through hole that defines the inner surface 604, each of the first face 606 and the second face 608 of the mid-seal mount 126 may comprise one or more apertures 614 that extend into or through the mid-seal mount 126, from the first face 606 to the second face 608, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the one or more apertures 614 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suppressor 100. When extending all the way through the mid-seal mount 126, the apertures 614 allow exhaust gas to pass through the mid-seal mount 126 between the mid seal chamber 114 and the expansion chamber 116. In aspects, the mid-seal mount 126 may comprise 1-10 apertures; for example, the mid-seal mount 126 may comprise 2, 4, or 8 apertures. Each of the one or more apertures 616 may be circular, or any other desired geometric shape, and may have the same or varying diameters. Each of the one or more apertures 616 may have a diameter in the range of 0.0625-0.375 inches, depending on the amount of exhaust gas desired to be allowed to pass therethrough; for example, the aperture diameter may be 0.188 inches.
Each of the one or more apertures 616 may be centered at a range 615 from the center of the through hole defining the inner surface 604, wherein the range 615 is between 25% and 80% (e.g., approximately 70%) of a radius of the first face 606 or the second face 608 (i.e., the distance from the center of the through hole defining the inner surface 604 and the outer surface 602). The range 615 may be constant (i.e., the same for all apertures 616) or it may be variable (i.e., one or more apertures 616 may have different ranges 615).
In aspects where the mid-seal mount 126 comprises a plurality of apertures 616, an inter-aperture angle 616 may be said to separate each of the plurality of apertures 616, with respect to the center of the mid-seal mount 126. The inter-aperture angle 616 may be constant (i.e., the inter-aperture angle 616 may be the same between any two adjacent apertures) or it may be variable (i.e., the inter-aperture angle 616 may be different between two pairs of adjacent apertures). The inter-aperture angle 616 may be in a range of 30-180 degrees; for example, the inter-aperture angle 616 may be 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, or 120 degrees.
The mid-seal mount 126 may be said to have a thickness 610, as measured perpendicular to the first face 606 and/or the second face 608. In some aspects, the thickness 610 may be in the range of 0.25-1 inches; for example, the thickness 610 may be approximately 0.625 inches. In some aspects, the outer surface 602 may comprise outer surface threads 612, which, in some aspects, may be configured to mate with the threaded inner surface 118 of the suppressor housing 110 of
The inner surface 604 may comprise inner surface threads 614, for example, configured to receive and mate with a threaded first, forward portion of a firearm barrel (e.g., the barrel itself, or an external fitting that is coupled to the barrel), such as the firearm barrel 310 of
Returning to
In other embodiments that feature the expansion chamber baffle 130, the location of the expansion chamber baffle 130 along the longitudinal length of the expansion chamber 116 may be fixed. In such an embodiment, the forward expansion chamber 117 and the rear expansion chamber 119 may have equal longitudinal lengths or different longitudinal lengths in a range of 1-5 inches (e.g., 2 inches).
In aspects, one or more of the forward expansion chamber 117 and the rear expansion chamber 119 may comprise one or more wrappings of a wire mesh to act as a heat sink for cooling the exhaust gas; for example, the forward expansion chamber 117 may comprise a first wire mesh 128 and/or the rear expansion chamber 119 may comprise a second wire mesh 132. Each of the first wire mesh 128 and/or the second wire mesh 132 may be a metallic material (e.g., stainless steel, copper, or the like), may be of a fine gage (e.g., approximately 27 gage), have a small opening width (e.g., approximately 0.03 inches), and have one or more wrappings (e.g., 3-4 wrappings) through which a firearm barrel would pass when inserted into the suppressor 100.
The expansion chamber baffle 130 is configured to form a passage through which a portion of a firearm barrel 310 may pass, and is seen in greater detail with respect to
In some aspects, the inner diameter of the expansion chamber baffle 130 is greater than the inner diameter of the mid-seal mount 126 of
In addition to the through hole that defines the inner surface 704, each of the first face 706 and the second face 708 of the expansion chamber baffle 130 may comprise one or more apertures 714 that extend into or through the expansion chamber baffle 130, from the first face 706 to the second face 708, wherein a longitudinal axis of each of the one or more apertures is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suppressor 100. When extending all the way through the expansion chamber baffle 130, the apertures 714 allow exhaust gas to pass through the expansion chamber baffle 130 between the forward expansion chamber 117 and the rear expansion chamber 119. In aspects, the expansion chamber baffle 130 may comprise 1-10 apertures; for example, the expansion chamber baffle 130 may comprise 2, 4, or 8 apertures. Each of the one or more apertures 714 may be circular, or any other desired geometric shape, and may have the same or varying diameters. Each of the one or more apertures 714 may have a diameter in the range of 0.0625-0.25 inches, depending on the amount of exhaust gas desired to be allowed to pass therethrough; for example, the aperture diameter may be 0.125 inches.
Each of the one or more apertures 714 may be centered at a range 715 from the center of the through hole defining the inner surface 704, wherein the range 715 is between 25% and 80% (e.g., approximately 75%) of a radius of the first face 706 or the second face 708 (i.e., the distance from the center of the through hole defining the inner surface 704 and the outer surface 702). The range 715 may be constant (i.e., the same for all apertures 714) or it may be variable (i.e., one or more apertures 714 may have different ranges 715).
In aspects where the expansion chamber baffle 130 comprises a plurality of apertures, an inter-aperture angle 716 may be said to separate each of the plurality of apertures 714, with respect to the center of the expansion chamber baffle 130. The inter-aperture angle 716 may be constant (i.e., the inter-aperture angle 716 may be the same between any two adjacent apertures) or it may be variable (i.e., the inter-aperture angle 716 may be different between two pairs of adjacent apertures). The inter-aperture angle 716 may be in a range of 30-180 degrees; for example, the inter-aperture angle 716 may be 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, or 120 degrees. In yet other aspects, the expansion chamber baffle 130 may not comprise one or more apertures that extend from the first face 706 to the second face 708, other than the through hole opening defined by the inner surface 704.
The expansion chamber baffle may be said to have a thickness 710, as measured perpendicular to the first face 706 and/or the second face 708. In some aspects, the thickness 510 may be in the range of 0.25-0.75 inches; for example, the thickness 710 may be approximately 0.375 inches. In some aspects, the outer surface 702 may comprise outer surface threads 712, which, in some aspects, may be configured to mate with the threaded inner surface 118 of the suppressor housing 110 of
Returning to
The rear boundary of the expansion chamber 116 or the rear expansion chamber 119 is defined by the base seal mount 134. The base seal mount 134 acts as a rear seal for the suppressor 100, preventing the backward expulsion of exhaust gas and acting as a second point of attachment of the suppresser 100 to the barrel 310 of a firearm. As seen in greater detail with respect to
The base seal mount 134 may be further said to have a first face 806 and a second face 808 opposite the first face 806. Though shown as planar, one or more of the first face 806 and the second face 808 may be convex, concave, or any other desirable configuration each of which may have varying effects on the sonic and/or ballistic characteristics of the suppressor. In some aspects, either the first face 806 or the second face 808 of the base seal mount 134 may face towards the discharging end of the suppressor 100.
The base seal mount 134 may be said to have a thickness 810, as measured perpendicular to the first face 806 and/or the second face 808. In some aspects, the thickness 810 may be in the range of 0.25-0.75 inches; for example, the thickness 810 may be approximately 0.375 inches. In some aspects, the outer surface 802 may comprise outer surface threads 812, which, in some aspects, may be configured to mate with the threaded inner surface 118 of the suppressor housing 110 of
The inner surface 804 may comprise inner surface threads 814, for example, configured to receive and mate with a threaded second, rearward portion of the firearm barrel (e.g., the barrel itself, or an external fitting that is coupled to the barrel), such as the firearm barrel 310 of
Turning now to
Notably, the suppressor 100 may comprise the mid-seal mount 126 of
Similar to the suppressor 100 itself, the system 300 may be constructed to be user serviceable or not serviceable; that is, the system 300 may be configured to be capable of disassembly by a user without special tools or without damaging the system 300 or not. In user-serviceable embodiments, the suppressor 100 may be coupled to the firearm barrel 310 only by the mating of the threaded portions at the two points of contact, or it may be additionally held in place via a structure that may be manipulated by the user (e.g., a spring, lever, set screw, or the like). In embodiments that are not user-serviceable, the suppressor 100 may be irremovably coupled to the firearm barrel 310 via a structure such as a weld, pin, chemical adhesive, or the like (which could be in addition to mating of threaded portions at the two points of contact).
The system 300 may be configured for any of a variety of projectile sizes, including 9 mm Luger, .223 caliber, 5.56 mm, 300 Blackout, .308 caliber, and the like. In some aspects, the suppressor 100 may be a multi-caliber suppressor; in other words, the passage defined by the baffles 120 and the inner surfaces of the plurality of suppressor fittings (e.g., the muzzle seal retainer 104, the blast chamber fitting 122, the mid-seal mount 126, the expansion chamber 130, and/or the base seal mount 134) may be larger than the size of the largest projectile configured to be discharged through the firearm barrel 310 (allowing for use with different caliber barrels). In other aspects, the suppressor 100 may be specifically constructed for a single caliber of ammunition such that the passage is approximately equal to the size of the projectile configured to be discharged through the firearm barrel 310 (e.g., in aspects where the barrel 310 is irremovably coupled to the suppressor 100).
The first point of contact exists between a first fitting of the suppressor 100, such as the mid-seal mount 126, and a first threaded portion 312 of the firearm barrel 310. Best seen in the dissembled state depicted in
The second point of contact exists between a second fitting of the suppressor 100, such as the base seal mount 134, and a second threaded portion 314 of the firearm barrel 310. In one embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
With respect to
Turning now to
At step 904, a first threaded portion of the barrel of the firearm, such as the first threaded portion 312 shown in
In another example, a first external threading component may comprise a disk-shaped body that is configured to receive the barrel and be coupled to the outer-facing surface of the barrel. The use of an external threading component may be particularly helpful when retro-fitting existing firearm barrels with the capability of using the suppressor, as it may be done faster and without the need for a skilled gunsmith than threading the exterior of the barrel. The first external threading component may be permanently coupled to the barrel (e.g., spot welding, pinning, and the like), or it may be detachably coupled to the barrel (e.g., via an adjustable set screw that is integrated into the first external threading component). In aspects where the first external threading component is used, the first threaded portion may be provided on an outer-facing surface of the external threading component instead of, or in addition to, threading the barrel, itself.
Further, at step 904, a second threaded portion of the barrel of the firearm, such as the second threaded portion 314 shown in
In aspects, the first longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance are equal. In other aspects, the first longitudinal distance may be within a margin of the second longitudinal distance, such as 10%. In such an aspect, though the first longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance may not be equal, the first threaded portion of the barrel may be at least partially engaged with the first threaded component of the suppressor and the second threaded portion of the barrel may be at least partially engaged with the second threaded component of the suppressor.
When providing the second threaded portion, the outer-facing surface of the barrel itself may be threaded at a second position to create the second threaded portion. In other aspects, the second external threading component may comprise a disk-shaped body that is configured to receive the barrel and be coupled to the outer-facing surface of the barrel. Like the first external threading component, the second external threading component may be permanently coupled to the barrel or it may be detachably coupled to the barrel. In aspects where the second external threading component is used, the second threaded portion may be provided on an outer-facing surface of the external threading component instead of, or in addition to, threading the barrel itself.
In some embodiments the second threaded portion of the barrel of the firearm engages with the second threaded suppressor component simultaneously with the first threaded portion of the barrel of the firearm engaging with the first threaded suppressor component. In such an embodiment, the first longitudinal distance is equal to the second longitudinal distance. In other embodiments the first longitudinal distance may be different from the second longitudinal distance. In such an embodiment one of the threaded portions of the barrel may engage with its corresponding threaded suppressor component before the other threaded portion of the barrel engages with its corresponding threaded suppressor component.
The subject matter of this disclosure has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present subject matter pertains without departing from the scope hereof. Different combinations of elements, as well as use of elements not shown, are also possible and contemplated and are within the scope of the present invention.