Suppressor with Coaxial Expansion Chambers and Tapered Seals
A firearm suppressor for dissipating the energy of discharge gases expelled by a discharge of a firearm has at least a first baffle and a second baffle, each baffle having a circumferential outer wall for enclosing an expansion chamber. The outer wall has a circumferential forward tapered surface and a circumferential rearward tapered surface, a taper angle of the forward tapered surface being equal to a taper angle of the rearward tapered surface. The baffles are assembled together in a coaxial baffle stack with the first baffle forward of the second baffle, the forward tapered surface of the second baffle engaging the rearward tapered surface of the first baffle for forming a tapered seal between the outer walls of the baffles, thereby limiting flow of firearm discharge gases from within the baffle stack through the tapered seal.
Firearm suppressors are used to reduce, or muffle, the external sound signature by dissipating the energy of the gases produced in a firearm discharge. A typical suppressor has multiple internal baffles for directing high-velocity gases into expansion chambers of the suppressor and/or retaining the gases within the chambers.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of this disclosure, the devices, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “forward,” “rearward,” or other like terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the device described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.
This disclosure describes an improved firearm suppressor having coaxial expansion chambers and tapered seals between adjacent baffles. Baffles within a suppressor tube are assembled into a coaxial “stack” and have a shape for cooperating to form central expansion chambers and coaxial expansion chambers. Also, a circumferential forward tapered surface and a circumferential rearward tapered surface are each formed on an outer wall of each baffle, the tapered surfaces of adjacent baffles engaging to form a tapered seal for preventing or limiting the flow of firearm discharge gases, and entrained particulates, from within the baffle stack through the tapered seal. In addition, the tapered seal provides for increasing sealing force as adjacent baffles are compressed together within the stack. Circumferential tapered surfaces are also preferably formed on each end cap of the suppressor for engaging the corresponding tapered surfaces of baffles adjacent the caps, thereby forming a tapered seal.
Suppressor 11 is shown assembled In
Outer wall 37 is a thin circumferential wall that extends rearward from chamber wall 41 and terminates in a tapered surface 43 at the rearward end of wall 37. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of tapered surface 43 is 30 degrees and is measured from outer surface 45 of wall 37. Inner surface 47 of wall 37 is spaced from cone 39 for forming an expansion chamber, discussed below, between inner surface 47 and cone 39. In this and other embodiments, particular values for angles of features may be shown or described, though it should be noted that other values of angles may be used. For example, tapered surface 43 is shown and described as having a 30-degree taper angle, though other values in the range of 0<θ<90 may be used.
Cone 39 extends rearward generally from a forward end of outer wall 37 and is formed to have a shape approximating a thin-wall frustum. A bore 49 is located at a rearward portion of cone 39 and is sized to allow a projectile to pass through bore 49 when fired from an attached firearm. Bore 49 is preferably sized to provide the minimum required clearance for allowing a projectile of selected maximum size to pass through, while preventing contact of the projectile with bore 39. An inner surface 51 extends from bore 49 to chamber wall 41, whereas an outer surface of cone 39 is divided into rearward outer surface 53 and forward outer surface 55. In the preferred embodiment, a 90-degree circumferential shoulder 57 is formed between surfaces 53 and 55 on the outside of cone 39, shoulder 57 having an outward-facing surface 59 and a rearward-facing surface 61. A gas port 63 is formed in a forward portion of cone 39, the port extending through cone 39 between forward outer surface 55 and inner surface 51. As shown, an optional gas passage 65 in the rear portion of cone 39 intersects bore 49.
In this embodiment, chamber wall 41 extends forward and inward at a 45-degree angle generally from the intersection of outer wall 37 and cone 39. Wall 41 is formed as a thin-wall frustum and terminates with a 90-degree shoulder 67 formed by forward-facing surface 69 and inward-facing surface 71. A gas port 73 extends through wall 41 between an inner surface 75 and an outer surface 77, and port 73 is preferably located on the opposite side of bore 49 to port 63 of cone 39. In an alternative embodiment, gas port 73 intersects and interrupts shoulder 67, allowing for a protrusion, flat, or other feature on an adjacent baffle 19 to engage a portion of port 73 for rotational alignment of baffles 19 in baffle stack 21. A circumferential tapered shoulder 79 is formed generally at the intersection of outer wall 37 and chamber wall 41. Shoulder 79 has an outward-facing surface 81 and a 30-degree tapered surface 83 (150 degrees from surface 81), such that tapered surface 83 is recessed rearward from outer surface 77 of chamber wall 41 at the forward end of outer wall 37.
Referring also to
Eliminating or minimizing passage of discharge gases and entrained particulates through outer baffle seal 85 prevents fouling and carbon buildup on outer surface 45 of baffle 19 and on inner surface 23 of tube 13. In previous suppressor designs, fouling and carbon buildup can prevent easy removal of the baffle stack from within the suppressor tube and may require tools, such as a hammer, and application of significant force to dislodge and remove the baffles. In suppressor 11, the enhanced tapered seal of outer baffle seal 85 prevents fouling and carbon buildup, allowing for easy removal of baffles 19 from within tube 13.
In the preferred embodiment, inner baffle interface 87 is a circumferential, non-tapered arrangement formed from the positioning of shoulder 57 of the first baffle 19 close to shoulder 67 of the adjacent second baffle 19 to the rear of first baffle 19. Rearward-facing surface 61 of first baffle 19 lies near forward-facing surface 69 of second baffle 19, and outward-facing surface 59 of first baffle 19 lies near inward-facing surface 71 of second baffle. Inner baffle interface 87 provides two narrow annular spaces for limiting gases and particulates from moving through inner baffle interface 87.
Referring specifically to
Referring specifically to
Referring again to
Between each pair of baffles 19, a central chamber 113 is defined by inner surface 51 of cone 39 of the rearward baffle 19, inner surface 75 of chamber wall 41 of the rearward baffle 19, and outer surface 53 of cone 39 of the forward baffle 19. A portion of gases 111 entering each chamber 113 is diverted around cone 39 and enters a coaxial chamber 115 through port 73. Each coaxial chamber 115 is defined by outer surface 77 of chamber wall 41 of the rearward baffle 19, inner surface 41 of outer wall 37 of forward baffle 19, and outer surface 55 of cone 39 of forward baffle 19. The portion of gases 111 diverted into each coaxial chamber 115 flows around chamber 115 to port 63 and exits into the next central chamber 113.
Gases that continue to the forward portion of suppressor 11 enter central chamber 113 between front baffle 19 and front end cap 15. However, unlike interface 87 between adjacent baffles 19, diverter cone 103 has a smaller diameter than that of inward-facing surface 71 of chamber wall 41, and this allows a portion of gases to flow into a forward chamber 117, the gases flowing between chamber wall 41 and cone 103 and through port 73.
With the number of chambers 113, 115, 117 along the length of suppressor 11, and with turbulence induced from the flow of gases through ports 63, 73 and around chambers 115, a significant portion of gases 111 are trapped and slowed, dissipating momentum and thermal energy within suppressor 11 before the gases exit bore 33 of front end cap 17. The performance of suppressor 11 can be modified by changing the numbers of baffles 19, the sizes and number of ports 63, 73, and the sizes of chambers 113, 115, 117.
The firearm suppressor of this disclosure provides several significant advantages, including: (1) providing central and coaxial expansion chambers; and (2) providing baffles and caps with tapered seals that prevent or minimize the amount of gas escaping between baffles and eliminate the need for cap O-rings.
At least one embodiment is disclosed, and variations, combinations, and/or modifications of the embodiment(s) and/or features of the embodiment(s) made by a person having ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments that result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the embodiment(s) are also within the scope of the disclosure. Where numerical ranges or limitations are expressly stated, such express ranges or limitations should be understood to include iterative ranges or limitations of like magnitude falling within the expressly stated ranges or limitations (e.g., from about 1 to about 10 includes, 2, 3, 4, etc.; greater than 0.10 includes 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, etc.). For example, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit, RI, and an upper limit, Ru, is disclosed, any number falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, the following numbers within the range are specifically disclosed: R=Rl+k*(Ru−Rl), wherein k is a variable ranging from 1 percent to 100 percent with a 1 percent increment, i.e., k is 1 percent, 2 percent, 3 percent, 4 percent, 5 percent, . . . 50 percent, 51 percent, 52 percent, . . . , 95 percent, 96 percent, 95 percent, 98 percent, 99 percent, or 100 percent. Moreover, any numerical range defined by two R numbers as defined in the above is also specifically disclosed. Use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim means that the element is required, or alternatively, the element is not required, both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Use of broader terms such as comprises, includes, and having should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as consisting of, consisting essentially of, and comprised substantially of. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above but is defined by the claims that follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present invention. Also, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” and “A and/or B and/or C” should each be interpreted to include only A, only B, only C, or any combination of A, B, and C.
Claims
1. A firearm suppressor for dissipating the energy of discharge gases expelled by a discharge of a firearm, the suppressor comprising:
- at least a first baffle and a second baffle, each baffle having a circumferential outer wall for enclosing an expansion chamber, the outer wall having a circumferential forward tapered surface and a circumferential rearward tapered surface, a taper angle of the forward tapered surface being equal to a taper angle of the rearward tapered surface;
- wherein the baffles are assembled together in a coaxial baffle stack with the first baffle forward of the second baffle, the forward tapered surface of the second baffle mating with the rearward tapered surface of the first baffle for forming a tapered seal between the outer walls of the baffles, thereby limiting flow of firearm discharge gases from within the baffle stack through the tapered seal.
2. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, further comprising:
- a tube configured to be coupled to a firearm near a muzzle of the firearm, the baffles being located within the tube.
3. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, further comprising:
- a tube configured to be coupled to a firearm near a muzzle of the firearm, the baffles being located within the tube, the tube having at least one open end configured to allow insertion and removal of the baffles; and
- an end cap for each open end, each end cap being configured to be removably attached to the open end, each end cap having a circumferential tapered surface configured to mate with one of the tapered surfaces of an adjacent baffle.
4. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, wherein the outer wall of each baffle comprises internal threads and external threads, one of the threads of the first baffle engaging the other of the threads of the second baffle for retaining the baffles together in the stack.
5. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, wherein for each baffle the forward tapered surface forms a forward end of the outer wall.
6. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, wherein for each baffle the rearward tapered surface forms a rearward end of the outer wall.
7. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, wherein for each baffle the forward tapered surface is rearward of a forward end of the outer wall.
8. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, wherein for each baffle the rearward tapered surface is forward of a rearward end of the outer wall.
9. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second forward tapered surface, the forward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped groove; and
- a second rearward tapered surface, the rearward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped ring;
- wherein the groove of the second baffle receives the ring of the first baffle, each forward tapered surface mating with the corresponding rearward tapered surface, thereby forming two adjacent tapered seals between the outer walls of the baffles.
10. The firearm suppressor of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second forward tapered surface, the forward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped ring; and
- a second rearward tapered surface, the rearward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped groove;
- wherein the groove of the first baffle receives the ring of the second baffle, each forward tapered surface mating with the corresponding rearward tapered surface, thereby forming two adjacent tapered seals between the outer walls of the baffles.
11. A firearm suppressor for dissipating the energy of discharge gases expelled by a discharge of a firearm, the suppressor comprising:
- at least a first baffle and a second baffle, each baffle having a circumferential outer wall for enclosing an expansion chamber, the outer wall having a circumferential forward tapered surface and a circumferential rearward tapered surface, a taper angle of the forward tapered surface being equal to a taper angle of the rearward tapered surface;
- a tube configured to be coupled to a firearm near a muzzle of the firearm, the baffles being located within the tube, the tube having at least one open end configured to allow insertion and removal of the baffles;
- an end cap for each open end, each end cap being configured to be removably attached to the open end, each end cap having a circumferential tapered surface configured to mate with one of the tapered surfaces of an adjacent baffle; and
- wherein the baffles are assembled together in a coaxial baffle stack with the first baffle forward of the second baffle, the forward tapered surface of the second baffle mating with the rearward tapered surface of the first baffle for forming a tapered seal between the outer walls of the baffles, thereby limiting flow of firearm discharge gases from within the baffle stack through the tapered seal.
12. The firearm suppressor of claim 11, wherein for each baffle the forward tapered surface forms a forward end of the outer wall.
13. The firearm suppressor of claim 11, wherein for each baffle the rearward tapered surface forms a rearward end of the outer wall.
14. The firearm suppressor of claim 11, wherein for each baffle the forward tapered surface is rearward of a forward end of the outer wall.
15. The firearm suppressor of claim 11, wherein for each baffle the rearward tapered surface is forward of a rearward end of the outer wall.
16. The firearm suppressor of claim 11, further comprising:
- a second forward tapered surface, the forward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped groove; and
- a second rearward tapered surface, the rearward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped ring;
- wherein the groove of the second baffle receives the ring of the first baffle, each forward tapered surface mating with the corresponding rearward tapered surface, thereby forming two adjacent tapered seals between the outer walls of the baffles.
17. The firearm suppressor of claim 11, further comprising:
- a second forward tapered surface, the forward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped ring; and
- a second rearward tapered surface, the rearward tapered surfaces intersecting to form a V-shaped groove;
- wherein the groove of the first baffle receives the ring of the second baffle, each forward tapered surface mating with the corresponding rearward tapered surface, thereby forming two adjacent tapered seals between the outer walls of the baffles.
18. A baffle for a firearm suppressor, the baffle comprising:
- a central cone having a bore configured to allow a projectile to pass through the bore; and
- a circumferential outer wall, the outer wall having a circumferential forward tapered surface and a circumferential rearward tapered surface, a taper angle of the forward tapered surface being equal to a taper angle of the rearward tapered surface;
- wherein the cone and wall cooperate to define an expansion chamber.
19. The baffle of claim 18, wherein the forward tapered surface is rearward of a forward end of the outer wall.
20. The baffle of claim 18, wherein the rearward tapered surface is forward of a rearward end of the outer wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 2, 2016
Publication Date: Jun 8, 2017
Inventor: Joshua J. Parker (Artesia, NM)
Application Number: 15/368,374