FIREARM NOISE AND FLASH SUPPRESSOR HAVING RATCHETED COLLET LOCKING MECHANISM

Info

Publication number: 20180058791
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2016
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
Inventor: MARK C. LARUE (Leander, TX)
Application Number: 15/253,574

Abstract

A sound and flash suppressor having a tubular suppressor housing is releasably secured to a suppressor mounting adapter that is threaded to a firearm barrel. An annular locking collet is defined by a housing mounting adapter and has a plurality of spring collet fingers each having an internal ratcheted locking surface and being moveable to locking and release positions relative to an externally ratcheted locking surface of the suppressor mounting adapter A locking ring is supported by the suppressor mounting adapter and is rotatable for actuating the spring collet fingers to locking positions locking the tubular suppressor housing against loosening or separation movement relative to the suppressor mounting adapter. The locking ring is rotatable in a release direction permitting spring movement of the spring locking fingers to their release positions.

Description

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to firearms, particularly tactical rifles and more specifically concerns devices for suppressing the loud and sharp noise that is typically emitted during firing activity and for suppressing the flash of burning gunpowder that occurs and can be seen by others during daylight and particularly at night or under conditions of low light. More specifically, the present invention concerns mounting mechanisms for securing suppressor devices to the threaded end of a firearm barrel and for simply and efficiently locking suppressor devices to minimize the potential for suppressor devices becoming loose and possibly falling free of a firearm barrel especially during sustained firing activity.

Description of the Prior Art

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 suppressors are constructed integrally with a firearm barrel so as to be a permanent component of the firearm.

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 fashion through the multiple chambers, with its velocity being diminished as it progresses. The partitions of the baffles 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. Propellant gas emitted from the bore of the 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.

When suppressors employ threaded connection between the various components the threads typically become fouled to the point that the threaded connections become difficult to separate. When the firearm is fired the suppressor housing is subjected to significant internal pressure which causes minute separation of the threaded connections and drive gunpowder residue into the threads, essentially causing locking of the threads which prevents them from being unthreaded, such as for cleaning. For this reason suppressors are typically manufactured by welding which prevents assembly and disassembly for cleaning of internal residue fouling and other service. When a welded suppressor device is employed, repeated firing of the firearm typically causes continuous fouling of the baffles, chambers and threads of the suppressor by accumulation of cartridge powder residue. Thus, when the threads of the suppressor or the threads of a firearm barrel become fouled it may be difficult or impossible to remove clean and reassemble the components of a suppressor device. This undesirable characteristic is common to most types of suppressors and represents a distinct disadvantage when servicing firearm components during field conditions. It often becomes necessary to return the suppressor to a repair or service facility to open the compressor and clean away cartridge powder deposits. It is desirable therefore, to provide a suppressor mechanism that effectively ensures isolation of the threaded connections that secure the suppressor components in assembly and at the same time provide for effective stability and durability of the suppressor mechanism and its connection with a rifle barrel.

Another disadvantage of firearm suppressor use is the problem of suppressor instability and the potential for coaxial misalignment that results from the threaded connection of the suppressor to the barrel of a firearm. The barrel of a firearm that is designed for attachment of a muzzle brake or suppressor is typically provided with a reduced diameter externally threaded section that is of fairly short length. An internally threaded section of a typical suppressor attachment end wall is also typically fairly short, thus causing the threaded connection to have minimal stability due to the typical length of the threaded connection of the suppressor with the firearm barrel. Thus, due to lateral impacts or other conditions a suppressor may become axially misaligned to the point that the edge of a moving bullet may contact an edge of a bullet port and interfere with the accuracy of an otherwise perfectly aimed shot. It is desirable to provide a suppressor mechanism that is exceptionally stable as well as protecting the internal threaded components from the undesirable characteristics of gunpowder residue buildup and fouling. U.S. Pat. No. 8,511,425 of Mark C. LaRue shows a suppressor device that employs a flash hider type device as a structural interface with a tubular suppressor housing. The flash hider structure shown in the '425 patent has spaced, angulated external support surfaces that are in engagement with corresponding spaced internal surfaces of a housing mount. This feature adds materially to the structural integrity of the coupling mechanism for securing a suppressor to the threaded end of a firearm barrel.

Typical commercially available firearm noise suppressors have multiple compartments within a single elongate, typically cylindrical tubular housing and define a single gas flow path. The baffles that are spaced within the suppressor housing create back-pressure within the suppressor that is relatively slow to be exhausted to the atmosphere. In many cases some residual gas pressure will remain within a suppressor at the time the auto-cycling mechanism of a gas energized firearm causes unlocking of the bolt member and begins to extract a spent cartridge case from the cartridge chamber of the firearm. When this condition exists a small amount of the residual propellant gas may be released from the bore of the firearm due to the back-pressure within the suppressor when unseating of a cartridge case begins, thereby directing a small amount of residual propellant gas toward the user of the firearm. This undesirable condition is known as “blow-back”. The presence of propellant gas can be objectionable from the standpoint of the comfort of the user. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a firearm noise and flash suppressor that provides for enhanced propellant gas exhaust to ensure optimum discharge of propellant gas and minimum gas exhaust dwell time so that little if any residual propellant gas pressure exists within the suppressor and firearm barrel when spent cartridge case extraction begins.

Though most sound suppressors achieve significant reduction of sound emission, the presence of gunpowder flash being emitted from the forward end of suppressors has continued to be a significant problem. During tactical rifle firing activities gunpowder flash is typically projected about a foot from the forward end of most suppressors because the rather high internal pressure causes burning gunpowder to pass rapidly through the suppressor and to be projected from the suppressor before it is completely consumed. This flash is very bright and is readily seen by opposing personnel, thereby causing the opposing personnel to direct rifle fire at the flash, resulting in significant danger to the firearm user. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a sound suppressor for firearms that minimizes internal propellant gas pressure and also serves as a flash suppressor by permitting sufficient dwell time to cause complete combustion of the propellant within the suppressor housing so that virtually no gunpowder flash occurs externally of the suppressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal feature of the present invention to provide a novel firearm having a barrel with a threaded muzzle to which is secured a suppressor mounting adapter for releasable attachment of a sound and flash suppressor device having a collet mechanism for releasably locking the suppressor against rotation relative to the mounting adapter to ensure that the suppressor will not inadvertently become loosened or separated from the firearm barrel by the vibration and shock forces of firearm use.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a novel sound and flash suppressor device having a locking collet with spring locking fingers that are moveable from release positions to locking positions by the force applied by tightening a locking ring or member on the suppressor. The spring locking fingers of the locking collet will inherently move by spring action from the locking positions to the release positions upon loosening movement of the locking ring or member.

It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a novel sound and flash suppressor device having a locking collet mechanism with the spring locking fingers having roughened or ratcheted surfaces defined by multiple ridges and grooves that engage corresponding roughened or ratcheted surfaces of a suppressor mounting adapter to prevent loosening rotation of the suppressor relative to the suppressor mounting adapter, thus preventing loosening or separation of the suppressor due to the vibration and shock forces of firearm use.

Other and further objects and features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon a thorough understanding of the invention that is set forth in this specification.

Briefly, the various objects and features of the present invention are realized through the provision of a sound and flash suppressor mechanism for attachment to the threaded muzzle end of the barrel of a firearm. A suppressor mounting adapter is threaded to the barrel, the mounting adapter having an externally threaded section located between spaced external annular tapered seals that protect the intermediate threaded section from contamination by cartridge propellant debris that otherwise can be forced into the threads by propellant pressure.

A tubular suppressor body or housing containing a plurality of annular propellant gas processing baffles and spacer members, is in secure assembly with an annular housing mounting adapter that has releasable engagement with the suppressor mounting adapter. The housing mounting adapter has an internal threaded section that receives the externally threaded section of the suppressor mounting adapter and spaced internal annular angulated sealing surfaces that have sealing engagement with the spaced external annular tapered seals of the suppressor mounting adapter when the suppressor is threaded thereto and properly seated.

The housing mounting adapter defines an annular array comprising a plurality of spring locking fingers that are moveable between locking and release positions. A locking ring or member is threaded to the housing mounting adapter and, when tightened, applies force to each of the spring locking fingers moving them to their locking positions in locking engagement with a locking surface defined by an annular rim of the suppressor mounting adapter. When the locking ring is loosened the spring locking fingers will be moved by their inherent spring action to their release positions, permitting rotation of the suppressor housing and housing mounting adapter relative to the suppressor mounting adapter for unthreading and removing the suppressor from the suppressor mounting adapter.

A primary flow path is defined centrally of the suppressor housing for propellant processing and discharge, the primary flow path terminating at a central discharge opening of a front wall of the suppressor housing. The suppressor mounting adapter, the internal baffles and spacer members cooperate with the internal surface of the tubular housing to define a secondary propellant gas flow path which terminates at secondary discharge openings of the front wall of the housing which surround the primary discharge opening. This feature causes a portion of the propellant gas energy to be diverted to the secondary flow path, thereby reducing the propellant gas pressure that would otherwise be present within the primary flow path and causing better attenuation of the sound and flash that is emitted at the primary discharge opening. The beneficial result is lower noise and minimal if any flash that is projecting from the suppressor at each discharge of the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration showing a sound and flash suppressor for a firearm embodying the principles of the present invention, and showing the suppressor being shown mounted to the barrel of a firearm;

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal section view showing the rear portion of the sound and flash suppressor of FIG. 1 and showing internal components for mounting of the suppressor to a firearm barrel and mounting the suppressor housing relative to the mounting adapter;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view showing threaded mounting of the suppressor mounting adapter to the threaded muzzle end of a firearm barrel;

FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration showing the rear portion of a suppressor mounting adapter that is threaded to the threaded muzzle end of a firearm barrel and serves as a secure properly aligned support structure for the sound and flash suppressor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration showing in greater detail the annular ratcheted rim surface at the rear portion of the muzzle brake device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration showing a housing mounting adapter that is incorporated within the suppressor of FIG. 1 and serves to define a mount for the generally cylindrical housing of the suppressor;

FIG. 7 is an isometric illustration showing in greater detail, the annular internal geometry of the locking collet portion of the housing mount structure of the suppressor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view showing the rear end portion of the suppressor mounting adapter

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation view showing in greater detail interlocking serrations that are provided on internal surfaces of the spring collet fingers to secure a locking ring against inadvertent loosening rotation during firearm use;

FIG. 10 is a is an isometric illustration showing front and side portions of the suppressor mounting adapter of FIGS. 2 and 6;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary isometric illustration showing the rear outer peripheral portion of the suppressor mounting adapter of FIGS. 2 and 6 and emphasizing the annular ratcheted rim surface that constitutes a portion of the ratcheted collet locking mechanism;

FIG. 12 is an isometric illustration showing a collet mechanism having an annular array of flexible collet fingers for gripping engagement with the annular ratcheted rim surface that is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary isometric illustration showing an internal portion of the collet mechanism of FIG. 10, particularly showing flexible spring fingers with internal serrations of the suppressor mounting adapter of FIGS. 2 and 6 ns for establishing non-rotatable locking relation with the annular ratcheted rim surface; and

FIG. 14 is an isometric illustration showing the forward end portion of the suppressor of FIG. 1 as having circular arrays of gas exhaust ports for primary and secondary exhaust passages and showing a flash hider structure being defined by the forward wall of the housing structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a sound and flash suppressor embodying the principles of the present invention is shown generally at 10 and includes a generally cylindrical housing 12 having at least one annular intermediate structural ridge 14 to enable the housing to withstand the internal pressure that occurs when a firearm cartridge is discharged. The structural ridge and other external enlargements of the suppressor housing are knurled as shown at 15 to facilitate ease of rotational assembly as the suppressor is threaded onto a suppressor adapter of a firearm barrel. The housing is also strengthened against damage by cartridge gas pressure by structurally sound annular enlarged end sections 16 and 18 which are also externally knurled. The sound and flash suppressor 10 is shown in FIG. 1 to me mounted to the forward or muzzle end of a gun barrel 19 to which a suppressor mounting adapter 20 is secured.

Within the suppressor housing 12 there is provided a number of internal baffle members and spacer members that are arranged to process the propellant gas that is suddenly released from the bore of the gun barrel 19 into the suppressor. Such gas processing causes the duration of cartridge gas flow through the suppressor to be lengthened for the purpose of minimizing the sharpness and loudness of the sound that is reported from the suppressor. The suppressor is also designed with internal structural features that define internal primary and secondary gas flow passages that divert a portion of the propellant gas entering the suppressor chamber to a secondary gas flow passage system so that the back-pressure of the cartridge gas and its contaminants are significantly minimized and result in minimal propellant gas blow-back toward the shooter when the bolt is opened to extract a spent cartridge case. This feature is set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/811,257 which was filed on Jul. 28, 2015 by Mark C. LaRue, and is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

To mount the sound and flash suppressor 10 to a firearm barrel 19, a suppressor mounting adapter is shown generally at 20 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10. The suppressor mounting adapter 20 defines an annular rear end portion 22 having an annular rim 23 and defining rearwardly facing internal receptacle 24 that is defined in part by an internal generally cylindrical surface 26 and by an internally threaded section 28. The internal receptacle 24 is adapted to receive the muzzle end of the firearm barrel 19 and to be threaded onto an externally threaded end section 33 of the barrel 19. Tool flats 31 are provided on the suppressor mounting adapter 20 to facilitate application of sufficient torque force by means of a wrench to seat a circular shoulder at the end section of the firearm barrel tightly against an annular internal stop shoulder 32 of the internal receptacle 24 as shown in FIG. 2. An internal transverse wall 34 of the mounting adapter 20 defines a bullet port 36 which is of sufficient dimension that a bullet propelled from the bore of the firearm barrel 19 will pass unimpeded through the bullet port. Cartridge gas transition from the primary suppressor chamber to the secondary suppressor chamber is aided by ports 38 in the wall structure of the baffles and spacers and by ports 39 in the wall structure of the suppressor mounting adapter 44 as shown in FIG. 2

The suppressor mounting adapter 20 further defines an externally threaded section 40 which receives the internally threaded section 42 of a housing adapter that is shown generally at 44 in FIG. 2. The internally threaded section 42 of the housing adapter is located between tapered external gas sealing shoulders 46 and 48 of different diameter which are disposed for sealing engagement with correspondingly tapered internal sealing surfaces 50 and 52 that are defined within the suppressor housing adapter 44. When the housing adapter 44 is threaded onto the suppressor mounting adapter 20 to its full extent the tapered sealing surfaces function to withstand cartridge gas pressure and minimize any potential for fouling of the threaded connection by cartridge gas pressurized gunpowder residue. The sealing surfaces also prevent leakage of cartridge gas from the rear portion of the suppressor, thus providing additional protection of the shooter. The engaged thread connection of threads 40 and 42 is also protected against propellant pressure induced cartridge gas fouling by an annular seal member 41 that is located within an annular seal recess of the housing adapter. The axially spaced tapered sealing surfaces of the suppressor mounting adapter 20 and the housing adapter 44 also serve to ensure precision alignment of the suppressor 10 with respect to the barrel 19 of the firearm, thus ensuring that projectiles passing through the suppressor do not come into contact with the ports or any other internal structure of the suppressor.

The generally cylindrical tubular housing 12 has an internally threaded section 54 that is defined within the housing enlargement 16 within which is received an externally threaded section 58 of the housing adapter 44. The housing enlargement provides the housing structure with enhanced structural integrity for resisting the internal pressure spikes to which the housing is subjected when each cartridge is fired. This feature permits the rear end portion of the suppressor housing to be threaded onto the housing adapter. An annular seal member 60 is retained within an annular external seal groove 62 of the housing adapter 44 to provide the suppressor mechanism with additional protection to minimize the potential for contamination of the suppressor by water, dust and the like especially during use in field conditions.

As mentioned above, it is a feature of the present invention to provide the sound and flash suppressor with separate primary and secondary gas flow passages to ensure lower internal pressure within the suppressor and to minimize the blowback condition that normally occurs when the bore and cartridge chamber are under significant cartridge gas pressure when the bolt is unseated and begins to move rearwardly following discharge of a cartridge. Within a gas processing chamber 64 of the suppressor housing 12 are located a plurality of baffles and spacers such as shown at 66 in FIG. 2 which have external projections 68 and 69 that engage the internal wall surface 71 of the suppressor housing and define an annular space 70 that functions as a secondary gas flow passage. The annular external projections 68 are interrupted at several locations along their annular length and collectively define flow passage sections to permit gas flow past the external projections and through the annular space 70.

While the central passage or gas processing chamber 66 within the suppressor housing 12 represents a primary gas flow passage, as mentioned above, it is desirable to minimize the internal pressure within the suppressor to minimize backpressure and to promote as much sound suppression as possible. This feature is accomplished by diverting a portion of the cartridge gas entering the suppressor from the bore of the gun barrel 19 to a secondary flow passage that is also defined within the suppressor housing. The annular space 70 that is defined between the inner surface 71 of the suppressor housing 12 and the external surfaces 72 of the plurality of baffles and spacers 66 defines a portion of the secondary gas flow passage.

An annular internal gas diversion chamber 74 is defined within the suppressor housing by an annular external groove of the housing adapter 44 and by the internal wall surface of the enlarged and structurally enhanced portion of the suppressor housing. This annular internal chamber is communicated by the bullet port 36 and other gas transfer ports 76 of the suppressor mounting adapter 20 with the primary gas flow chamber 64. A portion of the cartridge gas flowing from the bore of the gun barrel 19 into the suppressor mounting adapter and into the gas processing chamber 64 is diverted into the annular chamber 74 via the gas transfer ports 76. The diverted gas flow then passes from the annular chamber 74 into the annular space 70 as shown by flow arrows in FIG. 2 and is caused to flow to the front or discharge end of the suppressor. At the forward end of the suppressor housing 12, the cartridge gas of the primary gas flow path or passage is discharged at a central discharge opening 78 shown in FIGS. 1 and 14 that is partially enclosed by a segmented flash hider structure 80 that projects forwardly from a front closure member 82. Cartridge gas within the secondary flow path is discharged forwardly via a multiplicity of secondary gas discharge ports 84.

The housing adapter 44 is typically assembled with the suppressor housing 12 by simply assembling the externally threaded section 58 of the housing adapter into the internally threaded section 54 of the rear end portion of the suppressor housing. Housing adapter and housing assembly is complete when an annular stop surface 86 defined by the rear end of the suppressor housing establishes seated contact with an annular stop shoulder 88 at the circular outer portion of the housing mounting adapter.

For attachment of the sound and flash suppressor 10 to a firearm barrel, the suppressor mounting adapter 20 is first installed by engaging the internal threaded section 28 of the suppressor mounting adapter with a corresponding externally threaded section 30 of the firearm barrel as shown in FIG. 3. A simple wrench is engaged with the wrench flats 31 to apply the necessary torque force to firmly seat the suppressor mounting adapter onto the externally threaded muzzle end of the firearm barrel 19. With the suppressor mounting adapter secured in place, the housing adapter member, shown in the isometric illustration of FIG. 6, is threaded onto the externally threaded section 40 of the suppressor mounting adapter as shown in FIG. 2. When the housing adapter is threaded onto the suppressor mounting adapter to its maximum extent, such as by simply rotating the suppressor housing assembly to make up the thread connection 40 and 42, the internal tapered sealing surfaces 50 and 52 of the suppressor housing adapter will establish positive sealing engagement with the corresponding external tapered sealing surfaces 46 and 48 of the suppressor mounting adapter 20.

As also mentioned above, it is desirable to provide the sound and flash suppressor with means for ensuring that the suppressor is easily locked in assembly with a gun barrel and that it will not become loosened by sustained fire or by handling of the firearm in field conditions. The suppressor mounting adapter 20 defines an annular rim 90 having an outer circular surface 92 that is roughened. Though the roughened circular surface 92 may have any desirable surface configuration providing a non-slip character, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the roughened surface to have a ratcheting configuration 94 that is defined by a multiplicity of grooves 96 and ridges 98.

The housing adapter, shown particularly in FIGS. 2, 6, 12 and 13, defines an annular locking and retaining array 100 of resilient locking or clamping finger members 102. Each of the resilient spring locking finger members 102 is of curved configuration and is integral with the housing adapter structure. Each of the locking finger members is attached to the housing adapter by a small centrally located flexible connecting structure 104, each locking finger member being partially separated from the housing adapter by slots 106 and 108 that extend laterally from longitudinal slots 110 between each of the spring locking fingers 102.

The annular array of spring locking fingers collectively defines a generally conical outer surface 112 as shown in FIG. 6, the generally conical surface being interrupted at substantially equal locations about its' circumference by the longitudinal slots 104 thus causing the annular array to have a plurality of moveable spring fingers of substantially equal width. The rearmost interior edge of each of the spring locking fingers is provided with a ratcheted surface 114 that is defined by a multiplicity of grooves 116 and ridges 118 as shown in the enlarged isometric illustration of FIG. 7. The ratcheted surface 114 of the housing mount adapter 44 interfaces with the external ratcheted surface 94 of the suppressor mounting adapter 20 when the spring fingers are forced inwardly, thus preventing relative rotation of the housing adapter 44 relative to the suppressor mounting adapter 20 and preventing the suppressor from becoming loose or becoming separated from the gun barrel 19 during use of the firearm.

To accomplish locking or ratcheting movement of the spring fingers 102, the housing adapter 44 defines an externally threaded section 120 that is positioned for threaded engagement by an internally threaded section 122 that is defined within an annular locking member 124. The annular locking member 124 defines a forwardly extending annular rim or flange 126 that extends forwardly over the rear end portion of the suppressor housing enlargement 56, thus protecting the suppressor housing from damage or from fouling by water, dust or the like. The annular locking member or locking ring 124 is maintained in captured relation with the housing mounting insert 44 by means of an inwardly projecting retainer rim 127 that is engaged between the external threaded section 120 and an annular rearwardly facing shoulder 129 of the housing mounting adapter. The inwardly projecting retainer rim 127 is sized to that it can be moved over the externally threaded section 122 for assembly and removal, but it causes the locking ring to be typically retained by the housing mounting adapter even when completely unthreaded from the housing mounting adapter.

The annular locking member 124 also defines a tapered rear spring finger actuating section 128 that has a tapered internal lock actuating surface 130 having a geometry and dimension for engaging the spring fingers 102 and applying sufficient force during threaded assembly of the annular locking member 124 to the housing adapter 44 to move the spring fingers inwardly and cause the ratcheted internal surface 114 of FIGS. 6 and 7 to establish non-rotatable locking engagement with the external ratcheted surface 94 of the annular rim 23 of the suppressor mounting adapter 20. When the annular locking member 124 is tightened onto the housing adapter, the spring fingers are forced to flex inwardly to their locking positions in locking engagement with the outer generally cylindrical locking surface 92 of the annular rim 23, securing the suppressor against rotation. When the locking member 124 is loosened by opposite rotation relative to the housing mounting adapter the spring fingers will return by virtue of their spring characteristics to their original non-locking or release positions. This releasing movement causes separation of ratcheted internal surface 114 of each of the spring fingers from the ratcheted external surface 94 of the annular rim 23, permitting the suppressor to be unthreaded and removed from the suppressor mounting adapter of the gun barrel 19, such as for the purpose of cleaning or for storage when the suppressor is not needed.

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.

Claims

1. A sound and flash suppressor for firearms having a barrel defining a threaded muzzle end, comprising:

a suppressor mounting adapter being threaded to said threaded muzzle end of the firearm barrel;

a tubular suppressor housing defining a propellant gas processing chamber having gas processing members therein and being releasably secured to said suppressor mounting adapter;

an annular collet being defined by said tubular suppressor housing and having a plurality of collet fingers each having a release position and a locking position; and

a locking member being movably supported by said tubular suppressor housing and movably actuating said plurality of collet fingers of said annular collet to locking positions thereof locking said tubular suppressor housing against loosening or separation movement relative to said suppressor mounting adapter, said locking member being moveable in a release direction permitting spring movement of said spring locking fingers to said release positions thereof.

2. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 1, comprising:

an annular external locking rim being defined by said suppressor mounting adapter;

an internal locking surface being defined by each of said plurality of collet fingers and being disposed for locking contact with said annular external locking rim when said plurality of collet fingers are actuated to said locking positions by said locking member.

3. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 2, comprising:

an annular external ratcheting surface being defined by said annular external locking rim; and

an internal ratcheting surface being defined by each of said plurality of collet fingers and being disposed for locking engagement with said annular external ratcheting surface when said plurality of collet fingers are located at said locking positions thereof.

4. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 1, comprising:

a locking thread being defined by said housing mounting adapter;

said locking member being a locking ring having threaded engagement with said locking thread and defining a spring finger actuating surface, rotation of said locking ring relative to said housing mounting adapter causing actuating movement of said spring locking fingers to and from said locking and release positions responsive to the direction of rotation of said locking ring.

5. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 1, comprising:

said suppressor mounting adapter defining an externally threaded section and having spaced external sealing surfaces with said externally threaded section located therebetween; and

a housing mounting adapter being connected with said tubular suppressor housing and having an internally threaded section engaging said externally threaded section of said suppressor mounting adapter and having spaced internal sealing surfaces in sealing engagement with said spaced external sealing surfaces of said suppressor mounting adapter when said tubular suppressor housing and said housing adapter are assembled to said suppressor mounting adapter.

6. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 1, comprising:

said gas processing members being a plurality of baffle members and spacer members arranged in serially stacked relation and having tubular walls defining a central gas processing chamber and serially arranged internal baffle chambers defining a primary propellant gas flow path through said tubular suppressor housing;

said tubular walls of said baffle members and spacer members being spaced from said internal wall surface of said tubular suppressor housing and defining a secondary propellant gas flow path through said suppressor housing; and

a housing mounting adapter being connected with said tubular suppressor housing and defining a bypass passage communicating said primary propellant gas flow path with said secondary propellant gas flow path, said primary and secondary propellant gas flow paths cooperating to minimize propellant gas pressure within said tubular suppressor housing and minimizing sound and flash discharge from said suppressor.

7. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 6, comprising:

a thread connection being defined by said housing mounting adapter with said suppressor mounting adapter and permitting unthreading separation of said sound and flash separator from said suppressor mounting adapter.

8. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 6, comprising:

a thread connection being defined by said housing mounting adapter with said suppressor mounting adapter; and

said housing mounting adapter and said suppressor mounting adapter each having spaced seal surfaces being engaged when said sound and flash suppressor is seated in operative position and supported by said suppressor mounting adapter.

9. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 1, comprising:

an external thread section being defined by said suppressor mounting adapter;

spaced annular external seal members being defined by said suppressor mounting adapter with said external thread section being located therebetween; and

a housing mounting adapter being located within said tubular suppressor housing and having an internal thread section being engaged with said external thread section and having spaced internal seal members in sealing engagement with said spaced external seal members when said tubular suppressor housing is in supported engagement with said suppressor mounting adapter.

10. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 1, comprising:

a front wall being defined by said tubular suppressor housing and defining a central primary propellant gas discharge port thro\ugh which propellant gas is discharged from said primary propellant gas flow path;

a flash hider surrounding said central primary propellant gas discharge port and projecting forward from said front wall; and

a plurality of secondary propellant gas discharge ports being defined by said front wall and being in communication with said secondary propellant gas flow path.

11. A sound and flash suppressor for firearms having a barrel defining a threaded muzzle end, comprising:

a suppressor mounting adapter being threaded to said threaded muzzle end of the firearm barrel and defining an external thread;

a tubular suppressor housing defining a propellant gas processing chamber having gas processing members therein;

a housing mounting adapter being secured to said tubular suppressor housing and having an internal thread section establishing threaded connection with said external thread section when said housing mounting adapter is in operative engagement with said suppressor mounting adapter;

an annular collet being defined by said tubular suppressor housing and having a plurality of collet fingers each having a release position and a locking position; and

a locking member being movably supported by said tubular suppressor housing and movably actuating said plurality of collet fingers of said annular collet to locking positions thereof locking said tubular suppressor housing against loosening or separation movement relative to said suppressor mounting adapter, said locking member being moveable in a release direction permitting spring movement of said spring locking fingers to said release positions thereof.

12. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 11, comprising:

said suppressor mounting adapter defining a pair of external spaced seal surfaces with said external thread section located therebetween; and

said housing mounting adapter defining a pair of internal spaced seal surfaces with said internal thread section located therebetween, said spaced external and internal sealing surfaces establishing seals preventing propellant gas fouling of said thread sections when said sound and flash suppressor is installed on said suppressor mounting adapter.

13. The sound and flash suppressor of claim 11, comprising: