Sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system for firearms or similar devices

Abstract

A sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system for firearms or similar devices includes a hollow elongate body, having a projectile entry via a proximal threaded base cap featuring an opening into which the barrel is affixed, an interior space through which the projectile and propellant gasses pass and a distal threaded end cap opposite of the projectile entry featuring an opening through which the projectile and propellant gases exit. The elongate body contains within a blast chamber through which the projectile passes and into which propellant gas enters and expands. Subsequent to the blast chamber, the elongate body contains a plurality of individual serially placed baffles designed to slow and disrupt the flow of propellant gasses. The device features an injection port, affixed to which is a valve or fitting into which an ablative media is injected and through which said ablative media is introduced into the blast chamber.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to noise suppression, and more particularly, to a sound suppressor with an integrated ablative injection system for firearms or similar devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A suppressor, known colloquially as a silencer, is a device attached to the barrel of a firearm for the purpose of reducing the noise generated when the weapon is fired. There are generally three factors associated with the use of a firearm that work together to generate sound. The first factor is the speed of the bullet as it exits the firearm. If the bullet is traveling faster than the speed of sound, it will generate a small sonic boom which is responsible for the easily recognizable ‘crack’ of a bullet as it is fired. This sound may be eliminated via the use of sub-sonic ammunition. The second factor is the rapid expansion of propellant gasses as they exit the firearm and the resultant collision with the ambient air. Typical firearm noise suppressors employ a system of baffles to slow down and disrupt the flow of these gasses as they pass through them with the goal of making the expansion and subsequent collision with the surrounding air less violent and therefore, quieter. The final factor is the heat contained within these propellant gasses. As these hot gasses exit the firearm, the heat contained within increases the reaction with the ambient air to create a much louder sound than would be present with the rapid expansion of gasses alone. While the heat-transmission properties of metal baffles can work to remove a measurable amount of heat from the gasses, the use of an ablative medium and works to further improve the heat-reducing capabilities of the suppressor as a whole according to the general gas equation. This invention improves upon prior art by increasing the ability of the ablative material to remove heat from these propellant gasses by placing it in a specific position within the device where it will have the greatest heat-reducing effect. Further, this invention solves a secondary problem whereas prior art required the suppressor to be disassembled in order to accurately introduce the ablative material into the device in a position where its heat-reducing capabilities would be most effective.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system for firearms or similar devices includes a hollow elongate body made of an appropriate material and shape of such strength and characteristics so as to make it capable of withstanding the significant pressures exerted by the propellant gasses, having a projectile entry via a proximal threaded base cap featuring an opening into which the barrel is affixed, an interior space through which the projectile and propellant gasses pass and a distal threaded end cap opposite of the projectile entry featuring an opening through which the projectile and propellant gases exit. The elongate body contains within a blast chamber, being in fluid communication with the barrel of the firearm, through which the projectile passes along a longitudinal centerline and into which propellant gas enters and expands. Subsequent to the blast chamber, the elongate body contains a plurality of individual serially placed baffles creating a longitudinal pathway through which the projectile passes and further creating a multitude of chambers designed to slow and disrupt the flow of propellant gasses within the elongate body. The device features an injection port, affixed to which is a valve or fitting through which an ablative media, such as an amorphous solid, gel or liquid, is injected and optionally features an open-ended tube, closed-ended perforated tube or coil, or a perforated blast chamber insert through which said ablative media is introduced into the blast chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The several accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale and are provided herein to further the explanation of the present invention. More specifically:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring a base end cap with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected into the blast chamber in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring a base end cap with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected and additionally featuring an open-ended tube through which the ablative material passes as it is injected into the blast chamber in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring a base end cap with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected and additionally featuring an open-ended tube through which the ablative material passes as it is injected into the blast chamber with a representation of the injected ablative material in situ within the blast chamber in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring a base end cap with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected and additionally featuring a closed-ended perforated tube from which the ablative material is distributed into the blast chamber in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring a base end cap with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected and additionally featuring a closed-ended perforated coiled tube from which the ablative material is distributed into the blast chamber in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring an elongate body with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected and from which the ablative material is distributed into the blast chamber in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system featuring base end cap with an injection port and fitting affixed through which the ablative material is injected and additionally featuring a perforated inner blast chamber through which the hot propellant gasses will make contact with the injected ablative media in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, are disclosed. Reference is made to FIGS. 1-5, where FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system 1 which includes a hollow elongate body 100 made of an appropriate material and shape of such strength and characteristics so as to make it capable of withstanding the significant pressures exerted by the propellant gasses, having a projectile entry via a proximal threaded base cap 105 featuring an opening onto which the barrel is affixed 115, an interior space into which the projectile and propellant gasses pass 140 and a distal threaded end cap 110 opposite of the projectile entry 115 featuring an opening through which the projectile and propellant gases exit 120. The elongate body 100 contains within a blast chamber 125, being in fluid communication with the barrel of the firearm, through which the projectile passes along a longitudinal centerline A and into which propellant gas enters and expands. Subsequent to the blast chamber 125, the elongate body 100 contains a plurality of individual serially placed baffles 130 creating a longitudinal pathway 140 through which the projectile passes along a longitudinal centerline A and further creating a multitude of chambers 135 designed to slow and disrupt the flow of propellant gasses within the elongate body 100. The base cap 105 features an injection port 145, affixed to which is a valve or fitting 150 through which an ablative media, such as an amorphous solid, gel or liquid, is injected into generally the elongate body 100 and more specifically, into the blast chamber 125, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the device.

The use of any ablative media follows the general gas equation which declares: “the state of an amount of gas is determined by its pressure, volume, and temperature”. For years, users of firearm noise suppressors have used various techniques to introduce an ablative media into noise suppression devices to reduce the temperature of the propellent gasses. These techniques include dipping the device into a bucket of water, squirting water into the projectile exit or removing the suppressor from the firearm, introducing the ablative media into the muzzle end of the device and then, reinstalling the device onto the firearm. These techniques are inefficient and time-consuming. For example, water evaporates relatively quickly so using it as an ablative requires the user to introduce the ablative immediately before firing the weapon. Further, the heat generated when a weapon is fired is transferred to the suppressor making subsequent removal of the hot suppressor dangerous and difficult. The use of an injectable ablative media, such as an amorphic solid, gel or water, as depicted with this device, solves these problems. An appropriate ablative media may be injected many hours, or even days, prior to the weapon being fired without worry that the ablative will evaporate or drip out. Further, when required, additional ablative media may be injected into a hot suppressor with no danger of the user being burned by the suppressor body. Any injectable ablative media, such as water, wire-pulling lubricant, KY Jelly, petroleum jelly, anti-freeze or the like may be employed with this device.

The opening 120 in the distal end cap 110 may optionally be sealed by inserting a replaceable flat, circular baffle made from a polypropylene, polyurethane or similar material between the end cap 110 and the most distal baffle in the series of plurally placed baffles 130. This sealing baffle will prevent the ablative from being exposed to the ambient air and will work to offset evaporation. The sealing baffle will be pierced when the first projectile passes through.

Although it is not detailed in FIG. 1, the proximal base cap 105 would further include an appropriate attachment structure configured to attach the firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system 1 via complementary structure associated with the muzzle end of the firearm.

In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the firearm sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system 1, FIG. 1 depicts the invention with a plurality of individual serially placed baffles 130 which create a longitudinal pathway 140 through which the projectile passes along a longitudinal centerline A and further creating a multitude of chambers 135 designed to slow and disrupt the flow of propellant gasses within the elongate body 100. The exemplary baffles shown in FIGS. 1-5 should be viewed as representative of the requirement to employ any method to slow and disrupt the flow of gasses through the device. Additional embodiments of the device may use a monolithic baffle manufactured of a single piece of appropriate material or it may employ a plurality of individual serially placed baffles of a different design from the ones depicted herein.

The second exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2 differs from first exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 with the inclusion of an open-ended tube 155 through which the ablative material passes as it is injected into the blast chamber. This tube allows for the placement of the ablative media further into the blast chamber 125. The open-ended tube 155 shown in FIG. 2 may be bent or otherwise shaped in a manner so as to more accurately place the ablative media into a position where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective and the placement of the open-ended tube 155 shown in FIG. 2 should be viewed as exemplary.

FIG. 2a is identical to FIG. 2 with the addition of a representation of an amorphous solid ablative media 160 in situ within the blast chamber 125 to show one example of how the ablative media 160 may be positioned. As stated above, the open-ended tube 155 may be bent or otherwise shaped in a manner that will place the ablative media into a position where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective and FIG. 2a is used to exemplify one possible location for the ablative media 160.

The third exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 differs from the first exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 with the inclusion of a perforated closed-ended tube 165 from which the ablative material is distributed into the blast chamber 125. This perforated closed-ended tube 165 shown in FIG. 3 may be bent or otherwise shaped in a manner so as to more accurately distribute the ablative media into a position within the blast chamber 125 where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective. In this embodiment, the perforated closed-end tube is designed so the ablative media will be distributed over a larger area within the blast chamber 125 as compared to the open-ended tube 155 as depicted in FIG. 2.

The fourth exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4 differs from the first exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 with the inclusion of a coiled perforated closed-ended tube 170 from which the ablative material is distributed throughout the blast chamber 125. This coiled perforated closed-ended tube 165 shown in FIG. 4 circles around the longitudinal pathway 140 so as to more effectively distribute the ablative media into a position within the blast chamber 125 where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective. In this embodiment, the coiled perforated closed-end tube is designed so the ablative media will be distributed over a much larger area within the blast chamber 125 as compared to the closed-ended tube 165 as depicted in FIG. 3.

It is of note that the second, third and fourth embodiments of the device detailed herein all share identical characteristics as depicted in the first embodiment and can be transformed into any of the other depicted embodiments by adding/swapping any of the ablative distribution tubes 155, 160 or 165.

The fifth exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5 differs from the first exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 with the removal of the injection port 145 and valve or fitting 150 from the proximal base cap 105 and the addition of one or more injection port 175, affixed to which is a valve or fitting 180, directly to the elongate body 100 from which the ablative material is distributed into the blast chamber 125. In this embodiment, the injection port(s) 175 may be positioned at such locations on the elongate body 100 so at to position the ablative media within the blast chamber 125 where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective.

The sixth exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6 differs from the first exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 with the inclusion of a perforated inner blast chamber 185, featuring a plurality of perforations or holes 190 through which the hot propellant gasses will make contact with the injected ablative media. This exemplary embodiment will allow for a greater volume of ablative material to be introduced into the elongate body 100, via the valve or fitting 150 and injection port 145, with the purpose of filling the interior void 195 between the internal blast chamber 185 and the inner wall of the elongate body 100.

It should be noted that the sixth exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG.6 and described above may be modified by removing the valve or fitting 150 and injection port 145 from the base cap 105 and/or with the addition of one or more valve(s) or fitting(s) 180 and injection port(s) 175 to the wall of the elongate body 100.

The foregoing description of these exemplary embodiments are presented herein for the purposes of illustration and description and are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Several modifications and variants are possible in light of this disclosure and it will be understood that the certain modifications and variations of the features described above with respect to those exemplary embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by this description. Rather, it shall only be limited by the claims appended hereto. Subsequent applications claiming priority to this application may claim the disclosed subject matter in a different manner and generally may include any set of one or more limitations as variously disclosed or otherwise demonstrated herein.

Claims

1. A sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system for firearms, comprising:

a hollow elongate body made of an appropriate material and shape of such strength and characteristics so as to make it capable of withstanding the significant pressures exerted by the propellant gasses;

a projectile entry via a proximal threaded base cap featuring an opening into which the barrel is affixed;

an interior space through which the projectile and propellant gasses pass;

a distal threaded end cap opposite of the projectile entry featuring an opening through which the projectile and propellant gases exit;

a blast chamber, contained within the elongate body, being in fluid communication with the barrel of the firearm, through which the projectile passes along a longitudinal centerline and into which propellant gas enters and expands;

a plurality of individual serially placed baffles or a monolithic baffle creating a longitudinal pathway through which the projectile passes and further creating a multitude of chambers designed to slow and disrupt the flow of propellant gasses within the elongate body; and

an injection port, affixed to which is a valve or fitting, as a means through which an ablative media, such as an amorphous solid, gel or liquid, is introduced.

2. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claim 1, wherein the device may be sealed by inserting a replaceable flat, circular baffle made from a polypropylene, polyurethane or similar material between the end cap and the most distal baffle in the series of plurally placed baffles.

3. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claim 1, wherein the ablative medium used is an amorphous solid, gel or liquid such as water, wire-pulling lubricant, KY Jelly, petroleum jelly, anti-freeze or the like.

4. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claim 1, further comprising:

an open-ended tube affixed to the injection port through which ablative media is introduced into the blast chamber where said open-ended tube may be bent or otherwise shaped in a manner that will place the ablative media into a position where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective.

5. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a perforated closed-end tube affixed to the injection port from which the ablative material is distributed into the blast chamber where said perforated closed-ended tube may be bent or otherwise shaped in a manner so as to more accurately distribute the ablative media into a position within the blast chamber where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective.

6. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a coiled perforated closed-ended tube affixed to the injection port from which the ablative material is distributed throughout the blast chamber where said coiled perforated closed-ended tube encircles the longitudinal pathway through which the projectile passes so as to more effectively distribute the ablative media into a position within the blast chamber where its heat-absorption capabilities will be most effective.

7. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claims 4 through 6, wherein the ablative distribution tubes are interchangeable.

8. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claims 4 through 6, wherein the ablative distribution tubes are affixed to the injection port via threads or adhesive.

9. The sound suppressor with integrated ablative injection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a perforated inner blast chamber, featuring a plurality of perforations or holes through which the hot propellant gasses will make contact with the injected ablative media where said perforated inner blast chamber will allow for a greater volume of ablative material to be introduced into the elongate body.