GB2190474A - Weapon recoil reducer - Google Patents

Abstract

A recoil reducer comprises a number of suitably shaped, positioned and spaced baffles 2, e.g. washers, cups, cones or fins, rigidly joined by one or more rows of interlinking webs 1,5 and is rigidly fixed to the muzzle 4 of a firearm by a cylindrical projection 6. The baffle and web assembly forms a structure capable of utilising both direct and reactionary impulses generated by the high energy and high momentum residual gases hitting the baffles, as they exhaust from the muzzle; and thus attenuate the normal recoil impulse substantially, each time the weapon is fired. The device is normally fitted to a hand-held weapon, e.g. rifle, pistol, shotgun or light machine gun, but can be scaled up and fitted to a field gun or other heavy weapon, e.g. tank cannon. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Weapon recoil reducer This invention relates to a weapon recoil reducer. It is well known that most fire arms recoil on firing. This recoil effect can be sufficiently great, in larger calibered weapons, to cause discomfortor lack of control to the operator of such a weapon. Weapons generating really severe recoil are sometimes made very heavy in weight in an effortto lessen the recoil sensation felt by the shooter. This extra weight can make the weapon unwieldly and tiring forthe shooter to use. However, by fixing a recoil reducerto a weapon, many of the disadvantages associated with recoil are considerably reduced, if not eliminated altogether.

The invention relates to such a weapon recoil reduction device. This recoil reducer is fixed securely to the muzzle of a fire arm, or is an integral partofthe barrel assembly. The device is normally fixed to a hand held weapon such as a rifle, pistol, shotgun or automatic light machinegun; though the recoil reduction system can be scaled up and fitted to field guns and other heavy calibered weapons liketank cannon etc.

An assembly of baffles ie washers cups, cones or fins etc is constructed in such a way to catch the residual gaseswhich exitthe muzzle of afire arm on discharge of its cartridge. The energy and momentum ofthese gases act upon the device converting the pressure energy of the gases into mechanical energy in such away as to brakethe recoil normally generated when the weapon discharges its cartridge.

Usually recoil reducers employ the expulsion of these residual gases in the form of a jet from vents cut into the barrel of the weapon, or from a detachable vent fitted to the weapons muzzle.

This jet effect causes an equal and opposite reaction to brake muzzle lift and also attenuate a proportion of the rearward thrust on the weapon.

However, due to the small component of gas actualiy ejected rearwards, there is consequently very little braking effect on the rearward recoil thrust. Little of the energy delivered by the ejected gas is converted to mechanical energy to brake this main recoil effect.

This new weapon recoil reduction device (here afterto be called the "unit") however does utilisethe greater proportion of the residual gas energyto brake both rearward recoil thrust and consequently muzzle lift. This is achieved due to the construction of the device and its use of properly shaped baffles eg cups, washers, cones or fins etc, which catch the high velocity gases and convert their pressure energy and momentum to mechanical energy. This conversion therefor utilises the energy normally wasted by the operational characteristics ofjettype weapon recoil reduction devices. The energy now generates a forward thrust on the baffles eg washers, cups, cones or fins etc, and thus counteracts recoil thrust on the weapon to which the unit is attached.

By utilising the energy and momentum of the residual gases the baffle unit gains a significant recoil reduction advantageoverthe present jet systems that do not fully employ the residual gases to effect weapon recoil reduction.

The baffles can be compared to the sails of a yacht which catch the wind and convert its energy and momentum to drive the yacht forward. The unit baffles however are utilising the pressure energy and momentum of residual gases exhausted from the muzzle of a fire arm when its cartridge is fired.

The baffle "sails" catch this normallywasted energy resource and employ it via the construction of the unit to effect recoil reduction to any weapon which the baffle unit is attached.

By suitably changing the dimensions and geometry of the baffle unit its recoil reduction function can be employed by a variety of weapons such as rifles, pistols, shotguns, machineguns,field cannon etc of various caliber. This will negate many of the adverse effects of heavy recoil to the benefit of the shooter ofsmall arms or the operator of heavy calibered artillery.

An detachable anti-blast cover can be fitted to the unit to prevent some of the unpleasant effects of rearward blast when the baffle type recoil reduction device is employed. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows in perspective the recoil reducer (removable type) fixed to a weapons muzzle. The blastcovershown later in Figure8 Figures 3, 4and 5showvariousformsthatthe baffles can take. For brevity only a few are shown though other baffle forms are possible which would function asthe example in Figure 1 ,though to a greater or lesser degree depending upon application.

Figures 6and 7show possible end views of the various forms of baffle though again many more variations of geometry are possible.

Referring to the drawing of the baffle type weapon recoil reducer in Figure 1 (made of a suitable material, eg metal); the unit consists of an array of appropriately spaced baffles(2) of suitable dimension, shape and nu mberto be effective, for the caliber of weapon to which it is attached. These baffles(2) are attached to eadh other by means of two rows of interlinking webs(1) and (5) to form the assembly. The rearmost baffle (3) concludes with an internally threaded cylindrical projection(6) which is used to attach the recoil reducer to the appropriately threaded gun barrel(4) of the weapon. Note thatthis weapon recoil reduction device could also be an integral part of the gun barrel(4) assembly, so not detachable.

The baffles(2) act like sails to catch the expanding propellant gases. These gases hit the baffles(2) in sequence with sufficient combined effectto drive the baffle(2) assembly in the same direction as the bullet exit path, thus in a contrary direction to the weapons recoil path. Being attached to the muzzle of the gun barrel(4) the baffles(2) therefor drag the weapon along the bullets exit path and consequently against recoil direction. The baffles(2) tend to blast the gases rearwardtowardsthe shooterthus causing an anti-recoil resultantthrust.

The baffles(2) all have a central hole concentric with the bullets flight path. This geometry permits the bullets unimpeded exit through the baffle assembly. The baffles(2) are of sufficient number, appropriate spacing, adequate diameter, correct cross sectional shape and properiy engineered shapeto catch and convertthe energy and momentum of the residual gases to mechanical energy and usefully employ them to brake the recoil effect on the weapon as these gases exitthe weapons muzzle.

By altering the geometry of the recoil reducer and such variables as baffle shape eg cup Figure 2, cone Figure 3, hemispherical Figure 4, or of sails construction in Figure 5 and also such variables as baffle spacing, size and angle an optimum recoil reduction will be achieved for a variety ofweapon calibers. Figures 6 and 7 also show that when viewed end on the baffles can be circular or rectangular though they can also be made in a variety of dimensions to best utilise the energy and momentum ofthe residual gases which exitthe muzzle of fire arms on discharge.

An anti-blast cover is shown in Figure 8, this consists of a cylinder of metal (A) which is of sufficient internal diameterto clearthe rear baffles of the recoil reducer(B). Howeverthe latter part ofthe anti-blastcover(A) is reduced in diameter so thatthe cover(A) fits onto the recoil reducer(B) held securely by, in this particular case, retaining screw (S). Other means of holding the cover(A) to the recoil reducer(B) are of course possible eg threaded etc.

Notethatthe cover(A) material may also be made of materials other than metal eg plastics etc.

Generally speaking then, the baffle recoil reduction device described in Figure 1 works to reduce recoil by transferring pressure energy and momentum from the residual gases to the baffle recoil reduction device, where its operative function usesthetransferred energy and momentum to effect recoil reduction to the device and also to the weapon to which it is attached.

Claims (21)

1. A recoil reducer comprising a suitable number of suitably shaped baffles joined by interlinking webs and a method offixing the arrangement of baffles and webs rigidly to the muzzle of a firearm eg rifle or other large calibered weapon eg field gun or naval ordnance.

2. A recoil reducer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combination of baffles and webs form a structure which permits the recoil reducerto utilise residual gases, exhausted from the muzzle of a weapon when its cartridge is fired, in two ways, firstly as a direct impulse and secondly also as a reactive impulse to effectively reduce a weapons normal recoil impulse.

3. A recoil reducer as claimed in claim 1 orclaim 2 which employs a combination of baffles and webs which, bytheirconstruction, unavoidably form a space to atmosphere, between successive baffles, through which the residual catridge gases may exit towards the periphery of the baffles, after hitting the baffles, to operate the recoil reducer.

4. A recoil reducer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 wherein all component parts ie baffles, webs, fixing arrangement, anti-blast cover, screws etc are made of a material suitable to their intended function eg steel.

5. A recoil reducer with components as claimed in claim 4wherein all component parts exceptthe blast cover e screws are an integral assembly though can, where required, be formed as sub assemblies to form the unit.

6. A recoil reducer as claimed in claim 1 orclaim 2 or claim 3 or claim 40r claim Swherein the baffles are shaped to permit the weapons projectile through the baffles unimpeded.

7. Recoil reducer baffles as claimed in claim 6 wherein said baffles are shaped eg as washers, cups, cones, fins etc., to utilise the direct impulse generated when the muzzle exhaust gases initially hitthese same baffles.

8. Recoil reducer baffles as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said baffles are shaped eg as washers, cups, cones, fins etc., to utilisethe reaction impulse generated when the muzzle exhaust gases rebound from these same baffles.

9. Recoil reducer baffles as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the baffles are suitably positioned and engineered in shape, size and of adequate numberto utilise the muzzles exhaust gases and generate weapon recoil reduction.

10. Recoil reducer baffles as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the baffles are substantially open to atmosphere attheirouter peripheryto permit residual gases to exit the baffles to atmosphere unimpeded.

11. Recoil reducer baffles as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the baffles can be scaled to appropriate dimensions to facilitate recoil reduction to suit the caliber ofthe weapon fitted with the recoil reducer device.

12. A recoil reduceras claimed in claim 1 orclaim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim Swhich utilises one or more webs to rigidly separate and position successive baffles.

13. Recoil reducerwebs as claimed in claim 12 which unavoidably form one or more exit ports, substantially to atmosphere, between successive baffles to facilitate the exit of gases from the baffle and web assembly.

14. Recoil reducer webs as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 which provide adequate spacing so the residual gases will operate on the baffles as an initial direct impulse then as a secondary reaction impulse to attenuate weapon recoil.

15. A recoil reducer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the recoil reducer is provided with a means of rigid attachment to a weapons muzzle.

16. A recoil reducer attachment as claimed in claim 15 wherein the rigid attachment is an integral part of the recoil reducer baffle and web assembly.

17. A recoil reducer attachment as claimed in claim 15 and claim 16 wherein the attachment aligns the baffle and web assembly so that a projectile eg bullet, will pass through the baffle assembly unimpeded.

18. A recoil reducer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5which can befitted with a removable anti-blast cover.

19. An anti-blast cover as claimed in claim 1 8that does not significantly impede the exit of gas to atmosphere as it rebounds from the baffle assembly.

20. An anti-blast cover as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 that reduces noise and flash normally experienced by the weapon operator.

21. A recoil reducer substantially as described herein with referenceto Figures 1-8ofthe accompanying drawings pages 1-3.