US20230272991A1

US20230272991A1 - Firearm suppressor with gas-actuated valve

Info

Publication number: US20230272991A1
Application number: US17/652,661
Authority: US
Inventors: Byron S. Petersen
Original assignee: Delta Design Inc
Current assignee: True Velocity IP Holdings LLC
Priority date: 2022-02-25
Filing date: 2022-02-25
Publication date: 2023-08-31
Also published as: WO2023164344A3; WO2023164344A2

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for firearm sound suppressors. In one example, a suppressor comprises an outer housing, a projectile entrance, a projectile exit, a gas-actuated valve extending from the projectile entrance toward the projectile exit within an interior of the outer housing, and a projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve arranged along a projectile path between the projectile entrance and the projectile exit.

Description

FIELD

Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to firearm sound suppressors.

BACKGROUND

Firearms utilize high pressure exhaust gases to accelerate a projectile such as a bullet. Firearm silencers (hereafter referred to as “suppressors”) are often added to the muzzle (exhaust) of a firearm to capture the high pressure exhaust gases of a given firearm. These high pressure exhaust gases are the product of burning nitrocellulose and possess significant energy that is used to accelerate the projectile. The typical exhaust gas pressure of a rifle cartridge in a full length barrel may be in the range of 7-10 Ksi. A short barreled rifle may have exhaust gas pressures in the 10-20 Ksi range. Moving at supersonic speeds through the bore, the exhaust gases provide the energy to launch the projectile and also result in the emanation of high-decibel noises typically associated with the discharge of firearms. When in action, firearm suppressors lower the kinetic energy and pressure of the propellant gases and thereby reduce the decibel level of the resultant noises.
Firearms suppressors are mechanical pressure reduction devices that contain a center through-hole to allow passage of the projectile. Suppressor design(s) utilize static geometry to induce pressure loss across the device by means that may include rapid expansion and contraction, minor losses related to inlet and outlet geometry, and induced pressure differential to divert linear flow.
Suppressors can be thought of as “in-line” pressure reduction devices that capture and release the high pressure gases over a time (T). Typical suppressor design approaches used to optimize firearms noise reduction include maximizing internal volume, and providing a baffled or tortuous pathway for propellant gas egress. Each of these approaches must be balanced against the need for clear egress of the projectile, market demand for small overall suppressor size, adverse impacts on the firearms performance, and constraints related to the firearms original mechanical design.
However, the inventor herein has recognized potential issues with such systems. As one example, conventional suppressor designs may add significant length and weight to a firearm. Although reducing a diameter of a projectile exit of a suppressor may reduce a pressure of gases flowing from the projectile exit, the diameter of the projectile exit may not be reduced below a diameter of projectiles sized for the firearm coupled to the suppressor. A reduction in the pressure of gases flowing from the projectile exit may be realized by increasing a size (e.g., length) of a suppressor, but the increased size may result in an increased suppressor weight and/or cost and may reduce a visibility of a target sighted by a user of the firearm.
In one embodiment, the issues described above may be addressed by a suppressor, comprising: an outer housing; a projectile entrance and a projectile exit; a gas-actuated valve extending from the projectile entrance toward the projectile exit within an interior of the outer housing; and a projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve arranged along a projectile path between the projectile entrance and the projectile exit. In this way, a projectile fired through the suppressor may travel through the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve and toward the projectile exit. Combustion gases flowing behind the projectile may actuate the gas-actuated valve to close the projectile opening after the projectile has traveled through the projectile opening. By closing the projectile opening via the gas-actuated valve, the combustion gases within the suppressor may flow out of the projectile exit with a decreased pressure, and an amount of noise reduction provided by the suppressor may be increased without increasing a size of the suppressor.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form, a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the subject matter. Furthermore, the disclosed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first perspective view of a suppressor including a gas-actuated valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the suppressor.

FIG. 3 shows a first sectional side view of the suppressor with the gas-actuated valve in a first position.

FIG. 4 shows a second sectional side view of the suppressor with the gas-actuated valve in a second position.

FIG. 5 shows a first sectional perspective view of the suppressor with the gas-actuated valve in the first position.

FIG. 6 shows a second sectional perspective view of the suppressor with the gas-actuated valve in the second position.

FIG. 7 shows a partial sectional perspective view of the suppressor.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the suppressor in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective sectional view of another suppressor including a gas-actuated valve.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective sectional view of another suppressor including the gas-actuated valve of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the gas-actuated valve of FIGS. 9-10 removed from the suppressor and in an opened configuration.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the gas-actuated valve of FIGS. 9-11 removed from the suppressor and in a closed configuration.

FIG. 13 shows a partial perspective view of another gas-actuated valve and a baffle body of a suppressor, with the gas-actuated valve in an opened position.

FIG. 14 shows a partial perspective view of the gas-actuated valve of FIG. 13 in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above drawings are approximately to scale, although other relative dimensions may be used, if desired. The drawings may depict components directly touching one another and in direct contact with one another and/or adjacent to one another, although such positional relationships may be modified, if desired. Further, the drawings may show components spaced away from one another without intervening components therebetween, although such relationships again, could be modified, if desired.
An example firearm sound suppressor including a gas-actuated valve is described herein. The following description relates to various embodiments of the firearm sound suppressor as well as methods of manufacturing and using the device. Potential advantages of one or more of the example approaches described herein relate to increasing operating performance, reducing acoustical emissions of the firearm, and various others as explained herein.
The firearm suppressor including the gas-actuated valve may be coupled to a firearm, as described with regard to FIG. 1 . The suppressor may include a baffle body (which may be referred to herein as a baffle body), as shown by FIGS. 3-7 , where the baffle body is arranged opposite to the gas-actuated valve within an interior of an outer housing of the suppressor. In some embodiments (as shown by FIG. 8 ) the gas-actuated valve may be integrated with an insert shaped to seat within the interior of the outer housing of the suppressor. A projectile fired by the firearm through the suppressor travels from a projectile entrance of the suppressor to a projectile exit of the suppressor. Gases generated by the firing of the projectile may flow against the gas-actuated valve after the projectile has traveled completely through an opening of the gas-actuated valve. The gases move the gas-actuated valve to an actuated position (as shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 ) to close an opening of the baffle body through which the projectile passes. In some embodiments, as shown by FIGS. 9-14 , the gas-actuated valve may be a reed valve, a leaf spring valve, or another type of one-directional valve. As a result, a flow rate of the gases from the projectile exit of the suppressor may be reduced, and a pressure of the gases flowing from the projectile exit may be decreased. The decreased pressure of the gases flowing from the projectile exit may result in an increase noise reduction efficiency of the suppressor.
Configuring the suppressor to include the gas-actuated valve may provide the suppressor with significant sound reduction gains. The gas-actuated valve is arranged immediately adjacent to the muzzle (e.g., exhaust end) of the firearm barrel during conditions in which the suppressor is coupled to the firearm. The gas-actuated valve may occupy a space at a periphery an area in which the gases exhibit incompressible flow boundary layers, which may be referred to as a shock bottle. By closing the opening of the baffle body after a projectile has passed completely through the opening of the gas-actuated valve, the gas-actuated valve may redirect gases expelled by the firearm within the interior of the suppressor and reduce an amount of noise generated by the gases. In particular, the gas-actuated valve is configured to redirect gases away from the opening of the baffle body to lengthen a path of the gases through the suppressor toward the projectile exit of the suppressor and inhibit the flow of the gases to the projectile exit. By lengthening the path of the gases through the suppressor, the gases may flow out of the projectile exit of the suppressor with a decreased amount of energy, which may result in a decreased amount of noise.
FIGS. 1-14 show the relative positioning of various components of the suppressor assembly. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such components may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, components shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components lying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact or physically contacting one another. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example.
Elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being triangular, helical, straight, planar, curved, rounded, spiral, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example. For purpose of discussion, FIGS. 1-8 will be described collectively.
Referring to FIG. 1 , an exterior perspective view of a suppressor 100 according to an embodiment of the current disclosure is shown. The exterior view of the suppressor 100 is shown in order to illustrate the overall shape of the suppressor and relative spatial positioning. As shown in the figure, the suppressor 100 comprises an elongate tubular outer housing 102 (which may be referred to herein as a housing and/or casing), a rearward end 104, an outer surface 106, a forward end 108, and projectile entrance passage 112.
The suppressor 100 comprises projectile entrance passage 112 (which may be referred to herein as a projectile entrance) forming a generally annular channel at the rearward end 104 wherethrough a projectile such as a bullet may enter to pass through and exit the suppressor 100 at the forward end 108. The projectile may travel along a projectile path coaxial with a central axis 150 of the suppressor 100.
The longitudinally rearward end 104 contains the projectile entrance passage 112, an opening sufficiently large enough to permit passage of at least a portion of a firearm barrel (e.g., firearm barrel 160), where the suppressor 100 may attach via connectable interaction devices such as interlacing threads. For example, suppressor 100 may include threads 114 configured to engage (e.g., interlock) with counterpart threads 162 of firearm barrel 160. Threads are depicted for attaching the suppressor to the firearm in this embodiment, however, other methods of attachment may be used. For example, lugs, external threads on flash hiders, pawls, collets, cross-bolts, clamps, notches, or combinations thereof may be used.
Referring to FIG. 2 , a second perspective view of the suppressor 100 is shown. FIG. 2 shows the forward end 108 of the suppressor 100, where the forward end 108 includes a projectile exit passage 200 (which may be referred to herein as a projectile exit). During a firing event of a firearm coupled to the suppressor 100, for example, a projectile fired by the firearm may travel through the suppressor 100 in a direction from the projectile entrance passage 112 at the rearward end 104 toward the projectile exit passage 200 at the forward end 108 (e.g., in a direction of central axis 150 through the suppressor 100).
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5 , the suppressor 100 is shown with a gas-actuated valve 302 in a non-actuated position, as described further below. In particular, FIG. 3 shows a first sectional side view of the suppressor 100 taken along line 170 shown by FIG. 1 , and FIG. 5 shows a first sectional perspective view of the suppressor 100 taken along line 180 shown by FIG. 1 . The suppressor 100 includes the gas-actuated valve 302 and a baffle body 320 arranged opposite to each other within an interior 380 of the outer housing 102. The gas-actuated valve 302 is shown by FIGS. 3 and 5 in the non-actuated position (which may be referred to herein as an equilibrium position, neutral position, and/or open position) wherein the gas-actuated valve 302 is not rotated (e.g., pivoted) by combustion gases (e.g., propellant gases) generated by a firing of projectile 300 (shown by FIG. 3 ) by the firearm 160 (shown by FIG. 1 ). In particular, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be in the non-actuated position during conditions in which combustion gases are not within the suppressor 100. The gas-actuated valve 302 may additionally be in the non-actuated position during conditions in which a projectile (e.g., projectile 300) has been fired by the firearm 160 into the suppressor 100 and the projectile has not passed through the gas-actuated valve 302. For example, projectiles fired by the firearm 160 into the suppressor 100 travel along central axis 150 of the suppressor 100 in a direction from projectile entrance 112 to projectile exit 200. While a projectile fired by the firearm 160 is traveling within the suppressor 100 between the projectile entrance 112 and the gas-actuated valve 302, the gas-actuated valve 302 is configured to be maintained in the non-actuated position shown by FIGS. 3 and 5 . However, after the projectile has traveled completely through opening 312 (which may be referred to herein as a projectile opening, valve projectile opening, etc.) of the gas-actuated valve 302 and is within the suppressor 100 between the gas-actuated valve 302 and the projectile exit 200, the gas-actuated valve 302 may transition from the non-actuated position to an actuated position (shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 ), as described further below.
The gas-actuated valve 302 is arranged toward the rearward end 104 and the baffle body 320 is arranged toward the forward end 108. In particular, the gas-actuated valve 302 extends within the interior 380 from the projectile entrance 112 at the rearward end 104, and the baffle body 320 extends within the interior 380 from the projectile exit 200 at the forward end 108. The baffle body 320 is fixed (e.g., fixedly joined) to end wall 340 forming the projectile exit 200. The projectile entrance 112 is formed in wall 382, and the gas-actuated valve 302 is joined to the wall 382 by a pivot 384. The pivot 384 is fixed to the wall 382 such that the gas-actuated valve 302 is cantilevered into the interior 380 of the suppressor 100 and is supported by the interface between the pivot 384 and the wall 382. In the example shown, the pivot 384 and the wall 382 form a single, continuous structure (e.g., the pivot 384 and the wall 382 are formed together as a single piece such that the pivot 384 is maintained fixed to the wall 382 without fasteners, welding, etc.). The pivot 384 may be a curved portion of the gas-actuated valve 302 having a stiffness configured to enable the gas-actuated valve 302 to pivot (e.g., rotate) relative to the wall 382 during conditions in which force is applied to surfaces of the gas-actuated valve 302 by combustion gases generated during the firing of a projectile through the suppressor 100. Additionally, the stiffness of the pivot 384 is configured to urge the gas-actuated valve 302 toward the non-pivoted position during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is pivoted relative to the wall 382. In some examples, the pivot 384 may be a separate component relative to the wall 382 and/or the base section 305. For example, pivot 384 may be a coil spring, torsion spring, etc. joined directly to each of the wall 382 and the base section 305 and pivotably coupling the base section 305 with the wall 382. In some embodiments, the base section 305 and/or pivot 384 may have a different shape (e.g., a wave shape, different curvature, etc.). The shape of the base section 305 and/or pivot 384 may be selected to provide a particular desired stiffness (e.g., spring constant) of the gas-actuated valve 302.
The gas-actuated valve 302 includes a base section 305 joined to the wall 382, and an angled extension section 308 joined to the base section 305. The projectile opening 312 is formed in the angled extension section 308. The base section 305 may be arranged vertically above the central axis 150, with the angled extension section 308 extending from the base section 305 toward the central axis 150. In this configuration, the projectile opening 312 is arranged along the central axis 150 during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the non-actuated (e.g., equilibrium) position.
The gas-actuated valve 302 may be moved between the non-actuated position (shown by FIGS. 3 and 5 ) and the actuated position (shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 ) responsive to a flow of combustions gases within the suppressor 100. The non-actuated position may be referred to herein as the equilibrium position, non-pivoted position, neutral position, and/or open position (e.g., the position of the gas-actuated valve 302 during conditions in which force is not applied to the gas-actuated valve 302 by combustion gases generated via firing of a projectile through the suppressor 100). The gas-actuated valve 302 is configured to transition from the non-actuated position to the actuated position responsive to a flow of the combustions gases against surfaces of the gas-actuated valve 302 (e.g., during conditions in which the suppressor 100 is coupled to the firearm 160 and the firearm 160 fires a projectile through the suppressor 100). The gas-actuated valve 302 includes an opening 312 (which may be referred to herein as a valve projectile opening) shaped such that a projectile fired by the firearm 160 through the suppressor 100 passes through the opening 312 along projectile path 362 between the projectile entrance 112 and the projectile exit 200. While the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the non-actuated position (which may be referred to herein as an equilibrium position), the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 is arranged along the projectile path 362 coaxially with an opening 328 of the baffle body 320. The opening 328 is formed in an end surface 326 of the baffle body 320 and is shaped such that the projectile may pass through the opening 328 toward the projectile exit 200. The opening 328 may be referred to herein as a baffle body opening, projectile opening, baffle body projectile opening, etc. After the projectile (e.g., projectile 300) has passed entirely through the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 (e.g., traveled completely through the opening 312 such that no portion of the projectile is within the opening 312), combustion gases trailing the projectile (e.g., flowing behind the projectile) and resulting from the firing of the projectile from the firearm 160 flow against surfaces of the gas-actuated valve 302 (e.g., wall 301) and urge the gas-actuated valve 302 toward the actuated position. In the actuated position, the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 is arranged off-axis (e.g., off-center) to the central axis 150 and the projectile path 362, and the opening 328 of the baffle body 320 is closed by the gas-actuated valve 302 (e.g., wall 301 is positioned adjacent to the opening 328 such that gases do not flow directly through the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 to the opening 328 of the baffle body 320 in the direction of central axis 150).
While the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the non-actuated position, the base section 305 may be angled relative to the central axis 150 by angle 354 (where angle 354 is shown between axis 342 and central axis 150, with axis 342 extending parallel with the base section 305 along a center of the base section 305). The base section 305 includes an upper surface 304 and a lower surface 306, where the lower surface 306 is arranged closer to the central axis 150 and the upper surface 304 is arranged further from the central axis 150. In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 further includes an end section 310, where the end section 310 is angled relative to the angled extension section 308 (as indicated by angle 402 between axis 318 and axis 316 as shown by FIG. 4 , where the axis 318 is parallel with the end section 310 and centered to the end section 310). During conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is pivoted to the actuated position, the end section 310 may be arranged adjacent to the baffle body 320 and may reduce a likelihood of combustion gases flowing into the baffle body 320 until the gas-actuated valve 302 returns to the non-actuated position (e.g., equilibrium position).
During conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the non-actuated position (as shown by FIGS. 3 and 5 ), a midpoint 373 of the projectile opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 is arranged along the projectile path 362, and an angle 360 between the base section 305 and the angled extension section 308 may be a first amount of angle such that the angled extension section 308 does not close the opening 328 (angle 360 is between axis 342 parallel with the base section 305 and axis 316, with axis 316 arranged parallel with the angled extension section 308 and centered at the angled extension section 308). During conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the actuated position (as shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 ), a midpoint 373 of the projectile opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 is offset from the projectile path 362, and an angle 406 between the base section 305 and the angled extension section 308 may be a second amount of angle (e.g., a smaller amount of angle relative to the angle 360) such that the angled extension 308 closes the opening 328.
In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 may include a plurality of longitudinal notches 502 (as indicated by broken lines in FIGS. 5-6 and 8 ) extending between the pivot 384 and the angled extension section 308. The longitudinal notches 502 may be referred to herein as slots and may extend through an entire thickness of the base section 305. The longitudinal notches 502 may enable the gas-actuated valve 302 to pivot responsive to combustion gas flow within the suppressor 100 during conditions in which a degradation of the gas-actuated valve 302 has occurred. For example, during conditions in which degradation of a portion of the base section 305 has occurred, the longitudinal notches 502 may isolate the degraded portion from the non-degraded portions so that the non-degraded portions may provide the pivoting of the gas-actuated valve 302 without contribution from the degraded portions.
In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 may include a first valve stop 368 shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve 302 during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is in an actuated position, and/or a second valve stop 366 shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve 302 during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is in a non-actuated position. For example, the pivot 384 may bias the base section 305 of the gas-actuated valve 302 in a direction toward the central axis 150 during conditions in which combustions gases are not within the interior 380 of the suppressor 100. In order to maintain the gas-actuated valve 302 in the non-actuated position shown by FIGS. 3 and 5 while the pivot 384 urges (e.g., biases) the base section 305 toward the central axis 150, the second valve stop 366 may limit a range of motion (e.g., a range of pivoting) of the gas-actuated valve 302 in the direction toward the central axis 150. In particular, as the base section 305 is urged toward the central axis 150, the base section 305 may come into direct face-sharing contact with the second valve stop 366 and may be prevented from rotating beyond the second valve stop 366. The second valve stop 366 may be fixedly joined to a surface 383 of the wall 382 such that the second valve stop 366 does not move (e.g., pivot) relative to the wall 382. In some embodiments, during manufacturing of the suppressor 100, the second valve stop 366 may be inserted through the outer housing 102 and may extend into the interior 380 from the outer housing 102. The outer housing 102 may then be sealed (e.g., welded, brazed, etc.) at the location of insertion of the second valve stop 366 to fixedly join the second valve stop 366 to the outer housing 102 and maintain the position of the second valve stop 366 within the interior 380. In other embodiments, the second valve stop 366 may be formed together with the outer housing 102 (e.g., molded together, formed as a unitary piece via an additive manufacturing process, etc.), encapsulated within the outer housing 102, etc. As another example, during conditions in which combustion gases move (e.g., pivot) the gas-actuated valve 302 away from the central axis 150, the first valve stop 368 may limit the range of motion of the gas-actuated valve 302 in the direction away from the central axis 150. For example, the gas-actuated valve 302 may pivot to close the opening 328 of the baffle body 320 but may be prevented from pivoting further while the base section 305 is in face-sharing contact with the first valve stop 368 (as shown by FIG. 4 ). The first valve stop 368 may be formed together with a lower surface 324 of the baffle body 320. In some examples, the first valve stop 368 may be a curved portion of the baffle body 320 extending between the lower surface 324 and end surface 326 (e.g., the curved portion joining the lower surface 324 with the end surface 326). A curvature of the first valve stop 368 may be equal to a curvature between end section 310 and angled extension section 308 of the gas-actuated valve 302, in some examples. In such configurations, the gas-actuated valve 302 may seat against the first valve stop 368 without gaps or clearances between the end section 310 and the lower surface 324 and/or substantially without gaps or clearances between the surface of the angled extension section 308 and the end surface 326 of the baffle body 320.
Configuring the suppressor 100 to include the first valve stop 368 and/or the second valve stop 366 may reduce a likelihood of oscillation of the gas-actuated valve 302 during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is pivoted responsive to the force of combustion gases against the gas-actuated valve 302. By reducing the likelihood of oscillation of the gas-actuated valve 302, a likelihood of degradation of the gas-actuated valve 302 and/or other components of the suppressor 100 may be reduced. As one example, the first valve stop 368 and second valve stop 366 may increase a damping of oscillation of the gas-actuated valve 302 by limiting the range of motion of the gas-actuated valve 302 as described above. In particular, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be urged in the direction toward the second valve stop 366 by a stiffness of the gas-actuated valve 302 (e.g., a stiffness of pivot 384) during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is not pivoted by combustion gases. By configuring the gas-actuated valve 302 to be biased toward the second valve stop 366 (which may be referred to herein as preloading the gas-actuated valve 302), the amount of damping of the gas-actuated valve 302 may be increased during conditions in which combustion gases apply force against the gas-actuated valve 302 to pivot the gas-actuated valve 302 toward the baffle body 320.
In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be formed from a metal material such as spring steel, titanium, etc. The stiffness of the gas-actuated valve 302 may be based on the material of the gas-actuated valve 302. In particular, a spring constant of the gas-actuated valve 302 may be based on the material of the gas-actuated valve 302 in combination with the structure (e.g., shape) of the gas-actuated valve 302, where an amount of biasing of the gas-actuated valve 302 in the direction away from the baffle body 320 may be a function of the spring constant. In some embodiments, the spring constant may be further based on a pre-determined rate of fire of projectiles through the suppressor 100. For example, the spring constant may be based on a maximum rate of fire of a firearm (e.g., firearm 160 shown by FIG. 1 ) to which the suppressor 100 couples. As one example, the spring constant may be higher for higher firing rates, and the spring constant may be lower for lower firing rates. The suppressor 100 may be used in a wide range of applications from small arms, such as a 22 caliber long rifle, to heavy artillery, and the spring constant will vary based on the force of the propellant gases, length of the barrel, and other parameters. In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be formed (e.g., manufactured) from the metal material as a monolithic and unitary structure. For example, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be molded or formed via an additive manufacturing process (e.g., 3D printing) without fasteners or other components. 3D printing may include selective laser melting (SLM), fused deposition modeling (FDM), sterolithography (SLA), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), etc. In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be formed from a first material (e.g., a first metal material) as described above, and other portions of the suppressor 100 (e.g., outer housing 102) may be formed from a different, second material (e.g., a second metal material, a composite material, etc.).
In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 302 may be an insert 346 including the projectile entrance 112 and shaped to seat within the outer housing 102 (e.g., the insert 346 may include the wall 382 and the gas-actuated valve 302 formed together as a single, unitary piece). The insert 346 may seat within the outer housing 102 with an outer circumferential surface 348 of the insert 346 in direct face-sharing contact with an inner circumferential surface 350 of the outer housing 102 (e.g., the outer circumferential surface 348 and inner circumferential surface 350 may directly contact each other with no other components arranged therebetween). The gas-actuated valve 302, wall 382, and projectile entrance 112 may be molded together, formed together via an additive manufacturing process such as 3D printing, etc. In some embodiments, the insert 346 may be removable (e.g., replaceable) from the outer housing 102, and in other embodiments the insert 346 may be joined directly to the outer housing 102 (e.g., welded to the outer housing 102, overmolded into the outer housing 102, etc.). By forming the gas-actuated valve 302 as the insert 346, an ease of manufacturing the suppressor 100 may be increased. For example, the suppressor 100 may be manufactured with the insert 346 via additive manufacturing without additional machining, casting, etc.
The gas-actuated valve 302 may include a blowout panel 395. The blowout panel 395 may be an area of the gas-actuated valve 302 that is configured to burst open responsive a projectile (e.g., bullet) fired through the suppressor 100 (e.g., projectile 300) coming into contact with the blowout panel 395. Discharge of the firearm may proceed even after rupturing of the blowout panel 395 albeit with reduced efficiency of noise and/or flash suppression. Bursting of the blowout panel 395 responsive to contact of the projectile with the blowout panel 395 enables the projectile to pass through the suppressor 100 with a reduced likelihood of degradation of other areas of the gas-actuated valve 302 and/or other portions of the suppressor 100. The blowout panel 395 may be a recess in the angled extension section 308 of the gas-actuated valve 302. In the example shown, the blowout panel 395 is a rectangular recess indicated by broken lines. However, in other examples, the blowout panel 395 may be a recess having a different shape (e.g., circular shape, elliptical shape, hexagonal shape, etc.). A thickness of the angled extension section 308 at the location of the blowout panel 395 may be reduced relative to a thickness at other portions of the angled extension section 308. As one example, the thickness of the angled extension section 308 at the blowout panel 395 may be between 10-90% of the thickness of other portions of the angled extension section 308. In some embodiments, the blowout panel 395 may be formed from a different material than other portions of the angled extension section 308. For example, the blowout panel 395 may be formed from a first material having a lower density (e.g., a first metal or metal alloy) and the other portions of the angled extension section 308 may be formed from a second material having a higher density (e.g., a second metal or metal alloy). The density of the first material may be between 10-90% of the density of the second material, in one example. In some examples, the blowout panel 395 may be an aperture adapted with a plug, and during conditions in which the projectile comes into direct contact with the plug, the blowout panel 395 may burst (e.g., the plug may be ejected).
The baffle body 320 is arranged along the central axis 150 and includes a plurality of baffle chambers disposed within an interior 323 of the baffle body 320. In the example shown, the baffle body 320 includes a first baffle chamber 334, a second baffle chamber 336, and a third baffle chamber 339, with the first baffle chamber 334 separated from the second baffle chamber 336 by a first baffle 335, and with the second baffle chamber 336 separated from the third baffle chamber 339 by a second baffle 337. The first baffle 335 and the second baffle 337 may be walls formed within the baffle body 320 and extending between an upper end 341 of the baffle body 320 and a lower end 343 of the baffle body 320. During conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the non-actuated position, the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 is arranged opposite to (e.g., across from) the opening 328 of the baffle body 320. While the opening 328 is not closed by the gas-actuated valve 302, the opening 328 fluidly couples the baffle chambers of the baffle body 320 to the interior portion of the suppressor 100 including the gas-actuated valve 302. The central axis 150 intersects a midpoint 373 of the opening 312 and a midpoint 375 of the opening 328. The opening 328 may be referred to herein as a baffle body projectile entrance and may be the only entrance of a projectile into the baffle body 320. Each baffle of the baffle body 320 (e.g., baffle 335, baffle 337, etc.) is fluidly coupled by a projectile passage 206 that may have a circular profile (e.g., shaped as a cylinder). The projectile passage 206 is sized such that a projectile fired by the firearm coupled to the suppressor 100 passes through the projectile passage 206 during travel through the suppressor 100 from the rearward end 104 to the forward end 108. The baffles of the baffle body 320 may partition the baffle body 320 into a plurality of baffle chambers as described above, where the plurality of baffle chambers may restrain and absorb energy of propellant gases (e.g., combustion gases) generated by the firing of the firearm. The baffle body 320 and the gas-actuated valve 302 may together reduce an overall mass flow rate of the exhaust gases (which may be referred to herein as propellant gases and/or combustion gases) of the firearm and therefore reduce the overall energy signatures of the firearm.
The baffle body 320 includes a gas diversion opening 332 (which may be referred to herein as a relief) formed in the baffle body 320 at an angle 390 to a central axis 150 of the suppressor 100 (where angle 390 extends between axis 330 and central axis 150, with the axis 330 centered within the gas diversion opening 332 and extending in a direction parallel with the gas diversion opening 332). The gas diversion opening 332 is shaped to form a gas flow path 410 with the valve projectile opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve is in the actuated position, as described further below with reference to FIG. 4 .
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6 , the suppressor 100 is shown with a gas-actuated valve 302 in the actuated position. In particular, FIG. 4 shows a second sectional side view of the suppressor 100 taken along line 170 shown by FIG. 1 , and FIG. 6 shows a second sectional perspective view of the suppressor 100 taken along line 180 shown by FIG. 1 , with the gas-actuated valve 302 in the actuated position in each of the views shown by FIGS. 4 an 6. The gas-actuated valve 302 is pivoted in FIGS. 4 and 6 relative to the non-actuated position shown by FIGS. 3 and 5 as a result of combustion gases urging the gas-actuated valve 302 toward the baffle body 320.
In the actuated position shown by FIGS. 4 and 6 , the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 forms the gas flow path 410 with the gas diversion opening 332. In particular, because the gas-actuated valve 302 closes the opening 328 of the baffle body 320 in the actuated position, gas does not flow through the gas-actuated valve 302 along the central axis 150 into the baffle body 320. However, combustion gases may flow through the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 and through the gas diversion opening 332. In this configuration, an angle 400 between the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 and the central axis 150 may be approximately equal to the angle 390 (shown by FIG. 3 ) between the gas diversion opening 332 and the central axis 150 (e.g., where the angle 400 is between axis 401 and the central axis 150, with the axis 401 extending through the midpoint 373 of the opening 312). While the gas-actuated valve 302 is in the actuated position, the base section 305 may be angled relative to the central axis 150 by angle 404 (where angle 404 is shown between axis 342 and central axis 150, with axis 342 extending parallel with the base section 305 along a center of the base section 305). The angle 404 may be greater than the angle 354 (e.g., angle 404 may have a greater magnitude than a magnitude of the angle 354) and may be in an opposite direction to the angle 354 (e.g., such that in the non-actuated position the opening 312 is arranged vertically below the pivot 384, and in the actuated position at least a portion of the opening 312 is arranged vertically above the pivot 384 in a vertical direction 408 from the central axis 150). The gases may flow across surfaces of the interior 380 of the suppressor 100 and transfer heat to the surfaces of the interior 380, which may reduce an energy of the gases. As the gas-actuated valve 302 returns to the non-actuated position, the gases may flow into the baffle body 320 via the opening 328 and may transfer heat to the surfaces of the interior 323 of the baffle body 320, further decreasing the energy of the gases. The gases may then flow out of the suppressor 100 via the projectile exit 200 at a reduced pressure relative to gases flowing from conventional suppressors that do not include the gas-actuated valve 302.
In some embodiments, a diameter 500 of the gas diversion opening 332 may be equal to a diameter 800 (shown by FIG. 8 ) of the valve projectile opening 312. Configuring the gas diversion opening 332 and the valve projectile opening 312 to have equal diameters may increase a likelihood of combustion gases flowing along the gas flow path 410, which may increase a transfer of heat away from the gases and increase a sound reduction ability of the suppressor 100 as described above.
Referring to FIG. 7 , another sectional view of the suppressor 100 is shown. The view shown by FIG. 7 may be taken along line 352 shown by FIG. 3 . The view of FIG. 7 shows the interior 323 of the baffle body 320 and projectile passage 206. Further, as shown by FIG. 7 , the gas diversion opening 332 is shown formed by curved surface 344 and separated from the interior 323 of the baffle body 320 by wall 392. As shown, the baffle chambers of the baffle body 320 (e.g., baffle chamber 334) may have a rectangular cross-section. Each baffle chamber may be a parallelepiped extending between an upper surface 322 and lower surface 324 of the baffle body 320 and may be skewed in a direction along the central axis 150. For example, a lower edge 702 of each baffle chamber may extend in a radial direction of the central axis 150, and a side edge 700 of each baffle chamber (with the side edge 700 joined to the lower edge 702) may extend in a non-orthogonal direction to the central axis 150 (e.g., at an angle to the central axis 150 and not parallel or radial to the central axis 150). By shaping the baffle chambers in this way, the baffle chambers may further reduce the pressure of combustion gases flowing out of the suppressor 100 via the projectile exit 200 (shown by FIGS. 2-4 and described above). In some embodiments, the baffle chambers may have a different shape (e.g., a circular profile, asymmetric profile, etc.).
Referring to FIG. 8 , an exploded assembly view of the suppressor 100 is shown. In the view shown by FIG. 8 , the suppressor 100 is in a disassembled configuration in which insert 346 is removed from the outer housing 102. The insert 346 includes the gas-actuated valve 302 as described above and may be seated within the outer housing 102 along the central axis 150 (which may be referred to herein as an assembly axis). In some embodiments, the insert 346 may be seated within the outer housing 102 and overmolded by the outer housing 102. In other embodiments, the insert 346 and outer housing 102 may be formed together via an additive manufacturing process such as 3D printing, as described above. For example, the outer housing 102 may be pre-formed (e.g., manufactured prior to the manufacture of the insert 346) and the insert 346 may be 3D printed directly into the interior of the outer housing 102.
In an example operation of the suppressor 100, a projectile (e.g., projectile 300) is first fired into the suppressor 100, with the projectile traveling through each of the projectile opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 and the baffle body opening 328 toward the projectile exit 200. After the projectile has completely passed through at least the projectile opening 312, the gas-actuated valve 302 is pivoted by the combustion gases resulting from the firing of the projectile to close the baffle body opening 328 (e.g., cover the baffle body opening 328 with wall 309 of the gas-actuated valve 302). In this configuration, the projectile opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302 is arranged adjacent to the gas diversion opening 332 of the baffle body 320. As the pressure of the combustion gases within the suppressor 100 decreases, the gas-actuated valve 302 may return from the actuated position to the equilibrium position. By configuring the gas-actuated valve 302 to close the baffle body opening 328 after the projectile has passed completely through the projectile opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302, an efficiency of the suppressor 100 may be increased (e.g., a sound reduction of the suppressor 100 may be increased) without increasing the size (e.g., length and/or diameter) of the suppressor 100. As a result, a weight and/or cost of the suppressor may be reduced relative to conventional suppressors.
Although the gas-actuated valve 302 is described herein as being normally closed (e.g., closed during conditions in which a projectile is not fired through the suppressor 100) and configured to open responsive to propellant gases of a projectile coming into contact with the gas-actuated valve 302 after the projectile has passed completely through the opening 312 of the gas-actuated valve 302, in other embodiments the gas-actuated valve may be normally closed and configured to open responsive a pressure of gases against the gas-actuated valve before the projectile has entered the opening of the gas-actuated valve. For example, a projectile fired into the suppressor may increase a pressure of gases (e.g., air and/or propellant gases) within the suppressor, and while the projectile is within the suppressor and has not yet traveled through the gas-actuated valve, the increased pressure of gases within the suppressor may cause the gas-actuated valve to transition from the closed position to the opened position (e.g., the gas-actuated valve may transition to the opened position responsive to the gas pressure exceeding a threshold pressure). While the gas-actuated valve is in the opened position, the projectile may travel through the opening of the gas-actuated valve toward the projectile exit of the suppressor. After the projectile has traveled completely through the opening of the gas-actuated valve, the pressure of gases within the suppressor may decrease and the gas-actuated valve may transition from the opened position to the closed position responsive to the decreased gas pressure (e.g., the gas-actuated valve may transition to the closed position responsive to the gas pressure reducing below the threshold pressure). As a result, the gas-actuated valve may decrease the amount of gases flowing out of the suppressor (e.g., decrease the flow rate and/or pressure of gases flowing out of the suppressor), which may increase a noise reduction efficiency of the suppressor.
Referring to FIG. 9 , a perspective sectional view of another suppressor 900 including a gas-actuated valve 910 is shown. The suppressor 900 includes several components similar to those described above. For example, suppressor 900 includes rearward end 920, forward end 902, projectile entrance 918, projectile exit 904, baffle body 908, and baffle 906, similar to the rearward end 104, forward end 108, projectile entrance 112, projectile exit 200, baffle body 320, and baffle 335, respectively, described above. However, in the embodiment shown, the gas-actuated valve 910 is a reed valve. The gas-actuated valve 910 includes a first reed petal 912, a second reed petal 1106 (shown by FIG. 11 ), and an opening 914 arranged between the first reed petal 912 and the second reed petal 1106. During conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 910 is in a closed position, the first reed petal 912 and the second reed petal 1106 engage with each other to close the opening 914, and during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 910 is in an opened position, the first reed petal 912 and the second reed petal 1106 are spaced apart from each other such that a clearance is formed between the first reed petal 912 and the second reed petal 1106 (e.g., clearance 1200 shown by FIG. 12 ).
The opening 914 of the gas-actuated valve 910 is arranged along a central axis 916 of the suppressor 900. The suppressor 900 may be coupled to a firearm (e.g., firearm 160 shown by FIG. 1 and described above), and a projectile fired by the firearm through the suppressor 900 travels along the central axis 916.
In an example operation of the suppressor 900, the gas-actuated valve 910 may be configured to be in the opened position during conditions in which the pressure of gases within the suppressor 900 is approximately in equilibrium with atmospheric air pressure. However, responsive to a projectile being fired into the suppressor 900 by the firearm, propellant gases generated by the firearm may flow into the suppressor 900. After the projectile has passed completely through the opening 914, the propellant gases may accumulate within the suppressor 900 and may increase the gas pressure within the suppressor 900 between the baffle body 908 and the gas-actuated valve 910. The resulting increase to the gas pressure may urge the reed petals of the gas-actuated valve 910 toward each other such that the reed petals close the opening 914. As a result, the gas-actuated valve 910 decreases or eliminates gas flow in the direction through the opening 914 toward the rearward end 920, which may decrease an amount of noise and/or vibration of the suppressor 900 and/or firearm. As the gas pressure within the suppressor 900 decreases (e.g., as gases flow out of the suppressor 900 via the projectile exit 904), the gas-actuated valve 910 may return to the opened position (e.g., the reed petals may disengage from contact with each other such that the opening 914 is not covered).
In another example operation of the suppressor 900, the gas-actuated valve 910 may be configured to be in the closed position during conditions in which the pressure of gases within the suppressor is approximately in equilibrium with atmospheric air pressure. Responsive to a projectile being fired into the suppressor 900 by the firearm, propellant gases generated by the firearm may flow into the suppressor 900 and may increase the gas pressure upstream of the gas-actuated valve 910 prior to the projectile reaching the opening 914. The increased gas pressure may urge the reed petals of the gas-actuated valve 910 to move away from each other and uncover the opening 914. The projectile may pass through the opening 914 while the gas-actuated valve 910 is in the opened position, and a portion of the propellant gases may flow through the opening 914 toward the baffle body 908. After the projectile has passed completely through the opening 914, the propellant gases accumulated within the suppressor 900 between the opening 914 and the baffle body 908 may urge the reed petals of the gas-actuated valve 910 toward each other. As a result, the opening 914 may be closed such that the propellant gases do not flow through the opening 914 toward the projectile entrance 918. By decreasing or eliminating the flow of propellant gases through the opening 914 toward the projectile entrance 918, noise and/or vibration of the suppressor 900 and/or firearm may be reduced.
Referring to FIG. 10 , another suppressor 1000 is shown. The suppressor 1000 includes gas-actuated valve 910, similar to the suppressor 900 described above with reference to FIG. 9 . However, suppressor 1000 includes a plurality of baffles 1006 that extend across an entire diameter 1014 of an interior of the suppressor 1000. In the embodiment shown, the suppressor 1000 includes three baffles. However, in other embodiments, the suppressor 1000 may include a different number of baffles. Suppressor 1000 includes projectile entrance 1008 at rearward end 1012 arranged opposite to projectile exit 1004 at forward end 1002 along central axis 1010. The opening 914 of the gas-actuated valve 910 is additionally arranged along the central axis 1010.
Referring to FIG. 11 , a perspective view of the gas-actuated valve 910 is shown with the gas-actuated valve 910 removed from the suppressor. Axis 1100 extends through the opening 914 of the gas-actuated valve 910 (shown by FIGS. 9-10 ) and is arranged coaxial with the central axis of the suppressor (e.g., central axis 916 of suppressor 900, or central axis 1010 of suppressor 1000) during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 910 is arranged within the suppressor (with first end 1102 of the gas-actuated valve 910 arranged toward the rearward end of the suppressor and with second end 1104 of the gas-actuated valve 910 arranged toward the forward end of the suppressor). In the view shown by FIG. 11 , the gas-actuated valve 910 is in the closed position (e.g., the first reed petal 912 and second reed petal 1106 are engaged in face-sharing contact with each other such that the opening 914, shown by FIGS. 9-10 , is closed by the first reed petal 912 and second reed petal 1106).
Referring to FIG. 12 , another perspective view of the gas-actuated valve 910 is shown, with the gas-actuated valve 910 in the opened position. In this configuration, the first reed petal 912 and the second reed petal 1106 are spaced apart from each other by clearance 1200. The clearance 1200 may be sized such that a projectile fired by a firearm may pass through the clearance 1200 (e.g., toward the forward end of the suppressor during conditions in which the gas-actuated valve 910 is seated within the suppressor). In some embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 910 may be removable from the suppressor (e.g., for cleaning, maintenance, etc.). In other embodiments, the gas-actuated valve 910 may be formed integrally with the suppressor (e.g., via molding, via an additive manufacturing process such as 3D printing, etc.).
Referring FIG. 13 , a partial perspective view of another gas-actuated valve 1300 is shown in an opened position. The gas-actuated valve 1300 may be described as a leaf spring valve where the body of valve 1300 has a spring constant which operates the valve. In the opened position, an opening 1302 of the gas-actuated valve 1300 is aligned with opening 328 of baffle body 320. FIG. 14 shows the gas-actuated valve 1300 in a closed position, in which the gas-actuated valve 1300 covers the opening 328 of the baffle body 320. In the depicted embodiment, the spring constant of the valve body may maintain the valve in an open position in a normal state. The valve body may move to the closed position depicted in FIG. 14 after the firearm is discharged and a bullet has passed through opening 1302. After the bullet has passed through opening 1302, the pressure of the propellant gases may force the valve into the closed position blocking opening 328 of baffle body 320. In one embodiment, a suppressor comprises: an outer housing; a projectile entrance and a projectile exit; a gas-actuated valve extending from the projectile entrance toward the projectile exit within an interior of the outer housing; and a projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve arranged along a projectile path between the projectile entrance and the projectile exit. In a first example of the suppressor, the projectile entrance is formed in a first wall, with the gas-actuated valve joined to the first wall by a pivot. A second example of the suppressor optionally includes the first example, and further includes wherein the gas-actuated valve includes: a base section joined to the first wall; and an angled extension section joined to the base section and including the projectile opening. A third example of the suppressor optionally includes one or both of the first and second examples, and further includes wherein the base section includes a plurality of longitudinal notches extending between the pivot and the angled extension section. A fourth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through third examples, and further includes wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position, a midpoint of the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve is arranged along the projectile path. A fifth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through fourth examples, and further includes wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position, a midpoint of the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve is offset from the projectile path. A sixth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through fifth examples, and further includes wherein the gas-actuated valve is biased toward the non-actuated position by the pivot. A seventh example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through sixth examples, and further includes wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position, an angle between the base section and the angled extension section is between W degrees and X degrees, and while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position, the angle between the base section and the angled extension section is between Y degrees and Z degrees. An eighth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through seventh examples, and further includes a first valve stop shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position and a second valve stop shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position. A ninth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through eighth examples, and further includes wherein the gas-actuated valve is a single, unitary piece formed from a metal material.
In another embodiment, a suppressor comprises: an outer housing; a projectile entrance and a projectile exit; a gas-actuated valve and a baffle body extending toward each other within an interior of the outer housing, with a pivot of the gas-actuated valve fixed at the projectile entrance and with the baffle body fixed at the projectile exit; a baffle body projectile opening arranged opposite to the projectile exit; and wherein in an actuated position, the gas-actuated valve closes the baffle body projectile opening. In a first example of the suppressor, the suppressor further comprises: a valve projectile opening formed in the gas-actuated valve; and a gas diversion opening formed in the baffle body at an angle to a central axis of the suppressor and shaped to form a gas flow path with the valve projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve. A second example of the suppressor optionally includes the first example, and further includes wherein in an actuated position, the gas-actuated valve closes the baffle body projectile opening with the valve projectile opening arranged off-center to the baffle body projectile opening, and in a non-actuated position of the gas-actuated valve the valve projectile opening is coaxial with the baffle body projectile opening. A third example of the suppressor optionally includes one or both of the first and second examples, and further includes wherein a diameter of the gas diversion opening is equal to a diameter of the valve projectile opening. A fourth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through third examples, and further includes wherein the gas diversion opening is separated from an interior of the baffle body by a wall of the baffle body, and the interior of the baffle body is fluidly coupled to the interior of the suppressor by the baffle body projectile opening. A fifth example of the suppressor optionally includes one or more or each of the first through fourth examples, and further includes wherein the gas-actuated valve is a removable insert including the projectile entrance and shaped to seat within the outer housing.
In one embodiment, a method comprises: first, firing a projectile through each of a projectile opening of a gas-actuated valve of a suppressor and a baffle body opening of the suppressor toward a projectile exit of the suppressor; and then, closing the baffle body opening via the gas-actuated valve. In a first example of the method, the method includes wherein closing the baffle body opening includes pivoting the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening and covering the baffle body opening with a wall of the gas-actuated valve. A second example of the method optionally includes the first example, and further includes wherein pivoting the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening includes urging the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening via combustion gases generated by the firing of the projectile. A third example of the method optionally includes one or both of the first and second examples, and further includes: after closing the baffle body opening, urging the gas-actuated valve away from the baffle body opening and toward an equilibrium position via a stiffness of the gas-actuated valve.
It will be understood that the figures are provided solely for illustrative purposes and the embodiments depicted are not to be viewed in a limiting sense. It is further understood that the firearm sound suppressor described and illustrated herein represents only example embodiments. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and additions can be made to such firearm sound suppressor without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the firearm sound suppressor could be constructed from lightweight and durable materials not described.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and then proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding the plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present subject matter are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments, “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. The terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-language equivalents to the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including best mode, and also to enable a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods.
Unless otherwise described, the term approximately should be construed to define a range of 5% greater and less than the stated value. For example, a range of approximately 10% would define a range between 5-15%.
It will be appreciated that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.
It should be appreciated that while the suppressor may be unitary in its construction, and thus in a sense virtually all of its components could be said to be in contact with one another, the terms used herein are used to refer to a more proper understanding of the term that is not so broad as to mean simply that the various parts are connected or contacting through a circuitous route because a single unitary material forms the suppressor.

Claims

1. A suppressor, comprising:

an outer housing;

a projectile entrance and a projectile exit;

a gas-actuated valve extending from the projectile entrance toward the projectile exit within an interior of the outer housing; and

a projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve arranged along a projectile path between the projectile entrance and the projectile exit.

2. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein the gas-actuated valve is joined to a pivot.

3. The suppressor of claim 2, wherein the gas-actuated valve includes:

a base section joined to a first wall via the pivot; and

an angled extension section joined to the base section and including the projectile opening.

4. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein the gas-actuated valve is a reed valve or a spring operated valve which blocks a baffle opening.

5. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position, the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve is arranged along the projectile path.

6. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position, the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve is offset from the projectile path.

7. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein the gas-actuated valve is biased toward a non-actuated position by a pivot.

8. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position, an angle between a base section of the gas-actuated valve and an angled extension section of the gas-actuated valve is within a first angle range, and while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position, the angle between the base section and the angled extension section is within a second angle range.

9. The suppressor of claim 1, further comprising a first valve stop shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position and a second valve stop shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position.

10. The suppressor of claim 1, wherein the gas-actuated valve is a single, unitary piece formed from a metal material.

11. A suppressor, comprising:

an outer housing;

a projectile entrance and a projectile exit positioned on a projectile path;

a gas-actuated valve and a baffle body extending toward each other within an interior of the outer housing; and

a baffle body projectile opening arranged on the projectile path, and the baffle body projectile opening is blocked by the gas-actuated valve in an actuated position.

12. The suppressor of claim 11, wherein with the gas-actuated valve in the actuated position, the valve projectile opening is arranged off-center to the baffle body projectile opening, and with the gas-actuated valve in a non-actuated position, the valve projectile opening is on the projectile path.

13. The suppressor of claim 11, wherein a pivot of the gas-actuated valve is fixed at the projectile entrance and the baffle body is fixed at the projectile exit.

14. The suppressor of claim 11, wherein the gas-actuated valve is a removable insert including the projectile entrance and shaped to seat within the outer housing.

15. The suppressor of claim 11, further comprising:

a valve projectile opening formed in the gas-actuated valve; and

a gas diversion opening formed in the baffle body at an angle to a central axis of the suppressor and shaped to form a gas flow path with the valve projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve.

16. The suppressor of claim 15, wherein the gas diversion opening is separated from an interior of the baffle body by a wall of the baffle body, and the interior of the baffle body is fluidly coupled to the interior of the outer housing by the baffle body projectile opening.

17. A method, comprising:

first, firing a projectile through each of a projectile opening of a gas-actuated valve of a suppressor and a baffle body opening of the suppressor toward a projectile exit of the suppressor; and

then, closing the baffle body opening via the gas-actuated valve.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: after closing the baffle body opening, urging the gas-actuated valve away from the baffle body opening and toward an equilibrium position via a stiffness of the gas-actuated valve.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein closing the baffle body opening includes pivoting the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening and covering the baffle body opening with a wall of the gas-actuated valve.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein pivoting the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening includes urging the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening via combustion gases generated by the firing of the projectile.