Flash suppressor

Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a flash suppressor comprising at least one gas channel where a portion of the gases exhausted from a barrel when a projectile is emitted is directed into the at least one gas channel, where the at least one gas channel has a channel axis that is at a non-zero angle with respect to a bore axis, and where the at least one gas channel directs a gas portion to an ambient environment surrounding the flash suppressor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61 / 377,979 filed 29 Aug. 2010. The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention is relates to rifle technology, and more particularly to a device that suppresses muzzle flash.BACKGROUND[0003]The basic enabler of firearms is the generation of gas behind a projectile, propelling the projectile down a rifled barrel. Modern firearms uses a cartridge, which is essentially is a load of smokeless powder placed into a casing (typically brass or steel), or shell, where the projectile is seated in a friction fit at the open end of the casing. Contained within the casing is the smokeless powder. The primer does not come out of the casing during the firing of the cartridge.[0004]In modern firearms, when the firing pin of the firearm strikes the cartridge's primer, the primer ignites the smokeless powd...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent text describes a flash suppressor that reduces the flash caused by the exhaust of a barrel. The flash suppressor has three gas regions enclosed by solid portions, with a bore region in between them. The gas channels pass through a fourth solid portion and are angled with respect to the bore axis. The flash suppressor directs the gases from the barrel along a first path and the projectile along a second path, which reduces the time for the gases to travel and the flash caused by the exhaust. The technical effect of this invention is to suppress the flash caused by the exhaust of a barrel and improve the accuracy of the projectile."

Problems solved by technology

In modern firearms, when the firing pin of the firearm strikes the cartridge's primer, the primer ignites the smokeless powder within the shell, causing a rapid pressure increase, which causes the projectile to dislodge from the shell's open end, driving the projectile down the barrel of the firearm and out the end of the muzzle toward its target.

However for rapid fire rifles, the barrel does not have sufficient time to cool between shots.

One problem resulting from this combination of high pressure and temperature is an increase in the wear of the barrel, and as a result, reduced barrel life.

This problem is exacerbated with higher pressure cartridges.

In addition to muzzle flash, another problem is the recoil of the high-pressure, heavy bullet systems in use today.

Recoils are not only sometimes uncomfortable or even damaging to the shooter, but greatly affect accuracy, target reacquisition, and sight realignment between shots.

In addition to muzzle flash, a very loud sound is created upon shooting, the loudness of which can make the shooter flinch prior to a shot, in anticipation of the loud, harmful sound, causing a decrease in the marksmanship of the shooter.

In such cases, noise and debris is directed toward the shooter's face.

Problems with this scenario are also obvious, not the least of which is increased potential for damage to the shooter's, or nearby person's, eardrums, and pronounced shooter's flinch resulting in a further degradation of marksmanship.

The propellant immediately slows down in the air, causing drag on the projectile.

More significantly, in the case of a firearm with a rifled barrel, the propellant exerts a force that makes the spinning projectile wobble or “yaw”, thereby causing the projectile to take longer to stabilize and decreasing the accuracy of the firearm.

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