Sound suppressor for firearms

Abstract

The present invention relates to a firearm sound suppressor. The suppressor includes a tubular housing (1) with a longitudinal axis defining a path (5) for a projectile, an outlet (3) for a projectile and an inlet (2) configured for attachment to a muzzle. A plurality of conical baffles (8), each with a wide end facing the outlet (3) and extending from an inside of the tubular housing (1) and to an open end (7) face the inlet (2) and is configured for the passing of a projectile at an apex. A plurality of longitudinal baffles (6) is twisted around the longitudinal axis. Each longitudinal baffle (6) includes an inner edge (15) facing the path for a projectile and an outer edge (16) facing the inside of the tubular housing (1). The longitudinal baffles (6) pass at least two of the plurality of conical baffles. A plurality of swirl chambers (12) are formed between the conical baffles (8).

Description

[0001] Sound suppressor for firearms

[0002] The present invention relates to sound suppressors or silencers for firearms. The suppressor includes an internal structure that results in substantially better performance in terms of sound suppression and reduction of recoil compared to traditional suppressors while low weight and normal dimensions are maintained. Furthermore, the performance of the suppressor is improved compared to traditional suppressors for the first shot after a time at rest, when the suppressor is filled with air. The present invention provides a suppressor with improved sound suppression and recoil reduction. In particular, the invention relates to such a suppressor 3D-printed in one part, something that contributes to increased strength and safety while reducing the need for maintenance. Reduced recoil results in reduced muzzle flip and more accurate shots.

[0003] Extensive testing of the present invention has been performed and the recoil has been found to be sufficiently low to allow a marksman to follow the trajectory and to see the point of impact. Reduced sound and recoil improve the HSE for users.

[0004] Sound suppressors or silencers for firearms are well known and are found in many variations, both as traditional assembled suppressors that may be disassembled, and 3D-printed suppressors manufactured in one piece. Some variants of known suppressors include a row of internal conical baffles with an opening for the projectile at the apex.

[0005] Prior art suppressors are known to work well, but shots performed when the suppressor is filled with air have a tendency to cause a detonation of unburnt gases inside the suppressor, thus reducing its efficiency before the suppressor is filled with incombustible gasses.

[0006] The present invention thus includes a firearm sound suppressor. The suppressor includes a tubular housing with a longitudinal axis defining a path for a projectile, an outlet for a projectile and an inlet configured for attachment to a muzzle. A plurality of conical baffles, each with a wide end facing the outlet and extending from an inside of the tubular housing and to an open end facing the inlet, are configured for the passing of a projectile at an apex. A plurality of longitudinal baffles is twisted around the longitudinal axis. Each longitudinal baffle includes an inner edge facing the path for a projectile and an outer edge facing the inside of the tubular housing. The longitudinal baffles pass at least two of the plurality of conical baffles. A plurality of swirl chambers is formed between the conical baffles.

[0007] Each of the longitudinal baffles may have a curved cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0008] Each of the conical baffles may have a cone angle a in a range between 45° and 70° in relation to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0009] There may be three or more conical baffles, typically six.

[0010] The longitudinal baffles may extend from a first conical baffle at an inlet side to a last conical baffle at an outlet side.

[0011] The continuous, twisted, longitudinal baffles may extend from a longitudinal baffle end in an intermediate chamber between a muzzle attachment portion and a first of the plurality of conical baffles, and to an outlet chamber between a last of the plurality of conical baffles and an outlet chamber forward wall.

[0012] The firearm sound suppressor may furthermore include outlet chamber longitudinal baffles in the outlet chamber, fixed to the outlet chamber forward wall.

[0013] The outlet chamber longitudinal baffles in the outlet chamber, fixed to the outlet chamber forward wall, may be separate from the continuous twisted, longitudinal baffles extending from the longitudinal baffle end in the intermediate chamber and to the outlet chamber.

[0014] The firearm sound suppressor may be formed in one part as one 3D-printed element. Short description of the enclosed figures:

[0015] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm sound suppressor of the invention;

[0016] Fig. 2 is an end view of the suppressor of fig. 1 ;

[0017] Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the suppressor of figs. 1 and 2, along the central longitudinal axis;

[0018] Fig. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of fig. 1 , in perspective view, showing further details of the invention; and

[0019] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of twisted, longitudinal baffles, conical baffles and an outlet chamber forward wall.

[0020] Detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the enclosed figures:

[0021] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm sound suppressor or silencer of the invention. The suppressor is 3D-printed in titanium and includes a tubular housing 1 with a honeycomb pattern on the exterior forming honeycomb reinforcements 4. The suppressor includes an inlet 2 for attachment to the muzzle of a firearm and an outlet 3 for a projectile. The firearm is typically a rifle or a handgun. The Honeycomb reinforcements 4 lowers the weight of the suppressor while maintaining sufficient strength both in terms of ability to withstand the internal pressures and to withstand reasonable external loads from handling and abuse.

[0022] Fig. 2 is an end view of the suppressor of fig. 1 with the tubular housing 1 , showing the inlet 2. A path 5 for a projectile is located at a central longitudinal axis of the housing, and open ends 7 of conical baffles form outer edges of the path 5. Six twisted longitudinal baffles 6 extend from the path 5 and towards an inner wall of the housing 1 . The twisted longitudinal baffles 6 have a curved cross-section when considered in a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the suppressor of figs. 1 and 2, along a plane defined by the central longitudinal axis. The tubular housing 1 encapsulate an inner structure that includes an inlet end 2 with a tubular inlet chamber wall 22 extending between an inlet side wall and a ported conical reinforcement 10. The ported conical reinforcement 10 is formed as a truncated cone extending between the inner wall of the tubular housing 1 and the end of the tubular inlet chamber wall 22. A wide end of the truncated cone faces the outlet 3 for a projectile. An annular expansion chamber 9 is formed between the inner wall of the tubular housing 1 and the tubular inlet chamber wall 22, between the inlet side of the housing and the ported conical reinforcement 10.

[0024] A full diameter intermediate chamber 24, i. e. a chamber with an outer diameter defined by the inner diameter of the tubular housing 1 , is defined between the ported conical reinforcement 10 and a first of a series of conical baffles 8.

[0025] Each conical baffle 8 is truncated and includes an open end 7 for a projectile at an apex facing the inlet 2, and an outer diameter forming a housing-baffle transition with the inner wall of the tubular housing 1 . The diameter of the open end 7 of each conical baffle 8 is slightly larger than a diameter of a projectile, typically 1- 2mm larger to accommodate for inaccuracies in the assembly with a muzzle. This diameter may increase towards the outlet 3 for the projectile. The conical baffles include a continuous wall without any ports or openings between the outer diameter and the open end 7 at the apex. The shown embodiment includes six conical baffles 8.

[0026] The conical baffles 8 have a cone angle a of 60° and must be in a range between 45° og 70° in relation to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A ratio of the distance between the conical baffles over the diameter of the baffles and the inner diameter of the housing is shown as 0,3 and should be in the range 0,2 to 0,7. This design of the baffles results in effective flow conditions reducing sound, noise and recoil.

[0027] A series of twisted and curved longitudinal baffles 6 extend along and twist around the path 5 for a projectile. The shown embodiment includes six curved longitudinal baffles 6. Five swirl chambers 12 are formed between the conical baffles 8 and are delimited by the inner wall of the tubular housing 1 and the path 5 for the projectile.

[0028] An outlet chamber 11 is located between a last of the series of conical baffles 8 and an end wall of the housing with the outlet 3 for the projectile. A further swirl chamber is formed in the outlet chamber 11 .

[0029] Fig. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of fig. 1 , in perspective view, showing further details of the invention.

[0030] The full diameter intermediate chamber 24 includes both longitudinal and peripheral internal reinforcements to provide strength in the inlet and center part of the suppressor while the strength is reduced towards the outlet for the projectile to ensure that any rupture of the suppressor happens in a direction away from a user for added safety. The reinforcements provide strength while maintaining low weight.

[0031] Each of the six, twisted, longitudinal baffles 6 includes an inner baffle edge 15 facing the path for the projectile and an outer baffle edge 16 facing the inner wall of the tubular housing. Outer volumes forming the swirl chambers 12 are thus defined between the inner wall of the tubular housing 1 and the outer baffle edges 16.

[0032] The housing-baffle transition 19 integrates the outer perimeter of each conical baffle 8 with the tubular housing 1 . The longitudinal baffle and conical baffle transition 20 integrates the baffles.

[0033] The outlet chamber 11 includes an outlet chamber forward wall 17 with outlet chamber longitudinal baffles 18 configured to provide a swirling of the gasses in the outlet chamber 11 before the gasses are expelled from the outlet 3 for the projectile. The separation of the outlet chamber longitudinal baffles 18 from the other longitudinal baffles 6 allows the outlet chamber forward wall 17 to rupture and pop off in the event of an off-design pressure surge in the suppressor to prevent rupture of the suppressor in a direction of the inlet and thus the operator of the firearm. The design is thus made to optimize safety for a user.

[0034] A muzzle attachment portion 25, typically with threads (not shown) is located adjacent the ported conical reinforcement 10 at the end of the tubular inlet chamber wall 22.

[0035] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the twisted, longitudinal baffles 6, the conical baffles 8, and the outlet chamber forward wall 17. The remaining elements of the suppressor are removed for clarity. The continuous, twisted, longitudinal baffles 6 from the longitudinal baffle end 14 in the intermediate chamber and to the outlet chamber 11 ensure that the gases are mixed effectively with the atmosphere inside the suppressor. This rotation contributes both to a first shot noise reduction that is almost as effective as the noise reduction of the following shots, to ensure that the suppressor is stably fixed to the muzzle and to reduce the risk that the suppressor is unfastened.

[0036] The transitions 20 between the longitudinal baffles 6 and the conical baffles 8, makes the flow pattern in the suppressor favorable and the swirl in the swirl chambers 12 smooth and effective. The transitions also provide a stiff and rigid structure. The distance between the outer baffle edge 16 and the housing-baffle transition 19 forms the outer gap 23, allowing the gasses inside the swirl chambers 12 to rotate along the inner periphery of the housing.

[0037]

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A firearm sound suppressor comprising: a tubular housing (1 ) with a longitudinal axis defining a path (5) for a projectile, an outlet (3) for a projectile and an inlet (2) configured for attachment to a muzzle; a plurality of conical baffles (8), each with a wide end facing the outlet (3) and extending from an inside of the tubular housing (1 ) and to an open end (7) facing the inlet (2), configured for the passing of a projectile at an apex; a plurality of longitudinal baffles (6) twisted around the longitudinal axis, wherein each longitudinal baffle (6) includes an inner edge (15) facing the path for a projectile and an outer edge (16) facing the inside of the tubular housing (1 ), and wherein the longitudinal baffles (6) pass at least two of the plurality of conical baffles (8); and a plurality of swirl chambers (12) between the conical baffles (8).

2. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 1 , wherein each of the longitudinal baffles (6) have a curved cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

3. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the conical baffles (8) have a cone angle a in a range between 45° and 70° in relation to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

4. The firearm sound suppressor of one of the claims 1 to 3, including three or more conical baffles (8).

5. The firearm sound suppressor of one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the longitudinal baffles (6) extend from a first conical baffle (8) at an inlet side to a last conical baffle (8) at an outlet side.

6. The firearm sound suppressor of one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the continuous, twisted, longitudinal baffles (6) extend from a longitudinal baffle end (14) in an intermediate chamber (24) between a muzzle attachment portion (25) and a first of the plurality of conical baffles (8), and to an outlet chamber (11 )between a last of the plurality of conical baffles (8) and an outlet chamber forward wall (17).

7. The firearm sound suppressor of one of the claims 1 to 6, furthermore including outlet chamber longitudinal baffles (18) in the outlet chamber (11 ), fixed to the outlet chamber forward wall (17).

8. The firearm sound suppressor of one of claim 7, wherein the outlet chamber longitudinal baffles (18) in the outlet chamber (11 ), fixed to the outlet chamber forward wall (17) are separate from the continuous twisted, longitudinal baffles (6) extending from the longitudinal baffle end (14) in the intermediate chamber (24) and to the outlet chamber (11 ).

9. The firearm sound suppressor of any of the preceding claims, formed in one part as one 3D-printed element.

Images