Dual-Spring Piston Suppressor for Tilting-Barrel Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suppressors for tilting barrel action firearms hinder the cycling of the action due to weight and leverage, leading to reliability issues, carbon fouling, misalignment, and premature spring failure, resulting in reduced accuracy and operational failures.
Innovation Solution
A suppressor design featuring a piston element that reciprocates between rest and recoil positions, with dual springs for controlled movement, self-centering, and self-cleaning capabilities, eliminating the need for a cage and reducing alignment path, thereby maintaining bore alignment and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a suppressor is mounted to a tilting barrel action firearm, then the suppressor provides noise reduction, but the weight and leverage of the suppressor hinder the cycling of the action
Solution Approach 1:
The suppressor system is segmented into a suppressor assembly and a separate decoupler assembly. The decoupler acts as an intermediary that disconnects the suppressor from the firearm during cycling, allowing the action to tilt and cycle freely while maintaining suppressor attachment. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by isolating the weight and leverage effects during critical cycling moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupler employs dynamic elements including a spring-loaded piston and movable cage that allow the suppressor to transition between coupled and decoupled states. During firing, the decoupler dynamically adjusts to permit barrel tilting and action cycling, then re-establishes connection for noise suppression. This dynamic behavior resolves the static contradiction between suppressor attachment and action cycling.
2Reliability
If existing decouplers are used, then the suppressor can be disconnected during cycling, but the decoupler is prone to carbon build up and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The piston element is extracted from the traditional cage-based decoupler design and repositioned to locate directly on the suppressor bore. This extraction removes the piston from the carbon-fouling environment while maintaining its decoupling function. The piston now operates in a cleaner environment, reducing carbon buildup and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the piston located within a cage as in traditional designs, the invention inverts the arrangement by having the suppressor bore locate the piston element directly. This inversion places the piston in a more favorable location that is less susceptible to carbon fouling, thereby improving reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing decouplers are used with various firearms and cartridges, then the decoupling mechanism can adapt to different platforms, but the mechanism is prone to bottoming out abruptly causing energy transfer and firearm movement
Solution Approach 1:
A second spring is introduced that operates in conjunction with the main spring to provide progressive cushioning. The second spring engages when the main spring is nearly fully collapsed, preventing abrupt bottoming out. This beforehand cushioning absorbs the remaining energy gradually, reducing sharp force transfers to the firearm and improving accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-spring system changes the mechanical parameters of the decoupling mechanism by introducing a second spring constant. This modifies the force-displacement characteristics, creating a more gradual energy absorption profile that prevents abrupt bottoming out while maintaining adaptability across different firearms and cartridges.
4Reliability
If the main spring is fully collapsed during decoupling, then the decoupling mechanism can fully disengage, but the main spring experiences premature wear leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The second spring is positioned to engage before the main spring reaches full collapse. It provides a cushioning effect that prevents the main spring from bottoming out completely, thereby extending the main spring's service life while still allowing full decoupling functionality. The second spring absorbs the final portion of the energy that would otherwise cause premature main spring failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The second spring acts as an intermediary between the main spring and the hard stop. It mediates the energy transfer and prevents direct contact between the main spring and the stop, reducing wear on the main spring while maintaining the decoupling function. This intermediary element extends the operational life of the main spring.
5Reliability
If prior art decoupler designs are used, then the suppressor can be mounted, but the designs are very susceptible to misalignment and failure to decouple
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional alignment approach by having the suppressor bore locate the piston element, rather than having the piston locate within a cage. This inversion simplifies the alignment requirements and reduces susceptibility to misalignment, improving both manufacturing precision and decoupling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex cage structure is extracted and replaced with a simpler piston element that locates directly on the suppressor bore. This extraction eliminates the multiple alignment interfaces required in cage-based designs, reducing the susceptibility to misalignment and improving manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The suppressor enables normal cycling of tilting barrel action firearms, enhances reliability, reduces carbon fouling, and extends operational time between maintenance, while maintaining accuracy and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a spring interfacing the piston element and the body and operable to bias the piston element to the rest position
Implementation Method 2
a second spring operable to interface the body and the piston element only when the piston element is in a range of positions proximate the recoil position
Data Source
AI summary
A suppressor for a firearm has a body defining an internal volume, a baffle in the body and defining a baffle aperture on a bore axis, a piston element including a mount facility configured for connection to the barrel, the piston element defining a piston bore registered with the bore axis, and the piston element operable to reciprocate with respect to the body along the bore axis between a rest position in which the piston element contacts the baffle and a recoil position in which the piston element is away from the baffle. There may be a spring interfacing the piston element and the body and be operable to bias the piston element to the rest position. There may be a second spring operable to interface the body and the piston element only when the piston element is in a range of positions proximate the recoil position.