Firearm Silencer Shutter Mechanism for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional firearm silencers are heavy, large, imbalanced, and ineffective for short-barreled weapons, causing noise pollution and reducing projectile precision due to gas escape, with limited lifespan and high maintenance requirements.

Innovation Solution

A sound neutralizing device with a shutter mechanism that temporarily closes the barrel after projectile passage, redirecting combustion gases and sound waves to an expansion vessel for treatment, using an actuation unit driven by the projectile to operate the closure flaps and exhaust pipes for gas evacuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a classic silencer is used to reduce noise, then the muzzle wave is suppressed, but the device becomes heavy and large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The silencer is divided into multiple functional segments: a shutter mechanism that closes the barrel after projectile passage, expansion chambers for gas decompression, and exhaust ports for controlled gas release. This segmentation allows noise reduction without requiring a single large heavy structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shutter mechanism dynamically closes the barrel after the projectile passes, and the exhaust ports are strategically positioned to control gas flow timing. This dynamic operation allows the device to be more compact and lighter while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a classic silencer is used to reduce noise, then the muzzle wave is suppressed, but the device dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoiddevice length
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion chambers are nested within the barrel structure, with multiple chambers arranged concentrically or in series within a compact housing. This nesting allows sufficient expansion volume for noise reduction without increasing overall device length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the silencer length linearly, the expansion chambers utilize radial and axial space efficiently through multi-level stacking and concentric arrangement, reducing the overall length while maintaining expansion volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a classic silencer is used, then noise is reduced, but the weapon becomes imbalanced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoidweapon balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust ports and shutter mechanism are positioned asymmetrically to compensate for the natural weight distribution of the barrel and weapon. This asymmetric placement allows for better balance compared to traditional symmetric silencer designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a classic silencer is used, then noise is reduced, but gas escape reduces projectile precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoidprojectile precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter mechanism closes the barrel immediately after the projectile passes, preventing gas escape during the critical projectile flight phase. The exhaust ports are positioned and timed to release gas only after the projectile has cleared the silencer, maintaining precision while achieving noise reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

5Object-affected harmful factors

If a classic silencer is used, then noise is reduced, but the device has limited lifespan and high maintenance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoiddevice lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter mechanism and exhaust ports are designed as separate, easily removable components that can be extracted for cleaning and maintenance without disassembling the entire silencer. This modular extraction approach extends device lifespan and reduces maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 device effectively eliminates sound waves inside the barrel, reducing noise pollution and maintaining projectile precision, with a lighter weight and lower manufacturing costs, while allowing natural decay of sound waves outside the barrel.

Implementation Method 1

redirecting combustion gases and sound waves to an expansion vessel for treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas redirection:

Implementation Method 2

allowing natural decay of sound waves outside the barrel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave decay: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3504501B1Silencer device for firearm
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 BREVEX
  • EP3504501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3504501B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3504501B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a silencer device for a firearm, in particular for a rifle or another long or short firearm, and to a silencing method, said device comprising: a flap mechanism (10) comprising at least one closing flap (10) mounted transversely to the axis on the barrel (42) of the firearm in order to temporarily seal the barrel after ammunition has passed through and to prevent the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave towards the mouth of the barrel when a shot is fired; and an actuating unit (31,34,35) comprising a mobile part (31) arranged axially on the barrel of the firearm in order to move a control mechanism (6), where the mobile part (31) axially comprises an inner borehole for allowing ammunition to pass through, the control mechanism (6) includes at least one amplitude lever arm (8) pivotably mounted on a pivot (7) attached to the barrel, and each amplitude lever arm (8) is respectively coupled to a closing flap (10), the mobile actuating unit (31,34,35) cooperating with the control mechanism (6) to allow a transverse movement of said at least one closing flap (10) between an open position in which the flap mechanism (10) allows ammunition to pass towards the mouth of the barrel (42) and a closed position preventing the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave after the ammunition has passed through; and an exhaust unit (11, 21-27) including at least one exhaust pipe (11, 21) arranged on the barrel upstream from the closing flap mechanism (10) in order to redirect the combustion gases and the sound wave and allow them to leave the barrel.