Firearm Sound Suppressor Flash Hider with Segmented Arms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Firearm sound suppressors often produce a visible flash at the distal end due to secondary combustion when hot gases and products of combustion meet outside air, which is not effectively mitigated by existing designs.
Innovation Solution
A firearm sound suppressor with a core having a tortuous gas flow path and a flash hider at the distal end, featuring a plurality of arms and slots that facilitate cooling of exiting gases to reduce flashing, is integrated into the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sound suppressor is designed with conventional baffles and structure, then sound reduction is achieved, but flash visibility at the distal end remains significant due to secondary combustion of hot gases
Solution Approach 1:
The flash hider is divided into multiple segments including a collar, multiple arms extending from the collar, and multiple slots between the arms. This segmentation creates multiple cooling pathways and increases surface area for heat dissipation, effectively reducing flash visibility while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The flash hider extends in the axial dimension beyond the distal end wall, creating a three-dimensional structure that intercepts hot gases exiting the suppressor. The arms and slots create additional spatial dimensions for gas flow manipulation and cooling, addressing the flash problem in a new dimensional space
2Ease of manufacture
If the suppressor structure is simplified, then manufacturing ease improves, but the ability to cool exiting gases and reduce flashing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flash hider is merged with the distal end wall and core structure, forming an integrated assembly where the collar, arms, and slots are part of the core structure. This merging simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate components while maintaining the complex geometry needed for effective gas cooling and flash reduction
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 effectively reduces sound emission and minimizes flash visibility by reducing the pressure and velocity of propellant gases and cooling the hot gases exiting the suppressor, enhancing operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
a core (14) in the housing having a projectile passage (11) through which a projectile can pass along a projectile axis. The core includes a frame and a plurality of baffles defining a tortuous gas flow path through the core
Implementation Method 2
A flash hider is supported by the distal end wall and extending distally from the distal end wall... The flash hider has a length extending parallel to the projectile axis from the distal end wall to a distal end of the flash hider
Data Source
AI summary
A firearm sound suppressor and associated methods. The sound suppressor includes a distal end wall and a flash hider on the distal end wall for reducing flash at an outlet of the suppressor. The sound suppressor can include a core including gas baffling integrally formed with the distal end wall and the flash hider. The flash hider can include a plurality of arms having slots therebetween and extending distally away from the distal end wall.