Firearm Suppressor Self-Torquing Design for Secure Muzzle Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Firearms generate peak sound pressure levels and audible signatures that pose hearing damage risks and operational detection threats, necessitating suppressors that reduce noise and secure the muzzle-suppressor interface.
Innovation Solution
A suppressor with a self-torquing feature that utilizes gas flow to torque the suppressor onto the barrel, ensuring a secure and operable connection by generating a moment couple through discharge gas paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a suppressor is threaded onto a barrel, then the suppressor can be secured to the barrel, but the threaded connection may loosen under fire conditions due to thermal expansion and gas pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The suppressor incorporates a self-torquing feature that automatically tightens the threaded connection during firing. The gas flow and thermal expansion forces act on the suppressor to generate torque that drives the threading interface tighter, eliminating the need for external tightening mechanisms and ensuring connection security under fire conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The suppressor design utilizes thermal expansion parameter changes during firing. As the suppressor and barrel expand thermally, the self-torquing feature converts this expansion into tightening force on the threaded interface, maintaining connection security despite temperature-induced dimensional changes
2Reliability
If the suppressor is tightened securely, then the connection is stable, but excessive tightening may cause damage to the barrel or suppressor
Solution Approach 1:
The self-torquing feature incorporates a feedback mechanism where gas flow direction and pressure automatically regulate the tightening force. When the connection reaches optimal tightness, the gas flow dynamics change to reduce further tightening, preventing overtightening damage while ensuring secure connection
Solution Approach 2:
The suppressor's self-torquing feature automatically controls the tightening process through internal gas flow dynamics, eliminating the need for external torque control mechanisms and preventing both under-tightening and overtightening through self-regulating feedback
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 audible signatures and maintains a secure connection, preventing overtightening and enhancing operational performance and reliability under extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The self-torquing feature(s) may be configured and dimensioned to define one or more flow path(s) for firearm discharge gasses exiting the muzzle
Implementation Method 2
The flow path(s) defined by the self-torquing feature(s) may generate a moment couple about the central axis of the suppressor
Implementation Method 3
The torque or force of moment generated by the discharge gases transiting the device may be used to torque a threaded barrel-suppressor interface in a tightening direction
Data Source
AI summary
A suppressor for a firearm may include a core and a tube. The tube may be arranged around the core. The core may have a first longitudinal axis and include a first proximal end, a first distal, and a first end cap disposed adjacent to the first proximal end. The first end cap may include a proximal end wall and an opening for receiving a barrel of a firearm. The opening for receiving the barrel of the firearm may extend from the first proximal end to a first interior end wall. A bore may extend from the first interior end wall to the proximal end wall. The core may further include a first static vane spaced from the proximal end wall along the first longitudinal axis, and an array of baffles aligned with the bore, the array of baffles being arranged between the first static vane and the distal end.