Flash Suppression System With Conical Gas Trapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior flash suppressors are not easily removable, cleanable, or reassemblable, and they do not enhance the autoloading capabilities of gas-operated firearms, particularly those with short barrels, which limits their effectiveness in night combat and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A flash suppression system with a central bore and conical feature that generates increased backpressure by trapping and slowly releasing expanding gases, featuring a snap ring mechanism for easy disassembly and reassembly, and a design that aids in maintaining high pressure for reliable operation of short-barreled firearms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional flash suppressors are used to reduce muzzle flash, then the visible signature of burning gases is reduced, but the device is not easily removable, cleaned, or reassembled
Solution Approach 1:
The flash suppressor is divided into multiple separable components including a suppressor body, forcing cone, and snap ring. This segmentation allows the components to be easily removed, cleaned, and reassembled while maintaining the flash suppression function through the coordinated action of these separate parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap ring provides a dynamic locking mechanism that allows the forcing cone to be securely attached during operation but easily removed for cleaning. The groove and snap ring combination creates a reversible connection that transitions between locked and unlocked states, enabling easy maintenance while maintaining structural integrity during use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional flash suppressors are used to divert incandescent gases, then the flash is reduced, but the autoloading capabilities of gas-operated firearms are not improved
Solution Approach 1:
The flash suppressor system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it diverts incandescent gases to reduce muzzle flash while also trapping expanding gases to generate backpressure that enhances the autoloading capability of gas-operated firearms. The forcing cone and suppressor body work together to achieve both flash suppression and improved reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical feature replicates the gas-trapping function of traditional long barrels by creating a controlled expansion chamber. This conical geometry mimics the gradual gas expansion that occurs in longer barrels, generating sufficient backpressure to reliably operate gas-operated firearms with short barrels while still providing flash suppression.
3Length of moving object
If short barrel firearms are used for modern assault rifles, then the weapon is more compact and versatile, but the propellant is not completely consumed resulting in muzzle flash
Solution Approach 1:
The flash suppressor system is nested onto the muzzle of the short-barreled firearm, creating an extended functional zone. The suppressor body contains the forcing cone, which in turn contains the gas expansion chamber. This nested arrangement allows the system to provide long-barrel-like gas trapping functionality while maintaining the compactness of the underlying short-barreled firearm.
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 system effectively reduces muzzle flash, enhances the reliability and controllability of gas-operated firearms by generating increased backpressure and allowing for easy maintenance, improving performance in night combat scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
Gas emitted from the muzzle end of the gun barrel may accumulate within the central bore of the body and exert back pressure on the gun bore
Implementation Method 2
Slots, tubes, and/or holes in the outside body of the flash suppressor divert the gases and reduce or eliminate the flash by rapidly cooling the gases as they leave the end of the barrel
Data Source
AI summary
A flash suppression system for increasing the reliability of an autoloading firearm has a body having a central bore including the front opening and a rear opening. The rear opening of the body terminates in a conical feature having a front opening and a rear opening. The central bore of the body receives the rear opening of a conical element. The rear opening of the conical element is positioned within the central bore of the body to create a gap between the front opening of the conical feature and the rear opening of the conical element. The front opening of the conical feature has a larger diameter than the rear opening of the conical element.