Flash Suppressor with Truncated Conical Gas Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flash suppressors for firearms do not adequately reduce muzzle flash, particularly in low-light conditions, and often increase the firearm's length or complicate mounting and unmounting, with limited compatibility with blank firing attachments.

Innovation Solution

A flash suppressor with a cylindrical body featuring a longitudinal passage and apertures that cool propellant gases through a truncated conical portion, allowing for easy mounting and unmounting, and compatibility with blank firing attachments, while reducing muzzle flash and maintaining the firearm's aim.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional flash suppressors are used, then muzzle flash is reduced, but the firearm length increases and mounting becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemuzzle flash reductionVSAvoidfirearm length

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flash suppressor is divided into distinct functional segments: a mount portion with threading for attachment, a transition portion for gas flow management, an intermediate portion for structural connection, and a truncated conical portion for flash suppression. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device compact and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flash suppressor utilizes a truncated conical geometry that expands in the radial dimension rather than requiring excessive length. The conical portion with increasing diameter toward the exit end creates volume for flash suppression in a compact axial footprint, effectively using radial expansion to achieve flash reduction without proportionally increasing firearm length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional flash suppressors are used, then muzzle flash is reduced, but mounting and unmounting becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemuzzle flash reductionVSAvoidmounting and unmounting ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mount portion is designed with universal threading compatibility that allows the flash suppressor to be easily attached to and removed from the firearm muzzle. The standardized threading pattern enables tool-free or simple tool-assisted mounting and unmounting operations, making the device highly operational and adaptable for different firearm configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional flash suppressors are used, then muzzle flash is reduced, but compatibility with blank firing attachments is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemuzzle flash reductionVSAvoidcompatibility with blank firing attachments

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flash suppressor design incorporates a universal mounting interface and gas flow path configuration that is compatible with both standard ammunition and blank firing attachments. The passage geometry and aperture arrangement work effectively with the different gas dynamics produced by blank cartridges, allowing the same suppressor to function across multiple firing modes without requiring specialized variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Significantly reduces muzzle flash, prevents debris buildup, and maintains the firearm's aim without increasing its length, demonstrating improved performance over standard flash suppressors.

Implementation Method 1

a truncated conical portion (40) having a diameter that increases toward the exit end... to cool propellant gases as they exit the muzzle of a firearm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdiabatic cooling: Adiabatic Cooling

Implementation Method 2

The propellant gases often carry residual, unburned propellant powder, which may ignite when it mixes with the oxygen-rich ambient air. The resulting combustion produces a flash of light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS8342071B2Firearm flash suppressor

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 COLT CANADA IP HLDG PARTNERSHIP

AI summary

There is provided a flash suppressor for use with a firearm to attenuate muzzle flash. The flash suppressor can be used in conjunction with attachments, and provides mounting and alignment means therefore. In an embodiment, the flash suppressor comprises: a generally cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a muzzle end, and an exit end; a passage extending through the body and along the longitudinal axis; and a set of apertures. The passage includes: a mount portion for mounting the flash suppressor to the firearm muzzle; a transition portion; an intermediate portion; and a truncated conical portion having a diameter that increases toward the exit end. The transition portion joins the mount portion and the intermediate portion, and the intermediate portion joins the transition portion and the truncated conical portion. The apertures extend through the body of the flash suppressor and into the truncated conical portion, and channel propellant gases.