Muzzle Brake Dual Compression Cones Blast Overpressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional muzzle brakes reduce recoil energy but increase blast overpressure, causing hearing damage and other injuries to the gun crew, necessitating a design that minimizes blast overpressure while maintaining or improving recoil efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A muzzle brake design featuring a body with two compression cones and two baffle sections, where the first compression cone has a larger inlet and outlet area than the second, and the outlet ports are designed to direct gas flow forward, reducing recoil forces and blast overpressure by venting more gas forwards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If more gas is diverted by the muzzle brake, then recoil efficiency is improved, but blast overpressure increases causing hearing damage and injuries to the gun crew

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecoil efficiencyVSAvoidblast overpressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The muzzle brake is divided into multiple independent baffle sections (first baffle, second baffle, third baffle) that segment the gas flow path. Each baffle handles a portion of the gas diversion, allowing the system to achieve high recoil efficiency while distributing and reducing the concentrated blast overpressure that would otherwise be directed at the crew.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a longitudinal dimension to gas flow management by creating separate flow paths (first flow path, second flow path, third flow path) that extend along the longitudinal axis. This multi-dimensional approach allows gas to be diverted in multiple directions rather than a single concentrated path, reducing blast overpressure while maintaining recoil efficiency.

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

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional muzzle brake design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but blast overpressure causes hearing damage and other injuries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidblast overpressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The complex function of reducing both recoil and blast overpressure is achieved through segmentation into multiple simple baffle sections rather than a single complex structure. Each baffle is a relatively simple component that can be manufactured independently, making the overall complex function achievable through assembly of simpler parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If greater volume of gas is diverted, then recoil efficiency increases, but the power of blast overpressure reaching the crew increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of gas divertedVSAvoidblast overpressure power
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The large volume of diverted gas is segmented into multiple separate flow paths handled by different baffle sections. This segmentation allows the system to work with greater total gas volume for improved recoil efficiency while distributing the gas flow to reduce the concentrated power of blast overpressure at any single location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses multiple longitudinal flow paths to distribute the diverted gas volume across different spatial dimensions. This multi-dimensional distribution of gas flow allows handling of greater total gas volume while reducing the concentrated blast effect on the crew.

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

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 design achieves a 20% lower blast overpressure compared to conventional systems while maintaining or improving recoil efficiency, thereby reducing the risk of injury to the gun crew and minimizing structural shock loading.

Implementation Method 1

the second wall section (200), top plate (24), bottom plate (26) and first baffle (220) define a first compression cone (224). The third wall section (300), top plate (24) and bottom plate (26) and second baffle (320) defines a second compression cone (324)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

The divergent outlet nozzle (252) of the pair of first outlet ports (250) may extend a maximum distance from the longitudinal axis (32) of at least 110% but no more than 150% the maximum distance which the divergent outlet nozzle (352) of the pair of second outlet ports (350) extends from the longitudinal axis (32)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow redirection: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP3869143A1Muzzle brake
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 BAE SYSTEMS PLC
  • EP3869143A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3869143A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3869143A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A muzzle brake (20) for a gun tube (12) defining a bore (40) centred on a longitudinal axis (32). The muzzle brake (20) comprises a top plate (24) and a bottom plate (26). A first wall section (100), a second wall section (200) and a third wall section (300) extend from the top plate (24) to the bottom plate (26).The second wall section (200) extends from the first wall section (100) to a first baffle (220). The third wall section (300) extends from the second wall section (200) to a second baffle (320). The second wall section (200), top plate (24) and bottom plate (26) converge towards the longitudinal axis (32) and the first baffle (220), such that the second wall section (200), top plate (24), bottom plate (26) and first baffle (220) define a first compression cone (224). The third wall section (300), top plate (24) and bottom plate (26) converge towards the longitudinal axis (32) and the second baffle (320) such that the third wall section (300), top plate (24), bottom plate (26) and second baffle (320) defines a second compression cone (324).