Firearm Suppressor Drain Hole for Safe Post-Submersion Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sonic signature suppressors on firearms can explode or cause erratic bullet trajectories when fired immediately after being removed from water due to water stabilization of the bullet, posing a safety risk to the shooter and others.
Innovation Solution
A sonic signature suppressor with a housing featuring a liquid discharge hole that allows rapid draining of water from the suppressor, either passively through gravity or actively with propellant gas, ensuring the suppressor is safe to fire within seconds of removal from water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sonic signature suppressor is used to suppress sound and flash, then the acoustic and visual impact of the muzzle report is reduced, but the suppressor can explode or cause erratic bullet trajectories when fired immediately after being removed from water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a drain hole that enables the suppressor to rapidly drain water before firing. The drain hole allows water to be discharged from the suppressor interior within seconds of removal from water, preventing the dangerous condition of firing a water-filled suppressor. This preliminary draining action eliminates the safety hazard while maintaining the sound suppression function.
2Reliability
If the suppressor drains water rapidly to ensure safety, then the suppressor can be fired safely within seconds, but the drain hole may allow water to escape during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drain hole controllable rather than permanently open. The drain hole can be selectively opened or closed based on operational conditions - closed during normal firing to maintain sound suppression, and opened when water drainage is needed. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to different operational states, preventing water leakage during normal use while enabling rapid drainage when necessary.
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 drains 50% to 60% of its volume in 1 to 6 seconds, ensuring safe firing by clearing the bullet's flight path and reducing the risk of explosion or trajectory instability.
Implementation Method 1
A sonic signature suppressor with a housing featuring a liquid discharge hole that allows rapid draining of water from the suppressor, either passively through gravity
Implementation Method 2
A sonic signature suppressor with a housing featuring a liquid discharge hole that allows rapid draining of water from the suppressor, either passively through gravity or actively with propellant gas
Data Source
AI summary
The examples herein relate to a sonic signature suppressor, also referred to as a silencer, for firearms, that has a housing with a bullet channel passing through it, and a drain hole formed at or near the weapon end of the housing, through which liquid can be drained from the suppressor, wherein, the drain hole connects the interior of the suppressor to the exterior. In some examples, liquid in the interior can be discharged through the drain hole to clear the bullet channel in order to safely fire a round within a few seconds.The examples herein also relate to the use of the sonic signature suppressor to remove liquid and to a firearm equipped with the sonic signature suppressor.