Firearm Sound Suppressor Tapered Bore Muzzle Flash Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound suppressors for firearms face issues such as difficult disassembly due to adhesive deposits, premature failure under high rates of fire, and ineffective muzzle flash reduction, along with cumbersome and prone-to-failure mounting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flexible inner sleeve for easy baffle removal, a rear end flange for secure attachment, a blast deflector to manage radial pressures, and a tapered bore to reduce muzzle flash, along with a slot-and-tab mechanism for improved mounting and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suppressor uses a rigid internal structure with threaded joints for secure attachment, then the mounting reliability is improved, but the ease of disassembly deteriorates due to adhesive deposits and torque-induced separation
Solution Approach 1:
The internal structure is divided into separable components: a housing and a removable inner assembly containing baffles and a flexible diaphragm. This segmentation allows the inner assembly to be easily extracted for cleaning while maintaining secure mounting during operation through the threaded joint between housing and inner assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible diaphragm is introduced between the baffles and housing, allowing dynamic movement and expansion during operation while maintaining sealing. This flexibility prevents adhesive deposits from causing disassembly issues and enables easy removal of the inner assembly for cleaning without damaging threaded joints.
2Reliability
If the suppressor is designed to withstand high radial pressures and temperatures, then the durability under sustained fire is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional protective structures
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible diaphragm is used to contain and direct radial pressures and temperatures within the inner assembly, protecting the housing from direct exposure to extreme conditions. This single flexible element provides the necessary protection without requiring complex multi-layer protective structures or additional sealing mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If the suppressor uses conventional end caps with threaded joints for attachment, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in removal and potential separation
Solution Approach 1:
The suppressor is segmented into a housing and a removable inner assembly that can be easily separated for cleaning. The inner assembly includes all functional components (baffles, diaphragm, mounting mechanism) and can be extracted as a single unit, simplifying the removal process while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standard threaded joints.
4Ease of repair
If the suppressor interior surfaces are made smooth and non-porous to prevent deposit adhesion, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but the sound suppression effectiveness deteriorates due to reduced gas flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible diaphragm creates a movable barrier that can be easily removed with the inner assembly for cleaning. The diaphragm material and its flexible nature allow it to be smoothly extracted without adhering to combustion deposits, enabling easy cleaning while maintaining the smooth interior surfaces necessary for effective sound suppression and gas flow control during operation.
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
Enables easier maintenance, enhanced durability under sustained fire, reduced muzzle flash, and improved mounting reliability, addressing the limitations of existing suppressor technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a longitudinal split extending through the sidewall and between front and rear ends of the inner sleeve to permit the sidewall to flex to permit removal of the baffle from the inner sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a bore extending through the end plate and comprising a tapered portion that opens toward a front surface of the end plate... reducing the size of a first muzzle flash caused by a firing of a first round
Implementation Method 3
a blast deflector disposed between the vents and the interior surface of the housing, wherein the blast deflector is adapted to prevent the combustion gases from impinging directly on the interior surface of the housing
Implementation Method 4
These chambers serve to control, delay, and divert the flow, expansion, and exiting of the propellant gases, and also to reduce their temperature
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a firearm sound suppressor includes a housing and an end plate disposed at a front end of the housing and comprising a bore extending therethrough. The bore includes a tapered portion that opens toward a front surface of the end plate. The tapered portion has an included angle in a range of approximately 10 degrees to approximately 25 degrees. The bore is adapted to pass a first round and first associated gases to reduce a size of a first muzzle flash caused by a firing of the first round by a firearm when the firearm sound suppressor is substantially at thermal equilibrium with a surrounding environment. Other embodiments are also contemplated.