Noise suppressor

A device for suppressing noise from a firearm. In one aspect, the suppressor has an elongate body that defines a bullet pathway extending longitudinally therethrough. The elongate body may define a plurality of adjacent chambers spaced along its longitudinal axis. The suppressor may also have at least two elongate body shells configured to selectively substantially envelop the elongate body and substantially enclose each of the adjacent chambers. The body shells of the suppressor are designed to be easily removed to clean the chambers of the suppressor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a sound suppressor or silencer for a firearm. More particularly, the invention relates to a firearm sound suppressor which influences the expanding gases associated with the discharge of a projectile from the muzzle of a firearm in a specific fashion to abate the noise otherwise associated with the firing of the firearm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Firearm silencers are well known in the art of weaponry, and a variety of constructions have been proposed for minimizing the noise associated with expanding gases at the firing of a weapon. One type of silencer construction can be found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 1,111,202 to W. E. Westfall. Westfall proposes a casing accommodating a plurality of removable funnel-shaped baffle members arranged so that their smaller openings are directed toward the muzzle of the gun muzzle. Outwardly curving faces of the baffle members are purported to act as deflecting surfaces for the exhausting gases. An alternate form of baffle member in a silencer can be found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 1,482,805 to H. P. Maxim. Maxim uses a similar series of baffle members faced along a cylindrical casing. However, the disc-like portion of each baffle member is constructed of sheet metal having its center hole deformed by offsetting the opposite edges so that the plane of the aperture is inclined to the axis of the casing. With this arrangement, upon firing the gun to which the silencer is attached, the combustion gases are deflected by the deformed portion of the disc-like member and are directed from one chamber to the succeeding one at an angle to the passage for the projectile.

In the Waiser U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,610, a series of conical-shaped baffle members are arranged in a manner similar to that described in connection with the Westfall patent. Waiser adds an additional dimension in causing the discharged gases to decrease their energy level by providing a plurality of small holes in a partition member, with the axes of the holes being at an angle with respect to the axis of the silencer. This causes the gases passing therethrough to be directed into the mainstream of gases passing through the main aperture in the center of the silencer device. According to Waiser, the discharged gases are thus separated into a mainstream and into many auxiliary streams with the axes of the auxiliary streams crossing with the axis of the mainstream, resulting in a dispersion of the discharged gases and a decrease of their energy. While the auxiliary streams of the Waiser device are directed into the mainstream of the discharged gases, some of them are angled to direct their discharged gases into the aperture of the downstream baffle member. Accordingly, the gases passing through the auxiliary apertures do not divert the gases away from the opening of the downstream baffle member, in spite of the fact that such auxiliary streams do intersect the axis of the mainstream. Moreover, even in those embodiments which do not direct the auxiliary streams into the opening of the succeeding baffle member, only the partition member is provided with such auxiliary apertures, and the series of baffle members of the Waiser device are devoid of any auxiliary apertures.

The prior art silencers comprise a tubular sleeve that slides over the body of the silencer that contains the series of baffles. The tubular sleeve is configured to enclose the baffles and the chambers between the baffles. In use, the gases that are discharged are dispersed within the silencer. At the same time, lead and carbon deposits are also dispersed within the silencer and, as a result, build up within the silencer shot after shot. After several uses, it generally becomes necessary to clean the lead and carbon build-up from the silencer. In order to clean the lead and carbon build-up in prior art silencers, the user must slide the tubular sleeve off of the body of the silencer and to access the deposits. However, when the silencer becomes overly full with lead and carbon build-up, the build-up can get heavily packed therebetween the body of the silencer and the tubular sleeve and may put enough pressure thereon to prevent the tubular sleeve from being separated from the body of the silencer.

SUMMARY

A device for suppressing noise from a firearm is presented. In one aspect, the suppressor comprises an elongate body having a bullet entry end and an opposed bullet exit end. The elongate body defines a bullet pathway extending longitudinally there though from the bullet entry end to the bullet exit end. In one aspect, the elongate body defines a plurality of adjacent chambers that are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the elongate body. In one aspect, the chambers can be in fluid communication with each other via the fluid pathway.

In one aspect, the suppressor comprises at least two elongate body shells configured to selectively substantially envelop the elongate body and substantially enclose each of the adjacent chambers. The body shells of the suppressor are designed to be easily, which allows the deposits caused by build-up of carbon and lead from the discharge gases to be readily accessed and removed from the body of the suppressor. In yet another aspect, the suppressor further comprises an external sleeve configured to complimentarily fit over the elongate body and the elongate body shells, thereby retaining the body shells thereon the elongate body.

The suppressor also may comprise a plurality of spaced chamber baffles that are configured to separate the adjacent chambers of the elongate body. Each chamber baffle defines a baffle aperture that is coaxial with the bullet pathway. In one aspect, at least a portion of at least one of the chamber baffles lies in a plane that is transverse to the bullet pathway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a baffle” can include two or more such baffles unless the context indicates otherwise.

A device for suppressing noise from a firearm is presented. In one aspect, the suppressor10comprises an elongate body100having a bullet entry end110and an opposed bullet exit end120. The elongate body100defines a bullet pathway PBthat extends longitudinally therethrough the elongate body from the bullet entry end110to the bullet exit end120. In another aspect, the elongate body defines a plurality of adjacent chambers130that are spaced along the longitudinal axis ALof the elongate body. In a further aspect, the chambers130can be configured to be in fluid communication with each other via a fluid pathway.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the suppressor is configured to attach to the muzzle of a firearm such that the bullet pathway is substantially co-axial with the trajectory of the bullet as it exits the muzzle of the firearm. When the bullet exits the muzzle, it exits along with high velocity discharge gases that, in normal operation, exit the muzzle rapidly, which causes a loud noise. Noise suppressors, such as the one presented, are designed to dissipate the discharge gases that exit the muzzle of a firearm to reduce the level of noise being emitted. In the present suppressor10, these discharge gases are dissipated via the adjacent chambers.

In one aspect, the suppressor comprises at least two elongate body shells200configured to selectively substantially envelop the elongate body and substantially enclose each of the adjacent chambers. Each elongate body shell has, for example, a first longitudinal edge210and a second, opposed longitudinal edge220. In one aspect, the elongate body shells comprise a half tube, where the first longitudinal edge210of each of the pair of elongate body shells200is configured to mate with the second longitudinal edge220of the respective elongate body shell. The longitudinal edges may be keyed to compliment each other, or they may just abut one another. It is also contemplated that at least one of the pairs of longitudinal edges may comprise a hinge or similar fastening device. It is also contemplated that the body shells may comprise three or more body shells.

The body shells200of the suppressor are configure to be easily removed so that that the deposits caused by build-up of carbon and lead from the discharge gases can readily be accessed and removed.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the high velocity discharge gases that are expelled from the firearm produce large forces within the chambers130of the suppressor. Hence, the body shells need to be retained thereon the body of the suppressor in order to remain intact. In one aspect, it is contemplated that the body shells can be configured to selectively interlock In yet another aspect, the suppressor10can further comprise an external sleeve300configured to complimentarily fit over the elongate body100and the elongate body shells, thereby selectively retaining the body shells200thereon the elongate body.

In one aspect, the suppressor comprises a first collar310substantially adjacent the bullet exit end of the elongate body configured to stop and substantially abut one end of the external sleeve300when the external sleeve is complimentarily fit over the elongate body100and the elongate body shells. In another aspect, as shown inFIG. 1, the suppressor comprises a second collar320selectively attachable to the elongate body at the bullet entry end configured to retain the external sleeve thereon the elongate body. This collar may, for example and without limitation, be threaded onto the body of the suppressor at the bullet entry end. It should be noted that it is contemplated that the first collar310may also be placed at the bullet entry end, while the second collar320may be selectively placed on the bullet exit end.

As mentioned above, the bullet entry end is configured to selectively attach to a muzzle of the firearm. For example and without limitation, the bullet entry end110may comprise female threads configured to receive the complimentary male threads on the muzzle of the firearm.

As can be seen in the figures, the elongate body of the suppressor10can comprise a plurality of spaced chamber baffles140separating each of the chambers. Each chamber baffle defines a baffle aperture145that is coaxial with the bullet pathway PB. In one aspect, at least a portion of at least one of the chamber baffles140can be positioned to lie in a plane that is substantially transverse to the bullet pathway. In another aspect, at least a portion of at least one of the chamber baffles can be substantially frustoconical in shape. In yet another aspect, as shown inFIG. 3, at least a portion of at least a portion of at least one of the chamber baffles can be positioned at an acute angle relative to the bullet pathway. It should be noted that many other shapes are contemplated for the chamber baffles, such as, for example and without limitation, a pyramid, a wafer, and the like.

Referring toFIG. 1, the elongate body may also comprise at least two longitudinal walls150that extend from the bullet entry end to the bullet exit end. In this aspect, each of the chamber baffles140are connected to and supported by at least one of the longitudinal walls150.

In one aspect, the first longitudinal edge of one of the at least two elongate body shells and the second longitudinal edge of an adjacent elongate body shell can be configured to substantially overly at least a portion of one of the at least two longitudinal walls. In this aspect, the junction of the respective longitudinal edges can be configured to longitudinally overlie the longitudinal walls.

The drawings of the suppressor show the shape of the suppressor to be cylindrical. While this is the obvious choice from a design standpoint, it is certainly not the only shape that is contemplated. Just about any shape for the body100will work.

Additionally, in one aspect, the materials of construction for the suppressor comprise aluminum. However, other materials are also contemplated, such as, for example and not meant to be limiting, alloy steel, titanium, stainless steel, carbon fiber, other reinforced composite materials, and the like.