Abstract:
A muzzle brake that will remove 80-90% of rifle recoil is disclosed. The invention uses cone shaped nozzles similar to rocket nozzles to expand the gasses properly in the correct direction to eliminate most of the rifle recoil and muzzle climb. The marksman can keep his rifle on target and fire all day without having a sore shoulder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/111,375, filed Feb. 3, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to weapons that discharge a round by rapidly expanding gasses provided by the ignition of a propellant, more particularly, to a muzzle brake for such weapons. 
     When a weapon is fired, the weapon moves in the opposite direction of the projectile&#39;s exit from the barrel. For firearms, such as rifles, the recoil of the rifle will cause the butt or stock of the rifle to impact the shooter&#39;s shoulder. The recoil can cause a sore shoulder and has a tendency to reduce a shooter&#39;s accuracy. 
     For large caliber weapons, such as machine guns, cannons, and howitzers, the substantial recoil forces encountered by such systems require large structural components or systems to absorb or otherwise dissipate the recoil forces generated by the weapon system. This may add substantial weight and complexity to the weapon system, as well as contributing to lifecycle costs of repair or replacement of components that become fatigued through repeated firing of the weapon. 
     Other muzzle brakes available in the art of firearms use flat plates or round holes that are formed in the ends of the barrel in order to reduce recoil and limit muzzle climb. Flat plates are inefficient at producing a counteracting force and cause noise from the gas impinging on the plates. On the other hand, while round holes drilled in the weapon barrel can limit muzzle climb, they are relatively ineffective at reducing the firearm&#39;s recoil. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved muzzle brake to reduce recoil and muzzle climb. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a muzzle brake comprises: a generally cylindrical body having an attachment end portion and a firing end portion opposite the attachment end; a bore defined through the generally cylindrical body and extending between the attachment end and the firing end; a plurality of protrusions extending from a lateral surface of the generally cylindrical body; and a nozzle having diverging sidewalls defined in the plurality of protrusions, the nozzle having a throat proximal and in fluid communication with the bore and an exit distal from the bore. In some embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the nozzle is aligned between about 35 to 55 degrees from a longitudinal axis of said bore. In other embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the nozzle is aligned at about 45 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the bore. In a preferred embodiment, the diverging sidewalls have an angle of between about 8-15 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the nozzle, and preferably about 12 degrees. In yet other embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the nozzle is elevated between about 5 and 15 degrees from a longitudinal axis of said bore, preferably about 10 degrees. In other preferred configurations, a longitudinal axis of the nozzle intersects a central axis of said bore. The longitudinal axis of the nozzle may also intersect the central axis of said bore intermediate the attachment end and the firing end of the muzzle brake. 
     In other aspects of the invention, a muzzle brake comprises: a generally cylindrical body having an attachment end portion and a firing end portion opposite the attachment end. A bore is defined through the generally cylindrical body and extends between the attachment end and the firing end. A plurality of nozzles, having a diverging sidewall, extend through a lateral side of the cylindrical body, the plurality of nozzles have a throat proximal and in fluid communication with the bore and an exit distal from the bore. 
     The nozzles are adapted to develop a thrust from a source of expanding gas passing through the throat from within the bore. In some embodiments, the nozzles are oriented to direct a first portion of the thrust towards the firing end. In other embodiments, the nozzles are also oriented to direct a second portion of the thrust in a downward direction. A longitudinal axis of the plurality of nozzles intersect at the longitudinal axis of the bore. The muzzle brake is configured such that the attachment end is adapted to receive the muzzle of a weapon barrel. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a muzzle brake comprises a generally cylindrical body, having an attachment end portion and a firing end portion opposite the attachment end portion; the bore is defined through the generally cylindrical body and extends between the attachment end and the firing end; and a plurality of nozzles having a diverging sidewall. The plurality of nozzles extend through a lateral side of the cylindrical body. The plurality of nozzles having a throat proximal and in fluid communication with the bore and an exit opening distal from the bore and having a diameter larger than the throat. The nozzle preferably has a longitudinal axis aligned to intersect a longitudinal axis of the bore near the firing end and extending rearward from the firing end. The nozzle is adapted to develop a thrust from a source of expanding gas passing through the throat from within the bore. 
     In certain preferred embodiments, an axis of the nozzle is elevated with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bore by an angle of between about 5-15 degrees. The axis of the nozzle may also extend laterally at an angle of between about 35-55 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the bore. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 : is a perspective view of muzzle brake shown in use. 
         FIG. 2 : is a bottom rear perspective view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 3 : is a top front perspective view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 4 : is a bottom view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 5 : is a top view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 6 : is a side view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 7 : is a front view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 8 : is a rear view of the muzzle brake. 
         FIG. 9 : is an exploded view of the muzzle brake illustrating an application to a weapon barrel. 
         FIG. 10 : is a multi-plane section detail view of muzzle brake taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 8  and shown use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a muzzle brake that reduces the recoil of a weapon, such as a rifle, cannon, a howitzer, whether the barrel is rifled or smooth bored. The present invention allows for proper expansion of the gases produced by the ignition of the propellant charge to propel the projectile, round or bullet, through the weapon&#39;s barrel. The muzzle brake is designed to generate enough force at the correct time to eliminate most of the weapon&#39;s recoil. The muzzle brake of the invention uses a plurality of cone shaped nozzles, similar in shape to a rocket nozzle, in order to expand the gasses properly in the correct direction to eliminate most of the weapon recoil and muzzle climb. 
     A non-limiting example of an embodiment of a muzzle brake will be provided in reference to a rifle. However, the design and performance characteristics are equally applicable to larger weapon systems, such as cannons (aircraft, land, or sea based), howitzers, used as the main gun of a tank. 
     As seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a muzzle brake  10  of the present invention is shown attached to the muzzle end of the barrel  20  of a firearm  24 . The firearm  24  may include a stock  34  that is nested in the crook of a shooter&#39;s  30  shoulder  32  when the shooter  30  is holding the weapon  24  in the firing position. Upon firing the weapon  24 , the bullet  28  is propelled through the barrel  20  by the rapidly expanding gasses released by the ignition of a combustible charge contained within, for example the ammunition cartridge. 
     As seen in reference to  FIGS. 2-10 , the muzzle brake  10  of the present invention is formed with a generally cylindrical body having an attachment end that, in use, is operatively coupled to the barrel  20  of the rifle  24 . An opposite, firing end of the muzzle brake  10  is oriented coaxial with the barrel  20  to permit the bullet  28  to exit the barrel  20  when the weapon  24  is fired. 
     The muzzle brake  10  includes a bore  12  that extends through the body of the muzzle brake  10 . As will be familiar to one of skill in the art of firearms, the bore  12  will have a diameter corresponding to the caliber of the ammunition round or bullet  28  which the weapon  24  is designed to fire. 
     As best seen in reference to  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the attachment end includes a threaded region  18  coaxially aligned with the bore  12  for threaded coupling of the muzzle brake  10  to a corresponding thread  22  on the end exit end of the rifle barrel  20 . As illustrated, the threaded region  18  may be formed as length of female threads defined in an interior cavity of the muzzle brake bore  12 . As best seen in reference to  FIG. 10 , a shoulder region  40  is in abutment with the end surface of the barrel  20  surrounding the bore  12 . A corresponding male threaded region  22  is defined on the rifle barrel  20  for reception of the muzzle brake  10 . 
     A crush washer  38  may be used between an end face of the muzzle brake attachment end and an annular shoulder formed at an aft end of the barrel threads  22 . The attachment end portion of the muzzle brake  10  may also be provided with a plurality of flats  36  on opposed sides of the body for securely tightening the muzzle brake  10  to the barrel  20 . 
     The muzzle brake  10  also includes a muzzle brake nozzle  16  defined in an interior cavity of a plurality muzzle brake protrusions  14  extending from opposed sides of the body of the muzzle brake  10 . The muzzle brake protrusions  14  and internal nozzles  16  project rearward from the firing end of the weapon  24  and are oriented at an angle of between about 35 and 55 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the muzzle brake bore  12 . More preferably, the protrusions  14  are oriented at an angle of about 45 degrees. 
     As best seen in reference to  FIG. 10 , the nozzles  16  are defined with divergent sidewalls to form a generally conic cavity, which may include a straight conic, parabolic, or other thrust producing sidewall shape. The nozzles  16  have a vertex aperture  44 , or throat opening to the muzzle brake bore  12 , diverging expansion section, and a base, or exit opening  46  at an end face of the protrusions  14 . The vertex aperture  44  intersects the bore  12  at a position proximal to the firing end of the bore  12 . Preferably the vertex aperture  44  is located at a point corresponding to the position of the aft end of the bullet  28  as the bullet base prepares to exit the bore  12 , which may vary depending upon the caliber, grains, and configuration of the bullet or projectile round  28 . 
     The angle of the nozzles  16  may range between about 8 and 15 degrees, optimally about 12 degrees about the central axis of the nozzle  16 . The central axis of each nozzle  16  is preferably aligned to intersect the central longitudinal axis of the bore  12 . 
     For weapons or weapon systems, where muzzle lift correction is required, the nozzles  16  and protrusions  14  may also be oriented at an upturned angle from the longitudinal axis of the bore  12 . The upturned angle may range from between about 5 and 15 degrees, more preferably about 10 degrees. 
     In operation, the muzzle brake nozzles  16  are formed to generate a thrust when the bullet  28  passes the vertex aperture  44 , or throat  44  of the muzzle brake  10 . The thrust is formed by expansion and acceleration of the expanding propellant gasses as they pass through the throat  44  and transit the nozzle  16  to the nozzle exit  46 . The rearward swept orientation of the nozzles  16  release and direct the rapidly expanding propellant gasses through the nozzles  16  so as to produce a thrust vector component to substantially counteract the recoil force of the weapon. 
     Due to the orientation and configuration of the nozzle  16  the thrust vector includes opposing lateral components, and a longitudinal resultant component that counteracts the weapon recoil. In embodiments of the muzzle brake  10  with the additional upswept orientation of the nozzle  16 , the resultant thrust may include a vertical component that substantially counteracts the muzzle rise forces of the weapon. 
     When applied to a rifle barrel, the muzzle brake  10  of the present invention reduces over 70% of weapon recoil, compared to other muzzle brakes, which only remove 50% at best. As previously indicated, for large caliber weapon systems, a substantial portion of the weapon system&#39;s complexity, weight, and lifecycle costs are expended to provide a suitable carriage or mounting platform that can absorb and sustain the substantial recoil forces generated by these weapons systems. 
     The muzzle brake  10  may be formed as a casting, machining, or by 3D printing using selective laser sintering. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.