Patent Publication Number: US-10330420-B2

Title: Suppressor assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to a firearm, and more specifically, to a suppressor assembly for a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Suppressors are attached to a barrel of a firearm and used to, for example, reduce the amount of noise and visible muzzle flash generated by firing. Suppressors reduce noise by allowing the rapidly expanding gases from the firing of the projectile to be decelerated and cooled through a series of hollow chambers. The trapped gas exits the suppressor over a long period of time and at a greatly reduced velocity, producing less noise. Suppressors operate to reduce muzzle blast by reducing and controlling the energy level of the propellant gases accompanying the projectile as it leaves the muzzle end of the firearm. While useful in reducing noise and muzzle flash of a firearm, suppressors may cause unwanted debris to accumulate near the muzzle end of a firearm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The shortcomings of the prior art may be alleviated by using a suppressor assembly in accordance with one or more principles of the present invention. The suppressor assembly may be used as, for example, an integral part of a firearm&#39;s upper receiver assembly on all centerfire rifles, including, but not limited to, the 223 Remington, the 300 AAC Blackout, the 308 Winchester and the 300 Winchester Magnum. Additionally, other uses may be made of the invention that fall within the scope of the claimed invention but which are not specifically described below. 
     In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a suppressor assembly attached to a firearm. The firearm includes a barrel, a bore, and a muzzle end. The suppressor assembly comprises a gas block mount, an outer tub and a baffle. The gas block mount is positioned about the barrel and disposed substantially proximal to the muzzle end of the barrel. The outer tube comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the outer tube is attached to the gas block mount and the second end of the outer tube extends beyond the muzzle end of the firearm. The baffle comprises a first end and a second end. The baffle is telescopically received and configured to have a clearance fit with the outer tube. The first end of the baffle is attached to the muzzle end of the firearm. 
     In another aspect, the gas block mount defines a chamber with an outer surface of the barrel. This chamber is in communication with the bore of the firearm through one or more ports. In one embodiment, the one or more ports are angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the bore of the firearm. During firing of the firearm, a portion of the projectile gas is directed through these one or more ports into the chamber to pressurize the chamber. This projectile gas is directed back into the bore of the firearm barrel through the one or more ports after pressure in the bore is less than pressure in the chamber. 
     In another aspect, baffle includes an outer surface comprising one or more edges. The one or more edges are facing and in close proximity to an inner surface of the outer tube. The one or more edges may be configured to scrape debris from the inner surface of said outer tube when said baffle is removed from said outer tube. 
     Additional features and benefits will become apparent from the following drawings and descriptions of the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the end of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an upper perspective view of one embodiment of a suppressor assembly attached to a firearm constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a side cross section view of one embodiment of a suppressor assembly attached to a firearm constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a bottom cross sectional of the suppressor assembly depicted in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side view of one embodiment of a gas block mount constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a side cross sectional view of the gas block mount depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  depicts an upper perspective view of one embodiment of an outer tube constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a side cross sectional view of one embodiment of a baffle constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top cross sectional view of the baffle depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a front view of the baffle depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear cross sectional view of a first end of the baffle depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of the baffle depicted in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a upper perspective view of the baffle depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of a suppressor assembly designed and constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments, or examples, illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe these examples and embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations or further modifications in the described embodiments, or any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the suppressor assembly invention relates. 
     Presented herein is an improved suppressor assembly for a firearm. The improved suppressor assembly may be designed to be an integral part of an upper receiver assembly on all centerfire rifles, including, for example, the 223 Remington, the 300 AAC Blackout, the 308 Winchester and the 300 Winchester Magnum. The suppressor assembly is designed so, for example, that the accompanying gases from firing a projectile are diverted into several different chambers in order to reduce, for example, the sound pressure level of the muzzle blast, recoil, muzzle jump, and toxic gases directed back to the shooter. 
     Conventional suppressor assemblies include a gas block mount mounted to a barrel of a firearm, an outer tube extending beyond a muzzle end of the firearm, and a baffle affixed to or retained within and by the outer tube. An example of a suppressor assembly having this configuration is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,618 to Daniel Defense, Inc., which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Current suppressor assembly designs are compromised due to their complexity in assembly and disassembly for cleaning and lacking of any self-cleaning mechanism. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a suppressor assembly  100  constructed in accordance with one or more aspect of the present invention attached to a firearm  102  is illustrated. Firearm  102  may generally include an upper receiver  104  and a hand guard assembly  106 . Upper receiver  104  typically houses the internal components of firearm  102 . Hand guard assembly  106  extends from upper receiver  104  and about a barrel  108  of firearm  102 . Barrel  108  defines a bore  112  having a longitudinal axis for passage of a projectile. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , suppressor assembly  100  includes a gas block mount  210 , an outer tube  230  and a baffle  250 . Gas block mount  210  is located longitudinally on barrel  108 . Gas block mount  210  may be positioned about a barrel  108  of firearm  102  anywhere between a muzzle end  110  and upper receiver  104  of firearm  102 . For example, gas block mount  210  may be positioned about barrel  108  at any location between upper receiver  104  and muzzle end  110  of firearm  102 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , gas block mount  210  includes a first end  212 , a second end  214 , and one or more gas ports  226 . In one embodiment, first end  212  of gas block mount  210  contacts a shoulder  216  formed on barrel  108 . Barrel shoulder  216  may be designed to be located between the breech (not shown) and muzzle end  110  of barrel  108 . The location of shoulder  216  can vary with barrel lengths, cartridge choice or gas operating system such as, for example, a gas-piston system or direct impingement system. 
     In one embodiment, gas block mount  210  includes three internal bores  218 ,  220 ,  222  corresponding with the outer diameter of the barrel  108 . In one example depicted in  FIGS. 1-5 , first bore  218  of gas block mount  210  may be designed to be a clearance fit with the outer diameter of the barrel  108 . Second and third internal bores  220 ,  222  of gas block mount  210  may be designed to be a pressure fit on the outer diameter of the barrel  108 . In one example, gas block  210  may be attached rigidly by a set screw  215  that puts vertical force between the outer diameter of barrel  108  and gas block mount  210 . A cross-pin  224  may also be utilized to keep gas block mount  210  rigidly attached to barrel  108 . Alternatively, gas block mount  210  may be attached to barrel  108  by any means known in the art, such as, but not limited to, welding, screwing, bolting, etc. 
     Gas block mount  210  may include one or more gas ports  226  in communication with bore  112  of barrel  108  through a gas port  115  formed in barrel  108 . In one example, one or more gas port  226  are located so that projectile gases may be diverted from bore  112  of barrel  108 , through gas port  115 , and into gas block mount  210 . This projectile gas may then be diverted rearward to operate the firearm&#39;s action. The diverted portion of the propellant gases may be delivered to upper receiver  104  via one or more gas tubes or the like (not shown). On firearms that do not need gas diverted rearward toward the action, bore port  115  may be omitted. 
     Once gas block mount  210  is attached or secured to barrel  108 , a chamber  227  is formed between second and third internal bores  220 ,  222  of gas block mount  210  and the outer surface of barrel  108 . Chamber  227  is in fluid communication with bore  112  of barrel  108  through one or more gas ports  114  formed in barrel  108 . In this manner, gas block mount  210  may be configured to divert at least a portion of the propellant gases associated with the firing of the firearm  102  into chamber  227  through one or more gas ports  114 . Gas ports  114  may be angled relative to the longitudinal axis of bore  112  of barrel  108 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 , outer tube  230  is telescopically received by barrel  108  and attached to gas block mount  210 . In one example depicted in  FIG. 6 , outer tube  230  may include an elongated hollow body  232  having a first end  234  and a second end  236 . First end  234  of outer tube  230  may include internal threads  238  that correspond with external threads  228  formed on the outer surface of gas block mount  210 . First end  234  of outer tube  230  may be threaded on and tightened against a shoulder  229  formed on the outer surface of gas block mount  210 . Alternatively, first end  234  of outer tube  230  may be secured to gas mount block  210  by other known means, such as, for example, welding, pressure fitting, bolting, pins, etc. Once outer tube  230  is attached or secured to gas block mount  210 , a chamber  240  is created between end  214  of gas block mount  210 , end  254  of baffle  250 , the outer diameter of barrel  108 , and the internal bore  242  of outer tube  230 . 
     In one embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 7-8 , baffle  250  comprises a single or one-piece baffle that is telescopically received by outer tube  230 . Baffle  250  may be machined out of a single piece of metal, ceramic, or other suitable material. Baffle  250  includes a bore  252  extending between a first end  254  and a second end  256 . The projectile and the associated propellant gases may pass through bore  252  during firing of the firearm. In this manner, bore  252  of baffle  250  may be substantially aligned with bore  112  of barrel  108 . First end  254  of baffle  250  may comprise the entry end of baffle  250  and be configured to receive a projectile and the associated propellant gases exiting muzzle end  110  of the firearm  102 . Conversely, second end  256  of baffle  250  may comprise the exit end of baffle  250  and be configured to expel the projectile and the associated propellant gases from baffle  250 . 
     First end  254  of baffle  250  may be configured to attach by, for example, external threads on muzzle end  110  of barrel  108  corresponding to internal threads  258  formed on bore  252  near first end  254  of baffle  250 . In one example, baffle  250  may tighten on or against a front face of another shoulder formed on the outer surface of barrel  108 . Baffle  250  may be designed to have a clearance fit between the outer diameter of baffle  250  and internal bore of outer tube  230  so that baffle  250  can be screwed in and out of outer tube  230  without interference by outer tube  230 . Once baffle  250  is tightened into place on muzzle end  110  of firearm  102 , internal and external baffle chambers  260  are created by voids in baffle  250  and the internal bore of the outer tube  230  and the outer diameter of barrel  108 . In one example illustrated in  FIG. 9 , second end  256  of baffle  250  may be configured so that baffle  250  can be tightened or loosened to barrel  108  with a tool, such as, for example a ⅜ inch drive ratchet. 
     In one embodiment, second end  256  of baffle  250  extends beyond muzzle end  110  of firearm  102  the same distance as second end  236  of the outer tube  230 . Alternatively, second end  256  of baffle  250  may be configured to be extend shorter or longer than the distance that second end  236  of outer tube  230  extends beyond muzzle end  110  of firearm  102 . In accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, second end  256  of baffle  250  and second end  236  of outer tube  230  are not attached together. By not attaching second end  256  of baffle  250  to second end  236  of outer tube  230 , baffle  250  may be easily removable from outer tube  230  for maintenance and cleaning of firearm  102  and suppressor assembly  100 . 
       FIGS. 7-12  illustrate one configuration of a baffle that may be used with a suppressor assembly constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. In this example, baffle  250  includes a series of baffle fins  262  and baffle ribs  264 . First end  254  of baffle  250  may include one or more radial cuts  266  to allow propellant gasses to enter chamber  240  behind the muzzle created by the inner bore of the outer tube  230 , the outer diameter of the barrel  108 , second end  214  of the gas block mount  210 , and the first baffle rib. If radial cuts  266  were not present, the initial baffle chamber would be defined from muzzle end  110  to the first baffle rib. As the projectile continues through bore  252  of baffle  250 , the baffle ribs and baffle chambers act on the propellant gasses to reduce muzzle blast, recoil, and muzzle jump. As the projectile passes out second end  256  of baffle  250 , projectile gasses are directed into two cylindrical grooves as well as four angled ports to help reduce flash created by the burning propellant gasses. 
     Baffle  250  includes an outer surface facing an inner surface of outer tube  230 . In one embodiment, baffle  250  may include one or more edges  270  extending longitudinally along outer surface of baffle  250 . Edges  270  may protrude from outer surface or be formed by, for example, an indentation or longitudinal cut or groove in outer surface. In another example, edges  270  may be spaced longitudinally along outer surface of baffle  250 , or form a corkscrew pattern around outer surface of baffle  250 . Edges  270  provide a cleaning mechanism for the interior bore or surface of outer tube  230 . In this example, as baffle  250  is unscrewed from external threads on muzzle end  110  of barrel  108 , one or more edges  270  act to scrape and/or clean carbon fouling or other debris from or off the interior bore or surface of outer tube  230  during removal of baffle  250  from muzzle end  110  and outer tube  230 . As baffle  250  is being unscrewed and removed from muzzle end  110  and outer tube  230 , edge(s)  270  pass in close proximity to the inner surface of outer tube  230  and work to scrape, knock off and/or collect debris that may accumulate on the inner surface of outer tube  230  during firing of firearm  102 . 
     In one example of firing a rifle that includes a suppressor assembly  100  constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, the projectile goes down bore  112  of the barrel  108 . As the projectile passes bore port  226 , a portion of the projectile gasses are directed into gas ports  226  of gas block mount  210  in order to be redirected to the firearm&#39;s action for semi-automatic cycling. This is commonly accomplished by a gas-piston system or by directly sending the gasses rearward to impinge on the action. The use of the suppressor assembly constructed in accordance with one or more principles of the present invention is not dependent on bore gasses being redirected rearward to the action for semi or fully automatic function. By omitting the bore port on the barrel, the system can be used on manual operation firearms like bolt action, pump action, or lever action firearms. 
     As the projectile continues down bore  112  and passes the angled bore ports  114 , another portion of projectile gas is directed through angled bore ports  114  into chamber  227  thereby pressurizing the chamber. These gasses are directed back into the bore through the angled ports  114  after the pressure in bore  112  is less than the pressure in chamber  227 . The gasses pressurized in chamber  227  may release back into bore  112  after the projectile has passed second end  256  of baffle  250 . Once the gasses escape from pressurized chamber  227 , they enter bore  112  at high velocity and angled appropriately relative to the bore axis so as to jet towards the muzzle end. The high velocity jet of gas inclines the remaining propellant gasses in the bore and baffle chambers to exit out the muzzled end of the barrel and consequently the second end of the baffle rather than escaping out the breech of the barrel and towards the shooter. The chamber volume, port sizes, number of ports, and angle of ports relative to the axis of the bore can all be varied with barrel length, gas block mount location, cartridge, and baffle type. 
     As the projectile passes muzzle end  110  of the barrel  108 , projectile gasses will escape from barrel bore  112  into interior and exterior baffle chambers. In one example of a suppressor assembly constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, the initial baffle chamber extends from the second end of gas block mount  210  to the first baffle rib forward of muzzle end  110 . Propellant gasses are directed rearward towards second end  214  of gas block mount  210  and into chamber  240  created by the interior bore of outer tube  230  and outer diameter of barrel  108  via the baffle fins and baffle ribs. Radial cuts  266  in first end  254  of baffle  250  allow propellant gasses to enter chamber  240  behind the muzzle created by the inner bore of the outer tube  230 , the outer diameter of the barrel  108 , second end  214  of the gas block mount  210 , and the first baffle rib. If radial cuts  266  not present, the initial baffle chamber would be defined from muzzle end  110  to the first baffle rib. As the projectile continues through bore  252  of baffle  250 , the baffle ribs and baffle chambers act on the propellant gasses to reduce muzzle blast, recoil, and muzzle jump. As the projectile passes out second end  256  of baffle  250 , projectile gasses are directed into two cylindrical grooves as well as four angled ports to help reduce flash created by the burning propellant gasses. 
     While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail in the disclosure, the disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. All changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.