Patent Publication Number: US-2021180901-A1

Title: Silencer for a portable firearm

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2019/057945, filed on Mar. 28, 2019, which takes priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2018 107 418.2, filed Mar. 28, 2018, the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a silencer for a portable firearm and to a portable firearm comprising a silencer according to the invention. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The term “portable firearm” is understood to mean handguns, for example recoil-operated firearms, gas-operated firearms, pistols or the like. The invention is described using the example of a pistol, although the present invention is not restricted thereto and can be used in all types of handguns that have a breech and/or a breechblock. 
     It is known to equip pistols with a silencer in order to reduce the noise emitted by the gases which flow out of the muzzle when a shot is fired, are under high pressure and expand in an explosive manner. 
     Silencers can be screwed onto the gun barrel at the front end of the gun barrel by means of a screw thread. A silencer of this kind is known from DE 4231183 C1, for example. 
     In portable firearms comprising a fixed barrel, the silencer only causes minor problems relating to the self-loading function of the weapon. 
     In portable firearms comprising a movable barrel, maintaining the self-loading function of the weapon proves problematic. This is because a silencer screwed onto the barrel increases the mass that recoils when a shot is fired, which reduces the recoil speed of the barrel. This may result either in the self-loading function of the weapon being completely lacking or malfunctions possibly occurring because, for example, a new shell is only partially fed in. This has proved particularly problematic in firearms comprising a recoiling and tilting barrel because the silencer also has to be raised here. 
     In practice, attempts were made to solve this problem by means of lighter and/or smaller silencers. However, this has the drawback that, with accordingly light silencers, the stability of the silencer drops and that, with smaller silencers, the silencing effect is sometimes significantly reduced in part since there is only a relatively small volume available for the gas expansion. 
     One solution to this problem consists in not rigidly interconnecting the silencer and the gun barrel, but instead arranging what is known as a pulse generator between the silencer and the gun barrel which is connected both to the silencer and to the gun barrel. The pulse generator allows for an axial movement of the gun barrel relative to the silencer. The gun barrel is mechanically decoupled from the silencer by the pulse generator, such that the self-loading function of the firearm is largely ensured despite the silencer. 
     However, the use of pulse generators has the drawback that they can easily get dirty and/or damage to the threads of the pulse generator can result in the function of the firearm being impaired. In addition, when using pulse generators in gun barrels that tilt backward, the silencer has to be raised forward, with the weight of the pulse generator additionally being added here. 
     A problem addressed by the invention is therefore to provide a silencer for a portable firearm which allows the silencer to be easily mounted on and dismounted from the portable firearm and also can be used in portable firearms having a self-loading function or comprising a movable barrel without the self-loading function being impaired. 
     SUMMARY 
     This problem is solved according to embodiments of the invention by a silencer for a portable firearm, in particular a pistol, and by a portable firearm comprising a claimed silencer according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are set out in the respective dependent claims. 
     A silencer for a portable firearm, in particular a pistol, is accordingly provided, wherein the end portion of the silencer facing the gun barrel of the portable firearm is suitable for fastening to the breechblock (also called the breech or slide) of the portable firearm. 
     In this way, it is possible to fasten the silencer to the portable firearm without said silencer itself having to be fastened to the gun barrel or having to be coupled to the gun barrel. The gun barrel can therefore move relative to the silencer independently of the silencer. The silencer only has to be fastened to the breechblock of the portable firearm. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the silencer or the end portion of the silencer can be detachably fastened to the breechblock of the portable firearm. Therefore, when not in use, the silencer can be removed from the breechblock or the gun. 
     Fastening means may or can be arranged on the end portion of the silencer or the end portion may be designed as fastening means, wherein the silencer can be fastened to the breechblock of the portable firearm by means of the fastening means. The fastening means and/or the end portion of the silencer are structurally adapted to the breechblock, i.e. the fastening means are accordingly designed depending on the specific configuration of the breechblock. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the silencer can be moved together with the breechblock of the portable firearm relative to the gun barrel along the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel. This means that, when the breechblock moves backward, the silencer is also moved backward accordingly. 
     A barrel channel which corresponds to the barrel channel of the gun barrel is provided in the silencer, which comprises a silencer housing and the end portion. 
     In an embodiment of the invention,
         the end portion of the barrel channel of the silencer facing the gun barrel of the portable firearm and   the barrel-channel opening of the silencer facing the gun barrel of the portable firearm may be designed such that   the front end of the gun barrel and the barrel-channel opening can be brought into engagement with one another when moving the silencer together with the breechblock, and   the portion of the front end of the gun barrel that engages in the barrel-channel opening can be freely moved in the end portion of the barrel channel.       

     This ensures that, when the silencer moves relative to the gun barrel, the gun barrel does not collide with the silencer or the movement of the gun barrel is not impaired by the silencer. Another advantage is that, by moving the silencer relative to the gun barrel after a shot is fired, the front end of the gun barrel protrudes into the barrel-channel opening in the silencer such that the escape of explosive gases in the region between the barrel-channel opening and the front end of the gun barrel is reduced. 
     In an embodiment, the silencer can be designed such that, when the silencer is mounted, the front end of the gun barrel also protrudes into the barrel-channel opening of the silencer before a shot has been fired. When a shot is fired, the silencer moves backward, such that the front end of the gun barrel is then moved further into the barrel-channel opening of the silencer. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening means may comprise:
         a magnet, which is arranged on an end portion of the silencer and interacts with the breechblock or with a counter-magnet arranged on the breechblock, or   a catch which can preferably be detachably arranged on the breechblock, wherein the catch   is articulated to an end portion of the silencer, or   can be detachably coupled to the end portion of the silencer by means of a quick-release means, wherein the quick-release means preferably comprises at least one from the group comprising a dovetail joint, a screwed connection and a bayonet catch.       

     This makes it possible to mount and dismount the silencer on/from the breechblock in a particularly simple and rapid manner. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the end portion of the silencer may be designed as a profile that projects axially on the silencer housing, wherein the inner profile of the profile largely corresponds to the outer profile of the breechblock. The inner profile of the profile may largely be U-shaped. In any case, the profile is open on one side. By adapting the inner profile of the profile to the outer profile of the breechblock, the silencer can be slid on to the breechblock by its end portion. The silencer may be slid onto the breechblock from the front, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the breechblock, or alternatively the silencer may be slid onto the breechblock from above by its end portion, i.e. along a transverse axis of the breechblock. 
     Locking means may be provided on the profile by means of which the silencer can be locked to the breechblock. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the locking means may comprise magnets, latching means, eccentric levers and locking rockers. Alternatively, sliding pins may also be provided, which can be moved in a radial direction. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the silencer housing and the axially projecting profile may be formed in one piece/integrally. “Formed in one piece/integrally” means that the silencer housing and the profile consist of one piece or are produced from one piece, or that the silencer housing and the profile are produced separately from two parts and are then joined such that, as far as possible, they can no longer be detached from one another in a non-destructive manner. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the silencer housing and the profile may also be formed in two pieces, wherein the profile can be detachably arranged on the silencer housing. In this way, different profiles can be fastened to the silencer housing as required, such that the silencer housing can be fastened to portable firearms comprising differently formed breechblocks. 
     The invention further provides a portable firearm, in particular a pistol, comprising a silencer according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Details and features of the invention will become clear from the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A-B  show both a side view and a perspective view of a first embodiment of a silencer according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-C  show a longitudinal section, a cross section and a perspective view of the silencer shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIGS. 3A-B  show a silencer according to the invention which is fastened to a breechblock of a pistol and can be moved relative to the gun barrel together with the breechblock; 
         FIG. 4  shows an example of an embodiment according to the invention of the end portion of the silencer; 
         FIG. 5  shows another example of an embodiment of the end portion of the silencer according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 6  shows another example of an end portion of a silencer designed according to the invention comprising fastening means arranged thereon. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The silencer according to the invention that is described in the following has the advantage that it can be fastened to or mounted on and dismounted from the gun barrel of a gun particularly easily and rapidly, in particular without being screwed thereto. Another significant advantage of the silencer according to the invention is that it can also be used for portable firearms which have a movable barrel or a self-loading function. The silencer according to the invention has proved to be particularly advantageous in particular for portable firearms comprising a recoiling and tilting barrel. The silencer is not fastened to the barrel of the gun, and therefore the barrel can be moved independently of the silencer and without being impaired by the silencer. 
       FIGS. 1A-B  show a first embodiment of a silencer  10  according to the invention, with  FIG. 1A  showing the silencer in a side view and  FIG. 1B  showing the silencer in a perspective view. 
     The silencer  10  substantially consists of a silencer housing  10   a  and an end portion  11 , with the end portion  11  being arranged on the side of the silencer housing  10   a  facing the gun barrel of the pistol. The end portion  11  is adapted such that the silencer  10  can be fastened to the breechblock (slide) of the pistol. The end portion  11  of the silencer  10  is preferably designed such that the silencer can be detachably fastened to the breechblock of the gun. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-B , the rear axially projecting end portion  11 , with rear meaning on the side of the silencer housing  10   a  facing the gun barrel of the pistol, is designed as a profile  17 . The inner profile  17   a  of the profile  17  is substantially U-shaped here, with the open side of the inner profile  17   a  being located on the lower side of the end portion  11 . The inner profile  17   a  may also have other shapes than the shape shown in  FIGS. 1A-B . In a particular embodiment of the invention, the inner profile  17   a  of the end portion  11  is designed such that it largely corresponds to the outer profile of the breechblock (in particular to the front end portion of the breechblock) of the pistol. The end portion  11  of the silencer  10  can then be placed or slid onto the breechblock of the pistol. Depending on the specific design of the inner profile  17   a  and the outer profile of the breechblock, the silencer may be slid onto the breechblock from the front, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the breechblock. If it is not possible to slide said silencer along the longitudinal axis of the breechblock in this way, the end portion  11  of the silencer  10  can also be slid onto the front end of the breechblock from above, by the breechblock being inserted into the opening provided on the lower side of the end portion  11 . 
     In an embodiment of the silencer according to the invention, latching means, for example latching pins, may be provided on or in the inner profile  17   a , and can be brought into engagement with corresponding latching means on the breechblock such that the silencer  10  is locked to the breechblock after being slid onto the breechblock. The latching means are preferably designed such that the locking can be released by manual actuation, for example, and the silencer can be removed from the breechblock. Alternative locking means  18  may be provided, for example magnets, which are arranged on or in the side walls of the profile  17  and interact with the breechblock, provided that the breechblock has corresponding magnetic properties. 
     In an embodiment, corresponding counter-magnets may also be provided on the breechblock, which interact with the magnets arranged on the end portion after the silencer has been slid onto the breechblock. 
     In yet another embodiment, the locking means  18  may for example comprise eccentric levers, which may likewise be arranged on the two side walls of the profile  17  and by means of which the silencer can be locked to the breechblock after being slid onto the breechblock. Likewise, locking rockers may be provided on the side walls of the profile  17 , by means of which the silencer is automatically locked when slid onto the breechblock and which can be actuated to release the locking. 
     It is essential to the present invention for the silencer to comprise a silencer housing  10   a  and a correspondingly designed end portion  11 , by means of which the silencer or silencer housing  10   a  can be fastened to the breechblock of the gun such that the silencer can be moved together with the breechblock independently of the gun barrel. 
     The end portion  11  or the locking means required for the locking can be designed to fit the relevant breechblock. If, for example, the breechblock has a circular outer profile, the inner profile  17   a  of the end portion  11  may have a semicircular or circular profile, for example. 
     The silencer shown in  FIGS. 1A-B  is formed in one piece/integrally. This means that the end portion  11  and the silencer housing  10   a  are substantially manufactured from one piece or are manufactured from two parts and are then joined together such that they substantially cannot be separated from one another in a non-destructive manner. 
     The silencer housing  10   a  has a substantially L-shaped basic shape here, with the interior of the silencer being substantially L-shaped, as shown in  FIG. 2A . Corresponding silencing means or silencing materials may be provided in the interior of the silencer housing  10   a . In addition, auxiliary means, laser sights or lighting means may also be received in the interior of the silencer. 
       FIGS. 2A-C  show a longitudinal section ( FIG. 2A ), a cross section ( FIG. 2B ) and a perspective view ( FIG. 2C ) of the silencer  10  shown in  FIGS. 1A-B . The longitudinal section extends along the longitudinal axis L of the silencer. The cross section extends along the transverse axis Q of the silencer. 
     In  FIG. 2A , the end portion  11 , which projects on the rear side of the silencer housing  10   a , can be seen. The barrel-channel opening  14  provided on the rear housing wall of the silencer housing  10   a  can also be seen. A barrel channel  12  is arranged in the silencer housing  10   a , the axis of which channel corresponds to the axis of the gun barrel. The barrel-channel opening  14  is designed such that the front end of the gun barrel does not collide with the silencer when the silencer moves. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the barrel-channel opening  14  may be designed such that, when the silencer housing or the silencer moves relative to the gun barrel, the front end of the barrel can be brought into engagement with the barrel-channel opening, i.e. such that the front end of the barrel protrudes into the barrel-channel opening  14 . As a result, the escape of gas between the muzzle and the rear housing wall of the silencer housing  10   a  can be reduced. 
     Furthermore, the rear portion  13  of the barrel channel  12  may also be designed such that it does not come into contact with the gun barrel when the silencer moves relative to the gun barrel. This must be borne in mind in particular if the barrel is a barrel that tilts backward. In this case, the radius of the barrel-channel opening  14  may be large enough that the raised front end of the barrel can be brought into engagement with the barrel-channel opening  14  without any collisions. Such a configuration is shown in  FIGS. 2A-C , from which it can be seen that the radius of the barrel-channel opening  14  is larger than the radius of the outlet opening of the barrel channel  12 . 
     A slot-shaped opening may be provided on the upper side wall of the end portion  11 , in which opening the front sight of the gun is positioned after the silencer is placed onto the breechblock. 
     For a barrel that does not tilt backward, the barrel-channel opening  14  may have a radius which substantially corresponds to the outer radius of the front end of the barrel. As a result, on one hand the barrel can be introduced into the barrel-channel opening  14  unimpeded, and on the other hand the gap between the barrel-channel opening  14  and the barrel is minimized after a shot has been fired, meaning that the escape of gases from this gap is also reduced. At the same time, the front end of the barrel may be provided as a guide for the silencer  10 , which recoils after a shot is fired, and this silencer is indeed fastened to the recoiling breechblock. 
       FIGS. 3A-B  show the silencer shown in  FIGS. 1A-B  when fastened to a pistol  5 . The pistol comprises, in a known manner, a breechblock or a slide  6 , which is moved backward relative to the pistol  5  after a shot is fired, for example to eject the shell casing, as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     The silencer  10  according to the invention is arranged at the front end of the breechblock  6 , with the silencer having been slid onto the front end of the breechblock  6  by its end portion  11  and fastened/locked to the breechblock  6 . By means of the coupling between the silencer  10  and the breechblock  6 , the silencer  10  is moved backward together with the breechblock  6  after a shot is fired such that the muzzle region of the barrel protrudes into the barrel-channel opening  14 . The lower face of the rear portion of the silencer housing  10  is designed such that it can no longer collide with the upper face of the front end of the handle part of the gun. For example, a corresponding semicircular cut-out may be provided on the lower face of the rear portion of the silencer housing  10   a , as can be seen in  FIGS. 2A-C . 
     The locking means mentioned with reference to  FIGS. 1A-B  and  2 A-C may be used as the locking means  18  in order to fasten the silencer  10  to the breechblock  6  of the gun  5 . 
       FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a silencer  10  according to the invention comprising an end portion  11  that is adapted to fasten the silencer to the breechblock  6  of the gun  5 . In the embodiment shown here, the rear end of the end portion  11  comprises one or more magnets  15   a  which correspond to and interact with corresponding counter-magnets  15   b  provided on the front end of the breechblock  6 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a silencer  10  according to the invention comprising an end portion  11 . In the embodiment shown here, a fastening means  15  is articulated to the end portion  11 , and specifically such that the fastening means  15  can be pivoted about a rotational axis relative to the end portion  11 . The fastening means  15  shown here is a catch  15   c  which has an inner profile that is adapted to the outer profile of the breechblock  6 . After sliding the end portion  11  onto the front end portion of the breechblock  6 , the catch  15   c  can be tilted downwards and locked to the breechblock  6  such that the catch  15   c  is rigidly but detachably coupled to the breechblock  6 . The silencer  10  is moved together with the breechblock  6  by means of this catch  15   c . The locking means mentioned with reference to  FIGS. 1A-B  and  2 A-C may be provided as the locking means for locking the catch  15   c  to the breechblock  6 . 
       FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a silencer  10  according to the invention comprising an end portion  11 . Quick-release means which make it possible to fasten the silencer to the breechblock  6  are provided on the end portion  11 . A catch  15   c  which can be fastened to the front end of the breechblock  6  by means of an eccentric lever is likewise provided here as a fastening means  15 . Corresponding counterparts of the quick-release means  16  are provided on the front end of the catch  15   c  in order to fasten the silencer  10  to the catch  15   c . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the quick-release means are designed as a dovetail joint. Alternatively, the quick-release means  16  may also be designed as a bayonet catch. In yet another embodiment, clip connections may also be provided as quick-release means, by means of which the end portion  11  of the silencer  10  can be clipped to the catch  15   c.    
     A rubber coating may be provided on the inner wall of the catch  15 , by means of which damage to the surface of the breechblock  6  can be largely prevented. The rubber coating also has the advantage that the friction between the inner profile of the catch  15   c  and the outer profile of the breechblock  6  is effectively increased. 
     The embodiment of the silencer according to the invention shown with reference to  FIG. 6  has the advantage that this can be used for breechblocks of any design. To do this, the catch or fastening means  15  merely has to be adapted to the breechblock  6  accordingly. Provided that the fastening means  15  can be detachably arranged on the end portion  11  of the silencer  10  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), only the fastening means  15  needs to be replaced to make it possible to fasten the silencer of a different gun. 
     The quick-release means  16  shown in  FIG. 6  may also be directly provided on the end portion  11  of the silencer and the corresponding counterparts of the quick-release means  16  may be provided on the breechblock of the gun. Therefore, the silencer can be directly fastened to the breechblock even without a catch. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           5  Portable firearm, in particular pistol 
           6  Breechblock (slide) of the pistol  5   
           10  Silencer 
           10   a  Silencer housing 
           11  End portion of the silencer  10   
           12  Barrel channel of the silencer  10   
           13  End portion of the barrel channel  12   
           14  Barrel-channel opening of the silencer  10   
           15  Fastening means on the end portion  11  of the silencer  10   
           15   a  Magnet 
           15   b  Counter-magnet 
           15   c  Catch 
           16  Quick-release means 
           17  Profile 
           17   a  Inner profile 
           18  Locking means 
         LA Longitudinal axis of the gun barrel