Device for Preventing the Report of Guns.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
Device for Preventing the Report of Guns.
I, MAX BERNSTEIN, Proprietor of the Firm of Joh. Friedr. Wallmann & Co., of
74 Blumen Strasse, in the City of Berlin, in the German Empire, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The object of the present invention is a device by means of which the report of
ordnance and small arms is prevented.
The report occurring on firing guns is dependent upon the law regarding pressure
of air, the reason for the same being that after discharging, the space in the
barrel is suddenly filled with rarefied gases, and the air strives with like rapidity,
and with enormous force, to rush in and fill this space again.
To obviate this inconvenience, according to the present invention, a spring flap
is arranged at the muzzle of the barrel, hermetically closing it, said flap being
provided with a valve or slide, leading to the bore and opening inwardly. By
means of this valve or slide a gradual entry of air into the bore can take place
when the flap is closed. The flap may be applied either directly to the barrel, or
be attached to a removable cap or collar, capable of being secured to the gun
barrel.
The accompanying drawing shows a form of the invention,
Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section of the barrel of a piece of ordnance, with
flap closed.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same, with partly opened flap, whilst
Fig. 3 shows the inside of the flap separately, and
Figs. 4 and 5 side views of a cap or collar with flap attached, which may be
secured to the muzzle of the barrel by means of a bayonet-joint.
At the muzzle of the barrel a is arranged a hinged flap b, closing hermetically
against the muzzle under the influence of a spring. In the flap 6 is a spring
valve c, opening inwardly, which allows entry of the outside air into the bore
through the opening c¹ in the flap. Or a strip of leather may be arranged on the
inside of the flap 6 to cover the passage c¹. Or instead of the valve c, or of the
leather strip, the closing of the opening c¹ may be effected to the same end by
means of a slide. On the inside, the flap b is provided with a packing-ring d
in order to insure an hermetical joint between it and the muzzle.
The manner of operation is as follows:
On firing, the air in front of the shot is compressed, until the pressure is strong
enough to overcome the action of the spring flap b; the latter then opens, and
when the shot has left the barrel, is immediately thrown back by its spring b
against the muzzle, the suction of the air, which endeavours to suddenly enter the
barrel and fill up the almost vacuous space, also assisting to this end.
By thus hindering a sudden rush of air into the bore, the report is prevented.
On the flap 6 closing, the pressure of the air automatically opens the valve c (or
presses the leather strip back) so that air can gradually enter and fill the barrel.
Instead of the flap 6 being fixed directly on the barrel, it may be secured to a

page_text: cap or collar a¹, the latter being pushed over the muzzle of the barrel and there
secured by means of a bayonet-joint f f¹, or in other suitable manner.
In the case of ship's guns, the application of the above described arrangement
has the further advantage that the rocking of the ship consequent upon discharge
of the gun, is diminished and the certainty of aim thereby increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
-
A device for preventing the report of guns, consisting in the arrangement at
the muzzle of the barrel, of a spring flap (b) opening outwardly and provided with
an automatic valve (c) opening inwardly, for the purpose of closing the muzzle
of the barrel immediately after discharge of the shot, and by means of the valve (c),
permitting only a gradual entry of air into the bore, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1897. .
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.