Firearm suppressor having enhanced thermal management for rapid heat dissipation
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsWilliam C. Moss, Andrew T. Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A suppressor is disclosed for use with a weapon having a barrel through which a bullet is fired. The suppressor has an inner portion having a bore extending coaxially therethrough. The inner portion is adapted to be secured to a distal end of the barrel. A plurality of axial flow segments project radially from the inner portion and form axial flow paths through which expanding propellant gasses discharged from the barrel flow through. The axial flow segments have radially extending wall portions that define sections which may be filled with thermally conductive material, which in one example is a thermally conductive foam. The conductive foam helps to dissipate heat deposited within the suppressor during firing of the weapon.
Claims20
A suppressor for a weapon, where the weapon has a barrel, the suppressor comprising:
- an inner portion having a bore extending therethrough, the inner portion adapted to be secured to a distal end of the barrel;
- a plurality of axial flow segments arranged radially around the inner portion, and being in flow communication with the bore and forming axially extending flow paths generally parallel to the bore for expanding propellant gasses discharged from the barrel to flow through, the axial flow segments further having radially extending wall portions which enhance a dissipation of heat deposited in the suppressor during firing of the weapon;
- and
- a thermally conductive air gap section disposed adjacent to at least one of the axial flow segments, the thermally conductive air gap section being formed at least in part by a pair of the radially extending wall portions to define a region that is not in fluid flow communication with the bore and through which no flow of the expanding propellant gasses occurs.
A suppressor for a weapon, where the weapon has a barrel, the suppressor comprising:
- an inner portion having a bore extending therethrough, the inner portion adapted to be secured to a distal end of the barrel;
- a plurality of axial flow segments projecting radially around the inner portion and, formed in part by radially extending wall portions, the axial flow segments extending generally parallel to the bore and forming independent axial flow paths which are in flow communication with the bore and arranged circumferentially around the bore, and which expand propellant gasses discharged from the barrel;
- and
- a thermally conductive air gap section disposed adjacent to at least one of the axial flow segments, the thermally conductive air gap section being formed at least in part by a pair of the radially extending wall portions to define a region that is not in fluid flow communication with the bore and through which no flow of the expanding propellant gasses occurs.
A method for suppressing noise and/or flash emanating from a barrel of a weapon when a bullet is fired from the barrel of the weapon, the method comprising:
- securing an inner portion of a suppressor to a distal end of the barrel to receive the bullet and expanding propellant gasses discharged from the distal end of the barrel when the weapon is fired;
- using a bore within the inner portion of the suppressor to receive and channel the expanding propellant gasses through the suppressor;
- using a plurality of independent axial flow segments of the suppressor, each said axial flow segment being formed by adjacent pairs of radially extending wall portions, and being arranged radially around the inner portion and extending generally parallel to the bore and being in flow communication with the bore, to receive portions of the expanding propellant gasses as the expanding propellant gasses flow through the bore, and to delay the exit of the portions of the expanding propellant flow from the suppressor;
- and
- using a thermally conductive air gap section disposed adjacent to at least one of the axial flow segments to conduct heat away from the bore, the thermally conductive air gap section being formed at least in part by a pair of the radially extending wall portions to define a region that is not in fluid flow communication with the bore and through which no flow of the expanding propellant gasses occurs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.