FIREARM SUPPRESSOR END CAP

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/439,179 filed on Jan. 16, 2023, entitled “SUPPRESSOR” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to suppressors for firearms. Specifically, an end-piece for mitigating gas blowback. This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/439,179.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Suppressors are used with firearms to mitigate the degree of sound, gas expulsion, and recoil experienced by the end user discharging a firearm. This is often accomplished by placing a series of baffles having a central aperture in a linear fashion and contained within a rigid cylinder. The baffles act to absorb the impact forces of propulsion and sound waves generated by a discharged ammunition cartridge, emanating from the muzzle end of a firearm. The central apertures of the baffles are aligned so as to create an unobstructed passage for the bullet while significantly obstructing gases and sound from leaving the suppressor. This obstruction results in often backpressure from the gases, which may result in gases being blown back towards the end user. This blowback is often unwanted and detrimental to both a shooter's experience and the life of the firearm due to the returning gases being of significant hear and carrying contaminants and particles from the resulting explosion of the cartridge primer and burning of propellant. Therefore, there exists a need to mitigate backpressure during the discharge of a firearm implementing a suppressor.

Gas blowback while a suppressor is installed on a firearm may be adjusted by implementing an adjustable gas tube that allows changing the size of the opening at the end of the gas tube where gas can leave the barrel and return towards the receiver end of a firearm. However, many firearms that utilize a gas tube do not have a gas tube that can be adjusted to moderate the gas blowback. Firearms lacking a proper adjustable gas tube may not function properly due to too little gas. Firearms without the proper adjustable gas tube may also be subjected to excessive wear on component parts from excessive gas blowback. Therefore, there is a need for a means to adjust the gas being blown back from a suppressor during operation.

Some suppressors allow mitigation of blowback by increasing the diameter of the path that the bullet may travel, including the end cap opening from which the bullet leaves the suppressor. However, this often results a larger flash and sound signature than where an opening that is closer to the bullet diameter is used. Other suppressors, such as those utilizing disclosures in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,286,750 and 9,316,456 allow gases to pass through the end cap of the suppressor to mitigate blowback. But such methods use a series of helical coils to direct gas flow out of the forward end of suppressors and do not permit blocking this feature. A traditional baffle system for suppressors has advantages and thus there exists a need for a baffle system suppressor that enables a user to adjust the gas blowback from the suppressor end by means other than enlarging a central channel.

Still further other examples implement apertures at the end of a suppressor for set screws such disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,668,541. However, that patent discloses a device where set screws may be threaded into outer ports along the radial periphery of the distal end rather than being forward facing to allow gas to pass in the direction of the bullet travel. This would potentially involve a time-consuming process of installing and removing multiple set screws to obstruct or open multiple apertures. The direction of gas flow being radially outward may also result in a larger flash and noise signature compared to the blast being directed in a forward direction. There thus exists a need for a way to address gas blowback and backpressure issues without having to unnecessarily increase the firearm's signature during discharge.

The following invention provides for an endcap component to a suppressor that enables a single suppressor to be quickly adjusted without the addition or replacement of any parts to tune the suppressor for optimal performance in either a manual loading or auto loading firearm, reduce the flash signature, and reduce sparking due to titanium erosion. Said suppressor end cap comprises of . . .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment with the end cap installed on a suppressor attached to a firearm barrel.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the suppressor and end cap assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a focused, angled view of an embodiment of the end cap assembly from a forward orientation.

FIG. 4 shows a focused, angled view of an embodiment of the end cap assembly from a rearward orientation.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show a side-sectional view of an embodiment of the end cap assembly in a completely opened and completely closed configuration, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of an embodiment of the end cap assembly in a completely opened configuration.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of an embodiment of the end cap assembly in a completely closed configuration

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the end cap assembly 10 installed at the forward end 12 of a suppressor 20 attached at its rearward end 14 to the end of a firearm barrel 32. The suppressor has a forward end and rear end, with the end cap assembly at the forward end and the barrel at the rearward end.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. There is a end cap assembly 10 comprised of an outer cap 40 being a first cap element, and an inner cap 80 being a second cap element; a suppressor 20 comprised of an external body 22 having an internal chamber; an internal baffle core 24, and a suppressor base 26; a muzzle device 30; and a firearm barrel 32. All are centered around a central bore axis 36

The outer cap 40 is at the forwardmost end away from the firearm barrel 32, with the inner cap 80 behind the outer cap to form the end cap assembly. Both outer cap and inner cap are forward of the baffle core 24. Both the end cap assembly and the baffle system are enclosed by the suppressor body 22, also referred to as a suppressor tube.

The suppressor body forward end 12 is partially internally threaded 16 to receive the end cap assembly. The rearward end 14 of the suppressor body receives the suppressor base 26, which allows attachment to the firearm 32 barrel through an optional muzzle device 30 that may be attached to the firearm barrel at the muzzle.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded front-angled view of the end cap assembly 10. There are two components: an outer cap 40 and an inner cap 80.

The outer cap 40 is a cup with skirt design, having a forward-facing front panel 42, defining: a forward rim 44, a central hexagonal aperture 46 centered around a bore axis 36, and nine outer gas apertures 50 encircling the hexagonal aperture at equidistant intervals 52 from one another (40 degree angular intervals) and from the hexagonal aperture with their rotational symmetry at 60 degree intervals (54, not shown here). An externally threaded skirt 60 extends rearward from the front panel centered around the bore axis.

The inner cap 80 is in the form of a cup having a forward face 82, from which extends rearwardly a panel skirt 84 and forwardly a hexagonal protrusion 86 with a forward surface 90 and each external side having a tool engagement surface 92. The hexagonal protrusion having a central hexagonal socket 96. The forward face defines nine outer gas apertures 100 encircling the hexagonal aperture at equidistant intervals 102 from one another (40 degree angular intervals) and from the hexagonal aperture with its rotational symmetry at 60 degree intervals. A panel skirt having a rearwardmost bottom rim 110 forming a front facing rearward most bottom shelf 112.

When the outer cap 40 and inner cap 80 combine they define an eccentric aperture. This eccentric aperture may be non-circular, such as in the shape of an ellipse, hexagon, or may be a lobe-shaped gear, have splines, or otherwise vary in geometric shape to transmit torque from the protrusion 86 to the outer cap 40 for disengagement from the suppressor body (22 in FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the outer cap 40 (previously identified in FIG. 3) and inner cap (previously identified in FIG. 3) from a rearward angled position.

The outer cap 40 being a cup with skirt design, having a rearward facing front panel 62 with a rearward extending externally threaded skirt 60. The skirt ends at a shoulder 64, from which extends a rearward skirt 70 having a bottom edge 72. The externally threaded skirt and rearward skirt combine to form an internal cylindrical wall 74. The rearward facing front panel defining: a central hexagonal aperture 56, and defining nine outer gas apertures 50 encircling the hexagonal aperture at equidistant intervals 52 from one another (40 degree angular intervals) and from the hexagonal aperture with its rotational symmetry at 60 degree intervals. The central hexagonal aperture and outer gas aperture are oriented uniformly around the bore axis 36.

The inner cap 80 is in the form of a cup having a rearward face 122 with a panel skirt 84 extending rearward to form an internal cylindrical wall 124 and defined by the bottom rim 110. The rim, also referred to as a flange having a chamfered surface 114 (not shown here). From the rearward face is also a central rearward extending tubular bore element 126 with tapered end 130. The hexagonal protruding end 86 extends in a corresponding opposite direction from the bore element 126, said hexagonal protruding end having each side a tool engagement surface 92. The rearward face defines 9 inner gas apertures 100 encircling the bore element at equidistant intervals 102 from one another (40 degree angular intervals) and from the hexagonal aperture with its rotational symmetry at 60 degree intervals. The hexagonal protruding end, bore element, and skirt are all oriented uniformly around the bore axis 36.

FIG. 5a shows a side sectional view of an embodiment of the outer cap 40 and inner cap 80 together in a first condition to form the end cap assembly installed at the forward end 14 (identified previously in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the suppressor body 22

The outer cap having a forward-facing front panel 42 defining a forward rim 44 and central hexagonal aperture 46, and having a rearward face 62. An externally threaded skirt 60 extends downward from the forward-facing front panel and ending in a shelf 64, then followed by a rearward skirt 70 ending with a flat surface 72. The interior of the externally threaded skirt and rearward skirt form a continuous internal cylindrical wall 74. The forward-facing front panel also defines an outer gas aperture 50.

The inner cap having a forward face 82 with an opposing rearward face 122, from which extends rearwardly a panel skirt 84 and forwardly a central hexagonal protrusion 86 with a forward surface 90. The hexagonal protrusion further defining a central hexagonal socket 96. The panel skirt terminates at its rearward end with a rim 110, also referred to as a flange, having a chamfered surface 114. From the rearward face is also a central rearward extending tubular bore element 126 with tapered end 130. The forward face of the inner cap further defines an inner gas aperture 100.

The inner cup 80 resides within the outer cup 40 in a first configuration where: the hexagonal protrusion 86 is oriented to fit through the hexagonal aperture 46 of the outer cap and extends beyond the front panel 42 of the outer cap, and the outer gas apertures 50 register with the inner gas apertures 100 to form a gas aperture channel 150 defined by a gas aperture bore axis 156. The unobstructed channel formed by the hexagonal socket, inner cap bore, baffles, and rifle barrel bore (not shown) defines a bore axis 36.

The forward-facing flat panel 42 being the external face of the end cap assembly, has its corresponding rearward facing surface 62 contacting the forward face of the inner cap 82 and forming a interface plane 120. The panel skirt 84 of the inner cap has a close slip fit 132 with the inner surface 74 of the outer cap. With the inner cap inside the outer cap the assembly is received into the suppressor body 22 by mating 134 the internal threaded portion 16 to the externally threaded skirt 60.

Due to the separation interval 52 between outer gas apertures 50 from one another, and the separation interval 102 between inner gas apertures 100, only one gas aperture channel 150 is visible in this view.

The forward rim 44 abuts the forward end of the suppressor body 22 by the mating 134 of the internal threads 14 of the suppressor body 22 and the externally threaded skirt 60. The inner cap is contained within the outer cap by the bottom rim 110 of the inner cap engaging the bottom edge 72 of the rearward skirt 70 of the outer cap 40, and the chamfered surface of the rearmost rim abuts a conical forward surface 140 of the forward baffle 142.

The inner cap 80 has a central protruding hexagonal boss 86 that is configured to closely fit within the hexagonal aperture 46 of the outer cap 40 and defines a central bore 66 sized to permit passage of a projectile.

The tapered end 130 central rearward extending tubular bore element 126 diverts any incandescing particles that may be generated within the suppressor.

FIG. 5b shows the same components and parts as FIG. 5a, but with the outer cap and inner cap oriented such that the channel 150 is not formed from the registering of outer gas aperture 50 and inner gas aperture 100.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5a in a first open condition from a top-down view. In this first condition, the hexagonal protruding end 86 extends from the hexagonal aperture 46, showing a central bore 36. The inner cap mostly obstructed and not visible here aside from the hexagonal protrusion 86, and outer cap 40 are oriented to one another such that their gas aperture holes register to form a gas aperture channel 150 about a gas aperture axis 156.

FIG. 7 depicts a top-down view of an embodiment of the end cap assembly of FIG. 5b in a second condition from a top-down view. The inner cap (obstructed and not shown aside from witness holes 100 and outer cap 40 oriented such that no gas aperture channel is formed. In this second condition, the hexagonal protrusion 86 matches with the hexagonal aperture 46 of the outer cap and extends beyond the front panel 42 of the outer cap around bore axis 36. However, the outer gas apertures 50 and inner gas apertures 100 are not registered, with the inner gas apertures separated by 20 degrees 56 from the position of their corresponding outer gas apertures relative radial positions, resulting in the front panel of the outer cap to obstruct 106 the inner gas apertures 100 (dotted line circle). In the preferred embodiment there is a 60-degree alignment of the hexagonal aperture so that one 60-degree rotational increment shifts a gas aperture by 1.5 times the gas aperture angular pitch of 40 degrees. This causes a given outer gas aperture to align with given inner gas aperture in one rotational condition, and to align midway between a pair of apertures in the next condition, and then back to an open condition, etc. alternating. In the preferred embodiment all apertures are aligned and open or blocked in concert with each other.

In other embodiments the hexagonal aperture of the outer cap, hexagonal protrusion of the inner cap, and hexagonal socket of the protrusion may have different geometric shapes. For example, in another embodiment the outer cap hexagonal aperture may be substituted for a square aperture, the protrusion of the inner cap may be a square protrusion, and the socket may be a square socket. The gas apertures in different embodiments may be of differing number, degree of separation, and distance from the central, bore aligned aperture.

In other embodiments the number, spacings, and arrangements of the gas apertures 50 and 100 may be different, including irregular spacing, to provide different gas flow characteristics with different rotational positions of the inner and outer caps besides the all-on or all-off embodiment previously described. For instance, in a six-position system as shown, the apertures may be configured to have one position with all apertures open, and other with all closed, and others in which different numbers or sizes or portions of apertures are open to provide additional gas flow conditions between full-open and closed.

The preferred embodiment being a suppressor comprising of a tube having a front end and a rear end and defining an interior chamber. There is an internal baffle element received in the chamber. A front cap assembly is connected to the front end of the suppressor body tube. The front cap assembly comprising a first cap element being an outer cap, and a second cap element being an inner cap. The first cap element and second cap element are matable in a first condition having a first gas flow characteristic between the chamber and an exterior and a second condition having a first gas flow characteristic between the chamber and the exterior. Each of the first cap element defines a first gas bypass aperture, and the second cap element defines a second gas bypass aperture. The first and second gas bypass apertures are registered with each other when the cap assembly is in the first condition and offset from each other when in the second condition. At least one of the first and second cap element defines a bullet bore separate from the gas bypass aperture and each of the first cap element and the second cap element defines at least one gas bypass aperture. The gas apertures are arrayed circularly. The first and second cap elements are rotationally engaged to each other when in the mated condition. One of the first and second cap elements defines an eccentric aperture and the other of the first and second cap elements defines a protrusion, which may be polygonal and has a plurality of opposed parallel faces to include tool-engagement surfaces, configured to be closely received in the eccentric aperture for rotational engagement. The protrusion defines a bullet bore. The first condition and second condition are angularly offset from each other by a rotational offset increment, and wherein the first cap element and second cap element define gas bypass apertures offset from each other by a different rotational offset increment.