APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR A MUZZLE BRAKE

Description

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application, entitled “Apparatus And Methods For A Muzzle Brake,” filed on Sep. 27, 2023, and having application Ser. No. 63/540,905, the entirety of said application being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to firearms. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to attachments for firearms that can be used to prevent or suppress muzzle flash, muzzle rise, as well as operate with a sound suppressor.

BACKGROUND

Firearms, such as pistols or rifles, utilize expanding high-pressure gases generated by a burning propellant to expel a projectile from a muzzle end of a barrel of the weapon at a relatively high velocity. When the projectile, or bullet, exits the muzzle of the weapon's barrel, a bright, “muzzle flash” of light and a high-pressure pulse of combustion gases accompany it. The rapid pressurization and subsequent depressurization caused by the high-pressure pulse gives rise to a loud sound known as “muzzle blast,” which, like muzzle flash, can readily indicate to a remote enemy both the location of the weapon and the direction from which it is being fired. In some situations, such as covert military operations, it is desirable to conceal such information from the enemy by suppressing the flash with a “flash hider” attachment and/or eliminating or substantially reducing the amplitude of the muzzle blast with a “sound suppressor” or “silencer.”

In addition to muzzle flash and muzzle blast, the expanding high-pressure gases can also result in a phenomenon referred to as “muzzle rise” or “muzzle climb,” i.e., a tendency of the muzzle of the weapon to rotate upwards relative to the horizon and sideways relative to the vertical after firing, thereby causing the weapon to miss the target aimed at and adversely affecting the accuracy of the weapon, particularly during automatic or rapid fire thereof. To prevent or reduce this undesirable effect, firearm attachments referred to as “muzzle brakes” or “recoil compensators” are often used.

Sound suppressors (also referred to as “noise suppressors” or “silencers”) can be used on firearms to reduce the amplitude of their muzzle blast, and in some cases, muzzle flash. 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 weapon and are typically located sufficiently forward of the muzzle end of the weapon that they can also operate effectively as a flash hider (e.g., a muzzle flash suppressor).

Given that use of firearms is ubiquitous, there is a continuous desire to develop firearm attachments that can operate effectively not only to reduce or eliminate both muzzle flash and muzzle climb, i.e., as both flash hiders and muzzle brakes, but that can also operate in conjunction with a sound suppressor.

SUMMARY

An apparatus and methods are provided for an attachment for firearms to prevent or suppress sound, muzzle flash, and muzzle climb. The attachment includes a suppressor for inhibiting muzzle flash and a muzzle brake coupled to the suppressor for counteracting muzzle climb. The suppressor includes a distal end that receives a retaining ring to couple the muzzle brake with the suppressor. The distal end includes exterior threads and a tapered interior surface to seal with a beveled exterior surface of the muzzle brake. The exterior threads engage with interior threads of the retaining ring whereby the beveled surface may be brought into contact with the tapered interior surface of the distal end. The retaining ring includes a narrow portion configured to engage a lip on the exterior of the muzzle brake whereby the muzzle brake may be tightly coupled with the distal end of the suppressor.

In an exemplary embodiment, an attachment to be coupled to a muzzle end of a barrel of a firearm comprises: a suppressor for reducing or eliminating muzzle flash; and a muzzle brake coupled to the suppressor for reducing or eliminating muzzle climb.

In another exemplary embodiment, the suppressor is a generally elongate member comprising a housing and having a proximal end and a distal end. In another exemplary embodiment, the proximal end comprises a retaining mechanism adapted to couple the suppressor to the muzzle end of the barrel. In another exemplary embodiment, the proximal end includes threads configured to engage with similar threads disposed on the barrel, whereby the suppressor may be threaded onto the barrel.

In another exemplary embodiment, the suppressor includes a distal end that is adapted to receive a retaining ring configured to couple the muzzle brake with the suppressor. In another exemplary embodiment, the distal end comprises a cylindrical member having exterior threads and a tapered interior surface configured to establish a substantially airtight seal with a beveled exterior surface of the muzzle brake. In another exemplary embodiment, the exterior threads are configured to engage with interior threads comprising the retaining ring whereby the beveled surface may be brought into contact with the tapered interior surface of the distal end. In another exemplary embodiment, the retaining ring includes a narrow portion having an interior diameter configured to engage a lip disposed on the exterior of the muzzle brake whereby the muzzle brake may be tightly coupled with the distal end upon tightening the retaining ring onto the exterior threads of the distal end.

In another exemplary embodiment, the muzzle brake comprises a generally cylindrical body having an open proximal end and a central bore disposed at a distal end. In another exemplary embodiment, the central bore is adapted to provide an exit to a projectile, or a bullet, fired from the firearm. In another exemplary embodiment, an interior of the muzzle brake defines a pressure chamber that is configured to receive high pressure discharged gases when the firearm is fired. In another exemplary embodiment, a plurality of directional ports formed in the cylindrical body connect the pressure chamber to an exterior of the muzzle brake. In another exemplary embodiment, the plurality of directional ports are configured to vent a portion of the high pressure discharged gases in a manner that directionally counters upward and sideward movement of the barrel during operating the firearm.

In an exemplary embodiment, a method for reducing or eliminating muzzle flash and muzzle climb during the operation of a firearm comprises: configuring a suppressor to be coupled to a muzzle end of a barrel of the firearm; and configuring a muzzle brake to be coupled to the suppressor.

In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the suppressor includes adapting a distal end of the suppressor to receive a retaining ring for coupling the muzzle brake with the suppressor. In another exemplary embodiment, adapting the distal end includes forming a cylindrical member that includes exterior threads and a tapered interior surface configured to establish a substantially airtight seal with a beveled exterior surface of the muzzle brake. In another exemplary embodiment, adapting the distal end includes configuring the exterior threads to engage with interior threads comprising the retaining ring whereby the beveled surface may be brought into contact with the tapered interior surface of the distal end. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the suppressor includes forming a narrow portion of the retaining ring having an interior diameter configured to engage a lip disposed on the exterior of the muzzle brake whereby the muzzle brake may be tightly coupled with the distal end upon tightening the retaining ring onto the exterior threads of the distal end.

In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the muzzle brake includes configuring a beveled exterior surface to establish a substantially airtight seal with a tapered interior surface of the suppressor. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the muzzle brake includes disposing a lip on the exterior of the muzzle brake whereby the muzzle brake may be tightly coupled with the suppressor upon tightening a retaining ring onto exterior threads disposed on a distal end of the suppressor. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the muzzle brake includes forming a plurality of directional ports to vent a portion of high pressure discharged gases in a manner that directionally counters upward and sideward movement of the barrel during operating the firearm.

These and other features of the concepts provided herein may be better understood with reference to the drawings, description, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a right-side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a muzzle brake and suppressor coupled to a muzzle end of a barrel of a rifle in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a muzzle brake and suppressor that may be coupled to the muzzle end of a barrel of a firearm;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the muzzle brake and suppressor shown in FIG. 2, taken a long a midline;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a muzzle brake, according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a muzzle brake and suppressor in accordance with the present disclosure.

While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the muzzle brake and methods disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first portion,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first portion” is different than a “second portion.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.

In accordance with the present disclosure, example embodiments of novel firearm attachments that can operate effectively not only to reduce or eliminate both muzzle flash and muzzle climb, i.e., as both flash hiders and muzzle brakes, but that can also operate in conjunction with a sound suppressor.

FIG. 1 illustrates a right-side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a muzzle brake 100 and suppressor 102 coupled to the muzzle end of a barrel 104 of a firearm 108, in accordance with the present disclosure. Firearm 108 may be in the form of a rifle, carbine or pistol. Firearm 108 may be chambered in 0.223, 0.30, 0.308, 0.38, 0.40, 0.458, 0.50, 5.56 mm, 6.8 mm, 9 mm, 7.62 mm calibers, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the suppressor 102 is coupled with the barrel 104 by way of a retaining mechanism 112. For example, such a retaining mechanism may be implemented as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,948,415, 7,676,976, 7,946,069, 8,091,462, and 8,459,406, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. It is contemplated, however, that the suppressor 102 may be attached to the barrel 104 by way of any of various suitable devices and/or techniques.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a muzzle brake 100 and a suppressor 102 that may be coupled to the muzzle end of a barrel 104 of a firearm 108, as shown in FIG. 1. The suppressor 102 is a generally elongate member comprising a housing 116 and having a proximal end 120 and a distal end 124. As will be appreciated, the proximal end 120 is adapted to couple the suppressor 102 to the muzzle end of the barrel 104, such as by way of the above-mentioned retaining mechanism 112 or another suitable device. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the proximal end 120 includes threads 128 configured to engage with similar threads that may be disposed on the barrel 104, whereby the suppressor 102 may be threaded onto the barrel 104 in lieu of the retaining mechanism 112. The distal end 124 is adapted to receive a retaining ring 132 configured to couple the muzzle brake 100 with the suppressor 102, as described herein.

In the embodiment of the suppressor 102 illustrated herein, the housing 116 is shown having a cylindrical shape, or being substantially tubular in nature. It should be understood, however, that the housing 116 is not limited to being cylindrical and/or tubular in shape or having a circular cross-sectional shape. For example, the housing 116 may have a cross-sectional shape comprising any of square, rectangular, oval, and the like, without limitation. Further, the housing 116 may comprise different shapes and sizes along the length of the housing 116. In some embodiments, for example, a first portion of the housing 116 may be tubular while a second portion of the housing 116 may having a non-tubular shape, such as a rectangular shape. Further, in some embodiments, the first portion of the housing 116 may comprise a tube having a first diameter while the second portion may comprise a tube having a second diameter than is smaller than the first diameter. Other suitable configurations of the housing 116 will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the muzzle brake 100 and suppressor 102 of FIG. 2, taken a long a midline. The interior of the suppressor 102 includes a series of baffles 136 that are separated from one another by cylindrical spacers 140. The cylindrical spacers 140 are coaxially disposed within the suppressor 102 such that a central aperture 144 of each baffle 136 is coaxially aligned with the barrel 104 and a central bore 148 of the muzzle brake 100. As will be appreciated, each pair of adjacent baffles 136 and the intervening cylindrical spacer 140 generally defines a cylindrical gas expansion chamber. As such, the interior of the suppressor 102 includes a longitudinally stacked series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers that are configured to control, delay, and divert the flow, expansion, and exhausting of the propellant gases, as well as to reduce their temperature.

As mentioned above, the distal end 124 is configured to be coupled with the muzzle brake 100 by way of the retaining ring 132. As best shown in FIG. 5, the distal end 124 generally comprises a cylindrical member having exterior threads 152 and a tapered interior surface 156. The tapered interior surface 156 is configured to establish a substantially airtight seal with a beveled exterior surface 160 of the muzzle brake 100. The exterior threads 152 are configured to engage with interior threads 164 comprising the retaining ring 132 whereby the beveled surface 160 may be brought into contact with the tapered interior surface 156 of the distal end 124. The retaining ring 132 includes a narrow portion 168 having an interior diameter configured to engage a lip 172 disposed on the exterior of the muzzle brake 100. Thus, the muzzle brake 100 may be tightly coupled with the distal end 124 upon tightening the retaining ring 132 onto the exterior threads 152 of the distal end 124.

As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the muzzle brake 100 comprises a generally cylindrical body 176 having an open proximal end 180 and the central bore 148 disposed at a distal end. The central bore 148 is adapted to provide an exit to a projectile, or a bullet, fired from the firearm 108. In some embodiments, the central bore 148 may be implemented with a tapered portion and an untapered portion, without limitation. An interior of the muzzle brake 100 defines a pressure chamber 184 that is configured to receive high pressure discharged gases when the firearm 108 is fired. A plurality of directional ports 188 formed in the cylindrical body 176 connect the pressure chamber 184 to an exterior of the muzzle brake 100. When the firearm 108 is fired, therefore, discharged gases enter the pressure chamber 184, and the directional ports 188 vent a portion of the discharged gases in a manner that directionally counters upward and sideward movement of the barrel 104.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the directional ports 188 comprises a generally radially extending circular aperture that includes a cylindrical inner section 192 having an inner end that intersects the pressure chamber 184, and a frustoconical outer section 196 having an inner end conterminous with an outer end of the cylindrical section 192, and an outer end that intersects the outer circumference of the cylindrical body 176. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the outer end of the frustoconical section 196 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of its inner end. As such, the frustoconical section 196 flares out towards the circumference of the body 176, and hence, the ambient air surrounding it.

As those of some skill will recognize, the configuration of the directional ports 188 provide a nozzle substantially similar to that of a rocket nozzle, in which the pressure chamber 184 of the muzzle brake 100 corresponds to a “combustion chamber” of the nozzle, the cylindrical section 192 to a “throat” of the nozzle, and the frustoconical section 196 to a “bell” or expansion section of the nozzle. Thus, in operation, the high-temperature, high-pressure gases generated by a burning propellant during the firing of the firearm 108 enter the pressure chamber 184, accelerate to sonic velocities as they pass through the constriction of the throat, or cylindrical section 192 of the nozzle, then expand rapidly through the bell, or frustoconical section 196 of the nozzle, causing the gases to accelerate to supersonic velocities and to cool, or drop substantially in temperature.

The acceleration of the combustion gases through the directional ports 188 results in a thrust being imparted to the muzzle brake 100, and hence, to the muzzle end of the barrel 104 of the firearm 108 to which it is attached, that is in a direction opposite to that of the flow of the gases through the ports. Accordingly, directional ports 188 disposed on the upper surface of the cylindrical body 176 serve to compensate for (e.g., offset or eliminate) the tendency of the muzzle to climb or rise after firing, whereas the directional ports 188 disposed on either the right or left side surface of the cylindrical body 176 serve to offset or eliminate the tendency of the muzzle to pull to the right or to the left, respectively, after firing.

In addition to the foregoing, the rapid expansion and accompanying cooling of the gasses in the directional ports 188 results in a substantial reduction in any further combustion of the gases, and hence, muzzle flash exhibited at the outlets of the directional ports 188. Experiment has demonstrated that coupling the muzzle brake 100 with the suppressor 102 results in virtually no increase in the amount of visible muzzle flash during the firing of weapons to which the suppressor 102 and muzzle brake 100 are attached.

Methods for reducing or eliminating muzzle flash and muzzle climb during the operation of a firearm 108 can include, in some embodiments, configuring a suppressor 102 to be coupled to a muzzle end of a barrel 104 of the firearm 108. Configuring the suppressor 102 can include adapting a distal end 124 of the suppressor 102 to receive a retaining ring 132 for coupling a muzzle brake 100 with the suppressor 102. In some embodiments, adapting the distal end 124 can include forming a cylindrical member that includes exterior threads 152 and a tapered interior surface 156 configured to establish a substantially airtight seal with a beveled exterior surface 160 of the muzzle brake 100. However, adapting the distal end 124 can also include, in some embodiments, configuring the exterior threads 152 to engage with interior threads 164 comprising the retaining ring 132 whereby the beveled surface 160 may be brought into contact with the tapered interior surface 156 of the distal end 124. Further, in some embodiments, configuring the suppressor 102 can include forming a narrow portion 168 of the retaining ring having an interior diameter configured to engage a lip 172 disposed on the exterior of the muzzle brake 100 whereby the muzzle brake 100 may be tightly coupled with the distal end 124 upon tightening the retaining ring 132 onto the exterior threads 152 of the distal end 124.

The methods can further include configuring the muzzle brake 100 to be coupled to the suppressor 102. Configuring the muzzle brake 100 can include configuring a beveled exterior surface 160 to establish a substantially airtight seal with a tapered interior surface 156 of the suppressor 102. In some embodiments, configuring the muzzle brake 100 can include disposing a lip 172 on the exterior of the muzzle brake 100 whereby the muzzle brake 100 may be tightly coupled with the suppressor 102 upon tightening a retaining ring 132 onto exterior threads 152 disposed on the distal end 124 of the suppressor 102. However, in some embodiments, configuring the muzzle brake 100 can include forming a plurality of directional ports 188 to vent a portion of high pressure discharged gases in a manner that directionally counters upward and sideward movement of the barrel 104 during operating the firearm 108.

While the muzzle brake and methods have been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the muzzle brake is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the muzzle brake. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process, when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the muzzle brake, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the muzzle brake found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.