Thermal Suppression Device

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and means to decrease thermal radiation emitted from firearms consisting of a phase changing material with a large heat capacity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal suppression apparatus, comprising a phase change material. 
     
     
         2 . A thermal suppression method comprising of a phase change material. 
     
     
         3 . A means of thermal suppression through the use of a phase change material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material will undergo a phase change slightly above the ambient air temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material absorbs a large amount of thermal energy. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , where the device uses a variable volume chamber to change the temperature at which the phase change material undergoes a phase change. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a the device uses a variable volume chamber to change the temperature at which the phase change material undergoes a phase change, the volume of the chamber is altered by a material that expands and contracts when heated or cooled respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the material used to construct the device has a low effective emissivity. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a variable volume chamber containing phase change material alters its volume from thermal contraction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a variable volume chamber containing phase change material alters its volume from thermal expansion. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the phase change material is contained within a variable volume chamber that has a low effective emissivity. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the ambient temperature causes thermal contraction and expansion of a variable volume chamber that contains phase change material. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the ambient temperature causes thermal contraction and expansion of a variable volume chamber that contains phase change material such that the temperature at which the material will undergo a phase change is slightly above the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The means according to  claim 3 , wherein a material used for changing the volume of a phase change material chamber has characteristics such that the temperature at which the material will undergo a phase change is slightly above the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The means according to  claim 3 , wherein materials are used for changing the volume of a phase change material chamber have characteristics such that the temperature at which the material will under a phase change is slightly above the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The means according to  claim 3 , wherein a variable volume chamber contains a phase change material located near a thermal source. 
     
     
         17 . The means according to  claim 3 , wherein a variable pressure chamber contains a phase change material located near a thermal source. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a variable pressure chamber contains a phase change material located near a thermal source. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material has adequate heat capacity to absorb a significant amount of thermal energy. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the device has a cooling device to provide adequate cooling so the phase change material may revert back to its unheated state. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a thermoelectric cooling device is used to cool the phase change material back to its unheated state.