Muzzle device and method of tuning thereof

Abstract

A muzzle device for simultaneously mitigating the four major physical effects caused when a projectile is fired; muzzle climb, concussion, and recoil without an increased muzzle flash signature is provided. The muzzle device can include a cylindrical body defining an expansion chamber and can include a securing mechanism arranged at a proximal end and an end wall arranged at a distal end. An opening sized for a projectile can be arranged in the distal end wall. At least one distal tuning vent can be arranged in the distal end wall about the opening. A plurality of radial exhaust vents can be arranged through a cylindrical wall of the cylindrical body. The expansion chamber can define a fixed volume and the tuning and exhaust vents can define an open area.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for tuning a muzzle device for a firearm, the muzzle device comprising a cylindrical body defining an expansion chamber and a plurality of vents arranged in the cylindrical body to vent the expansion chamber, the method comprising adjusting an open area of the vents to balance a volume of the firearm's combustion gases vented radially from the expansion chamber with a volume of the firearm's combustion gases exhausted axially from the expansion chamber to thereby mitigate muzzle rise and recoil of the firearm. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of vents comprises a plurality of radial vents arranged in longitudinally extending rows along the cylindrical body and the method comprises adjusting an open area of the plurality of radial vents. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the muzzle device comprises a securing mechanism at a proximal end of the cylindrical body, a distal end wall at a distal end of the cylindrical body and having an inner face forming an end of the expansion chamber, and an opening for a projectile in the distal end wall. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the distal end wall has a concave-shaped outer face. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the muzzle device comprises a securing mechanism at a proximal end of the cylindrical body, a distal end wall at a distal end of the cylindrical body and having an inner face forming an end of the expansion chamber, and an opening for a projectile in the distal end wall;   the plurality of vents comprises a plurality of distal vents arranged in the distal end wall around the opening for the projectile; and   the method comprises adjusting an open area of the plurality of distal vents.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the muzzle device comprises a plurality of radial vents arranged in longitudinally extending rows along the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the distal end wall has a concave-shaped outer face. 
     
     
         28 . A muzzle device comprising:
 a cylindrical body defining an expansion chamber and including a threaded securing mechanism arranged at a proximal end of the cylindrical body, a proximal end wall having an inner face forming a funnel-shaped entrance that opens into the expansion chamber, and a distal end wall arranged at a distal end of the cylindrical body, the distal end wall having an inner face forming an end wall of the expansion chamber and an axial outer face;   an opening for a projectile arranged in the distal end wall;   a plurality of distal tuning vents arranged in the distal end wall about the opening and passing from the expansion chamber through the inner face of the distal end wall and through the axial outer face of the end wall; and   a plurality of radial exhaust vents arranged through a cylindrical wall of the cylindrical body in longitudinally extending rows on the cylindrical body, each longitudinally extending row including at least two radial exhaust vents;   wherein the radial exhaust vents are arranged symmetrically around a center position of an upper sector of the cylindrical body, leaving a lower sector of the cylindrical body unvented;   whereby when attached to a muzzle end of a firearm barrel with the center position of the upper sector of the cylindrical body oriented at the twelve o′clock position of the barrel, the muzzle device mitigates muzzle rise and recoil of the firearm during firing of the firearm.   
     
     
         29 . The muzzle device of  claim 28 , wherein the spacing of radial exhaust vents in neighboring rows is staggered. 
     
     
         30 . The muzzle device of  claim 28 , wherein each radial exhaust vent is elongated parallel to its row. 
     
     
         31 . The muzzle device of  claim 28 , wherein the open areas of the radial exhaust vents in a longitudinally extending row of radial exhaust vents progressively decrease along the row from the proximal end of the row to the distal end of the row. 
     
     
         32 . The muzzle device of  claim 28 , comprising slots in the outer surface of the cylindrical wall arranged along the longitudinally extending rows of radial exhaust vents, each slot connecting all of the radial exhaust vents in a corresponding row, the slots not penetrating through the cylindrical wall to the expansion chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The muzzle device of  claim 28 , wherein the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical body continues beyond the distal end wall to form a hood extending from the distal end of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         34 . The muzzle device of  claim 28  wherein the axial outer face of the distal end wall is concave. 
     
     
         35 . A muzzle device comprising:
 a cylindrical body defining an expansion chamber and including a threaded securing mechanism arranged at a proximal end of the cylindrical body and a distal end wall arranged at a distal end of the cylindrical body, the distal end wall having an inner face forming an end wall of the expansion chamber and a concave axial outer face;   an opening for a projectile arranged in the distal end wall;   a plurality of distal tuning vents arranged in the distal end wall about the opening and passing from the expansion chamber through the inner face of the distal end wall and through the concave axial outer face of the end wall; and   a plurality of radial exhaust vents arranged through a cylindrical wall of the cylindrical body in longitudinally extending rows on the cylindrical body, each longitudinally extending row including at least two radial exhaust vents;   wherein the radial exhaust vents are arranged symmetrically around a center position of an upper sector of the cylindrical body, leaving a lower sector of the cylindrical body unvented;   whereby when attached to a muzzle end of a firearm barrel with the center position of the upper sector of the cylindrical body oriented at the twelve o′clock position of the barrel, the muzzle device mitigates muzzle rise and recoil of the firearm during firing of the firearm.   
     
     
         36 . The muzzle device of  claim 35 , wherein the spacing of radial exhaust vents in neighboring rows is staggered. 
     
     
         37 . The muzzle device of  claim 35 , wherein each radial exhaust vent is elongated parallel to its row. 
     
     
         38 . The muzzle device of  claim 35 , wherein the open areas of the radial exhaust vents in a longitudinally extending row of radial exhaust vents progressively decrease along the row from the proximal end of the row to the distal end of the row. 
     
     
         39 . The muzzle device of  claim 35 , comprising slots in the outer surface of the cylindrical wall arranged along the longitudinally extending rows of radial exhaust vents, each slot connecting all of the radial exhaust vents in a corresponding row, the slots not penetrating through the cylindrical wall to the expansion chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The muzzle device of  claim 35 , wherein the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical body continues beyond the distal end wall to form a hood extending from the distal end of the cylindrical body.