Modular gun silencer

Abstract

A modular silencer includes an outer tube and a plurality of chamber separators suspended through a tensile force within a bore of the outer tube and defining chambers between each pair of chamber separators in the silencer. An outer edge of the chamber separators is spaced apart from an inner surface of the tube to allow gas equalization between the chambers. A plurality of tube portions separate the chamber separators from each other and from the proximal and distal ends of the silencer assembly. The tube portions define a continuous center tube suspended in tension within the outer tube and through which the projectile travels. The tube portions have can have angled openings through which gas discharge exits into the chambers. Rotatable sleeves can be disposed over the tube portions to further disrupt gas flow and dissipate heat and sound. A carbon fiber sleeve can be disposed over the outer tube to inhibit burn injuries from contacting the silencer.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An active silencer for automatic and semi-automatic guns, comprising:
 a tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and   a modular assembly removably housed within a bore of the tube, the modular assembly comprising a plurality of chamber separators axially spaced apart from each other by a plurality of separate tube portions, the modular assembly suspended within the tube under a tension force between an adapter attached to the proximal end of the tube and an end cap attached to the distal end of the tube, each pair of adjacent chamber separators defining a chamber therebetween,   wherein an outermost edge of each of the chamber separators is spaced inward from an inner surface of the tube by a gap to facilitate gas flow between the chambers, thereby facilitating gas equalization between chambers within the tube to thereby increase noise suppression.   
     
     
         3 . The silencer of  claim 2 , wherein the gap is approximately 0.001 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The silencer of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of separate tube portions comprise a plurality of intermediate tube portions, each intermediate tube portion disposed between and interconnecting adjacent chamber separators, the plurality of intermediate tube portions releasably coupleable to each other under said tension force along an axis, each of the plurality of the tube portions having a central bore along its length and one or more openings extending through a wall of the intermediate tube portion configured to allow a gas to pass from the central bore into the chamber that surrounds the intermediate tube portion. 
     
     
         5 . The silencer of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more openings extending through the wall of the intermediate tube portion are oriented at an angle relative to a central axis of the intermediate tube portion. 
     
     
         6 . The silencer of  claim 5 , wherein the angle is approximately 37 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The silencer of  claim 4 , further comprising a sleeve rotatably disposed about one or more of the plurality of intermediate tube portions, the sleeve comprising one or more openings through a wall of the sleeve configured to allow the gas to pass through the sleeve into the chamber surrounding the intermediate tube portion, the sleeve configured to rotate relative to the intermediate tube portion to dissipate heat and sound generated by firing a bullet through the silencer. 
     
     
         8 . The silencer of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more openings extending through the wall of the sleeve are oriented at an angle relative to a central axis of the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The silencer of  claim 8 , wherein the angle is approximately 37 degrees 
     
     
         10 . The silencer of  claim 4 , further comprising a proximal expansion chamber between an adapter removably coupleable to a proximal end of the tube and a first of the plurality of chamber separators, a proximal tube portion disposed between and coupled to the adapter and first chamber separator, the proximal tube portion removably coupled to a first of the plurality of intermediate tube portions, and further comprising a distal expansion chamber between a last of the plurality of chamber separators and the end cap, a distal tube portion disposed between and coupled to the end cap and the last chamber separator, the distal tube portion removably coupled to a last of the plurality of intermediate tube portions, wherein a distal end of the distal tube portion extends through an opening in the end cap such that it protrudes from the end cap. 
     
     
         11 . The silencer of  claim 2 , wherein the end cap comprises a plurality of openings on a perimeter surface thereof through which gas can exit from the distal expansion chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The silencer of  claim 10 , further comprising a nut configured to threadably couple to the distal end of the distal tube portion that protrudes from the end cap so that the end cap is disposed axially between the nut and the distal expansion chamber, wherein an amount of the tension force applied to the modular assembly depends on the degree to which the nut is threaded onto the distal end of the distal tube portion. 
     
     
         13 . The silencer of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal tube portion, plurality of intermediate tube portions, and distal tube portion are sequentially threadably coupled to each other and together define a continuous bore configured to receive a bullet therethrough during use, and where a proximal end of the proximal tube portion is threadably coupled to a threaded coupling of the adapter, the threaded coupling defining a bore therethrough that aligns with a bore of the proximal tube portion. 
     
     
         14 . The silencer of  claim 2 , further comprising an outer sleeve disposed over the tube, the outer sleeve made of carbon fiber material and configured to inhibit heat transfer from the tube during use of the silencer, thereby inhibiting burn injuries from contact with the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The silencer of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of chamber separators is cone shaped and tapers toward the proximal end of the tube. 
     
     
         16 . An active silencer for automatic and semi-automatic guns, comprising:
 a tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and   a modular assembly removably housed within a bore of the tube, the modular assembly comprising a plurality of chamber separators axially spaced apart from each other by a plurality of separate tube portions, the modular assembly suspended within the tube under a tension force between the proximal and distal ends, one of the tube portions attached to an adapter at the proximal end of the tube and another of the tube portions threadably coupled to a nut operatively coupled to the distal end of the tube, the nut being rotatable relative to the tube to adjust the tension force, each pair of adjacent chamber separators defining a chamber therebetween,   wherein an outermost edge of each of the chamber separators is spaced apart from an inner surface of the tube by a gap to facilitate gas flow between the chambers, thereby facilitating gas equalization between chambers within the tube to thereby increase noise suppression   
     
     
         17 . The silencer of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of separate tube portions comprise a plurality of intermediate tube portions, each intermediate tube portion disposed between and interconnecting adjacent chamber separators, the plurality of intermediate tube portions releasably coupleable to each other under said tension force along an axis, each of the plurality of the tube portions having a central bore along its length and one or more openings extending through a wall of the intermediate tube portion configured to allow a gas to pass from the central bore into the chamber that surrounds the intermediate tube portion. 
     
     
         18 . The silencer of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more openings extending through the wall of the intermediate tube portion are oriented at an angle relative to a central axis of the intermediate tube portion. 
     
     
         19 . The silencer of  claim 17 , further comprising a sleeve rotatably disposed about one or more of the plurality of intermediate tube portions, the sleeve comprising one or more openings through a wall of the sleeve configured to allow the gas to pass through the sleeve into the chamber surrounding the intermediate tube portion, the sleeve configured to rotate relative to the intermediate tube portion to dissipate heat and sound generated by firing a bullet through the silencer. 
     
     
         20 . The silencer of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more openings extending through the wall of the sleeve are oriented at an angle relative to a central axis of the sleeve. 
     
     
         21 . The silencer of  claim 17 , further comprising a proximal expansion chamber between an adapter removably coupleable to a proximal end of the tube and a first of the plurality of chamber separators, a proximal tube portion disposed between and coupled to the adapter and first chamber separator, the proximal tube portion removably coupled to a first of the plurality of intermediate tube portions, and further comprising a distal expansion chamber between a last of the plurality of chamber separators and the end cap, a distal tube portion disposed between and coupled to the end cap and the last chamber separator, the distal tube portion removably coupled to a last of the plurality of intermediate tube portions, wherein a distal end of the distal tube portion extends through an opening in the end cap such that it protrudes from the end cap.