Silencer device for firearm

Abstract

The invention relates to a silencer device for a firearm, in particular for a rifle or another long or short firearm, and to a silencing method, said device comprising: a flap mechanism ( 10 ) comprising at least one closing flap ( 10 ) mounted transversely to the axis on the barrel ( 42 ) of the firearm in order to temporarily seal the barrel after ammunition has passed through and to prevent the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave towards the mouth of the barrel when a shot is fired; and an actuating unit ( 31,34,35 ) comprising a mobile part ( 31 ) arranged axially on the barrel of the firearm in order to move a control mechanism ( 6 ), where the mobile part ( 31 ) axially comprises an inner borehole for allowing ammunition to pass through, the control mechanism ( 6 ) includes at least one amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) pivotably mounted on a pivot ( 7 ) attached to the barrel, and each amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) is respectively coupled to a closing flap ( 10 ), the mobile actuating unit ( 31,34,35 ) cooperating with the control mechanism ( 6 ) to allow a transverse movement of said at least one closing flap ( 10 ) between an open position in which the flap mechanism ( 10 ) allows ammunition to pass towards the mouth of the barrel ( 42 ) and a closed position preventing the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave after the ammunition has passed through; and an exhaust unit ( 11, 21 - 27 ) including at least one exhaust pipe ( 11, 21 ) arranged on the barrel upstream from the closing flap mechanism ( 10 ) in order to redirect the combustion gases and the sound wave and allow them to leave the barrel.

1 . A silencer device for a firearm, in particular for a rifle or another long or short firearm, comprising:
 a flap mechanism ( 10 ) comprising at least one closing flap ( 10 ) mounted across the axis on the barrel ( 42 ) of the firearm in order to temporarily seal the barrel after ammunition has passed and to prevent the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave towards the mouth of the barrel when a shot is fired,   an actuation unit ( 31 ,  34 ,  35 ) including a mobile portion ( 31 ) disposed axially on the barrel of the firearm so as to move a control mechanism ( 6 ), the axially mobile portion ( 31 ) having an inner bore suitable for allowing the passage of ammunition,   the control mechanism ( 6 ) including at least one amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) pivotably mounted on a pivot ( 7 ) attached to the barrel, each amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) being coupled to a separate closing flap ( 10 ),   the mobile actuation unit ( 31 ,  34 ,  35 ) engaging with the control mechanism ( 6 ) to allow a transverse movement of said at least one closing flap ( 10 ) between an open position, in which the flap mechanism ( 10 ) allows ammunition to pass towards the mouth of the barrel ( 42 ), and a closed position, which prevents the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave after the ammunition has passed, and   an exhaust unit ( 11 ,  21 - 27 ) including at least one exhaust pipe ( 11 ,  21 ) arranged on the barrel upstream from the closing flap mechanism ( 10 ) in order to redirect the combustion gases and the sound wave and allow them to be discharged from the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile portion ( 31 ) of the actuation unit ( 31 ,  34 ,  35 ) is substantially cylindrical ( 31 ) and can be inserted into a receptacle within the barrel, the mobile portion ( 31 ) forming the inner bore of the mobile portion ( 31 ) having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the barrel ( 42 ) so as to allow the passage of the ammunition. 
     
     
         3 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism ( 6 ) comprises a transmission rod and the mobile portion ( 31 ) includes a coupling assembly ( 34 - 36 ) coupled to the transmission rod so as to move the control mechanism ( 6 ) in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the barrel ( 42 ). 
     
     
         4 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism ( 6 ) includes a guide and transmission ring ( 6 ) capable of sliding over the barrel, the ring ( 6 ) engaging with the rod and the mobile portion ( 31 ) so as to transmit the movement to the lever arm ( 8 ). 
     
     
         5 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap mechanism ( 10 ) comprises two closing flaps ( 10 ) that are disposed in a seat ( 37 ) placed across the axis of the barrel and are of a predetermined length and are slightly offset from one another along the axis of the barrel ( 42 ), such that they partially overlap one another in the closed position without contacting one another. 
     
     
         6 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap mechanism ( 10 ) comprises two closing flaps ( 10 ), each flap ( 10 ) includes an opening for receiving the end of the amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) so as to transmit the pivoting movement of the amplitude lever ( 8 ) and actuate the flap ( 10 ) in a transverse direction relative to the axis of the barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap mechanism ( 10 ) comprises two closing flaps ( 10 ) and the guide ring ( 6 ) also includes two support parts disposed laterally to the axis of the barrel, each forming an elongate opening for receiving the end of one of the lever arms ( 8 ) and for enabling the actuation of the lever arms ( 8 ) pivoting on the pivots ( 7 ) in order to close and open the flaps ( 10 ). 
     
     
         8 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism ( 6 ) includes at least one first return spring ( 32 ) associated with the guide ring ( 6 ) such that said guide ring can resume its initial position, lowering the pressure of the gases. 
     
     
         9 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust unit ( 11 ,  21 - 27 ) also comprises an expansion space ( 27 ) connected to said at least one exhaust pipe ( 11 ,  21 ) so as to receive the gases transported by said at least one exhaust pipe ( 11 ,  21 ), the expansion space ( 27 ) including vents ( 24 ) for discharging the combustion gases and the sound wave from the expansion space ( 27 ). 
     
     
         10 . The silencer device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the expansion space ( 27 ) comprises an inner pipe ( 23 ) connected to flaps capable of sealing the vents ( 24 ), and   wherein the gases enter the expansion space ( 27 ) via an opening ( 22 ) made in the inner tube ( 23 ) once said tube has been pushed to its end position and has thus sealed the vents ( 24 ), and, as the pressure reduces, the inner tube ( 23 ) resumes its starting position owing to a return spring   ( 26 ), thus allowing the combustion gases and the sound wave to be discharged from the expansion space ( 27 ) via the vents ( 24 ).   
     
     
         11 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile portion ( 31 ) of the substantially cylindrical actuation unit ( 31 ,  34 ,  35 ) joins a portion of the barrel ( 42 ) that passes through the seat ( 37 ) of the closing flap mechanism ( 10 ) and an end portion ( 38 ) of the barrel, and includes a covering portion and a covered portion separated by a shoulder, the covering cylindrical portion being able to cover the portion of the barrel ( 42 ) that passes through the seat ( 37 ) of the flap mechanism ( 10 ), and the covered cylindrical portion being able to be covered by the end portion ( 38 ) of the barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The silencer device according to  claim 11 , wherein the final portion ( 38 ) of the barrel comprises a receptacle including a first cylindrical portion able to receive the covering portion of the mobile part ( 31 ), and a second cylindrical portion of a smaller diameter able to receive the covered portion of the mobile part ( 31 ), the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion of the end portion ( 38 ) being separated by a shoulder. 
     
     
         13 . The silencer device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first cylindrical portion of the end portion ( 38 ) is longer than the covering cylindrical portion of the mobile part ( 31 ) so as to allow the axial movement of the mobile part ( 31 ), the second cylindrical portion of the end portion ( 38 ) being substantially the same length as the covered cylindrical portion of the mobile part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         14 . The silencer device according to  claim 12 , wherein the covering portion of the mobile part ( 31 ) has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the portion of the barrel ( 42 ) that passes through the seat ( 37 ), and has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion of the end portion ( 38 ). 
     
     
         15 . The silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile portion ( 31 ) of the substantially cylindrical actuation unit ( 31 ,  34 ,  35 ) forms the end portion of the barrel and includes a covering portion and a final portion separated by a shoulder, the covering cylindrical portion of the mobile part ( 31 ) being able to cover a portion of the barrel ( 42 ) that passes through the seat ( 37 ) of the closing flap mechanism ( 10 ), and the end portion forming the mouth of the barrel. 
     
     
         16 . The silencer device according to  claim 15 , wherein the covering portion of the mobile part ( 31 ) comprises a receptacle including a cylindrical portion capable of receiving the cylindrical portion of the barrel ( 42 ) that passes through the seat ( 37 ) of the flap mechanism ( 10 ) and of enabling the axial movement of the mobile part ( 31 ), the cylindrical portion of the barrel ( 42 ) being substantially the same length as the covering cylindrical portion of the mobile part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         17 . The silencer device according to  claim 15 , wherein the covering portion of the mobile part ( 31 ) has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the portion of the barrel ( 42 ) that passes through the seat ( 37 ) of the flap mechanism ( 10 ). 
     
     
         18 . The silencer device according to  claim 15 , wherein the mobile part ( 31 ) at the end of the barrel forms a choke of which the inner diameter decreases in the direction of the mouth of the barrel, the covering cylindrical portion covering the barrel ( 42 ), and the end portion including an inner conical portion of a maximum diameter that is equal to the inner diameter of the barrel and narrows towards the outlet zone of the barrel. 
     
     
         19 . A long or short firearm, in particular a rifle, comprising a silencer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrel of the firearm comprises a fixing system formed by said pivots ( 7 ) and a seat ( 37 ) disposed across the axis of the barrel, said seat receiving said closing flap mechanism ( 10 ) so as to fix the silencer device to the barrel. 
     
     
         20 . A method for silencing a firearm, in particular a rifle or another long or short firearm, when a shot is fired, the method comprising the following steps:
 temporarily sealing the barrel after ammunition has passed and preventing the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave towards the mouth of the barrel ( 42 ) when a shot is fired, by means of a flap mechanism ( 10 ) comprising at least one closing flap ( 10 ) mounted across the axis on the barrel of the firearm,   moving an actuation unit ( 31 ) and a control mechanism ( 6 ) by way of the thrust of ammunition passing through a mobile portion ( 31 ) of the actuation unit ( 31 ) disposed axially on the barrel of the firearm, the axially mobile portion ( 31 ) having an inner bore for allowing the passage of ammunition,   the control mechanism ( 6 ) including at least one amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) pivotably mounted on a pivot ( 7 ) attached to the barrel, each amplitude lever arm ( 8 ) being coupled to a separate closing flap ( 10 ),   generating, by means of the actuation unit ( 31 ) and the control mechanism ( 6 ), a transverse movement of said at least one closing flap ( 10 ) between an open position, in which the flap mechanism ( 10 ) allows ammunition to pass towards the mouth of the barrel ( 42 ), and a closed position, which prevents the passage of the combustion gases and the sound wave after the ammunition has passed, and   redirecting the combustion gases and the sound wave and allowing them to be discharged from the barrel by means of an exhaust unit ( 11 ,  21 - 27 ) including at least one exhaust pipe ( 11 ,  21 ) disposed on the barrel ( 42 ) and upstream from the closing flap mechanism ( 10 ).