Flash signature hider

Abstract

Flash signature hiders, and methods of manufacturing flash signature hiders, having at least one contracting and then expanding burn chamber are described. The contracting and then expanding burn chamber may include one or more ribbed surfaces that enhance burning of propellant gasses and ambient oxygen before the gasses exit the flash signature hiders. In some examples, a burn chamber may include a spirally threaded inner and/or outer surface, which swirls and cools the propellant gasses to enhance burning before the propellant gasses exit from the flash signature hiders.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a firearm flash signature hider, comprising:
 providing a proximal end of the flash signature hider, the proximal end configured to attach the flash signature hider to at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake;   providing a distal end of the flash signature hider, the distal end comprising a first opening for allowing a bullet to exit the flash signature hider and a second opening for allowing gas to exit the flash signature hider;   providing an inner tube between the proximal end and the distal end, and including a passage configured to allow the bullet to travel through the flash signature hider; and   providing an outer tube between the proximal end and the distal end, and at least partially surrounding the inner tube,   wherein, an outer surface of the inner tube and an inner surface of the outer tube at least partially define a burn chamber configured to allow burning of a gas exiting from the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake,   wherein, at least one of the outer surface of the inner tube or the inner surface of the outer tube includes a contour that changes a cross-sectional area of the burn chamber, and wherein a thickness of the outer tube changes over a length of the burn chamber, the change in thickness of the outer tube at least partially causing a reduction and expansion of the cross-sectional area of the burn chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end comprises a base cap configured to attach to a standard fitting included in the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake, and configured to attach to and detach from the outer tube. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end is configured to attach to a muzzle brake, and gas enters the flash signature hider via side ports included in the muzzle brake. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end comprises an end cap configured to attach to and detach from the outer tube, the end cap including an outlet port configured to allow gas from the burn chamber to exit the flash signature hider. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the inner tube is configured to attach to and detach from the end cap via threading within the first opening. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is configured to seat securely against the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake, and to fixedly align center axes of the passage and the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the passage of the inner tube has a substantially uniform cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the inner tube also changes over a length of the burn chamber, the change in thickness of the inner tube also at least partially causing the reduction and expansion of the cross-sectional area of the burn chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a sleeve at least partially surrounds the outer tube, and an insulating material is disposed between the sleeve and the outer tube. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer surface of the inner tube or the inner surface of the outer tube includes a ribbed surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the burn chamber includes a spiral contour configured to swirl gas passing through the burn chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the burn chamber is free of baffles. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a firearm flash signature hider, comprising:
 providing an inner tube of the flash signature hider, the inner tube including a passage configured to allow a bullet to travel through the flash signature hider;   providing an outer tube of the flash signature hider, the outer tube configured to at least partially surround the inner tube and to form a burn chamber between the inner tube and the outer sleeve;   providing a base cap attached to the outer tube and configured to attach the flash signature hider to at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake; and   providing an end cap attached to the outer tube and the inner tube, the end cap including an exhaust port in fluid communication with the burn chamber for allowing gas to exit the flash signature hider,   wherein, the inner tube is configured to seat securely against the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake, and to fixedly align center axes of the passage and the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake, wherein, the passage of the inner tube has a substantially uniform cross-section, and a thickness of at least one of the inner tube or the outer tube changes over a length of the burn chamber to change a cross-sectional area of the burn chamber, and   wherein the base cap is removably attached to the outer tube via a first set of cooperating threads included in the base cap and the outer tube, the end cap is removably attached to the outer tube via a second set of cooperating threads included in the end cap and the outer tube, and the end cap is removably attached to the inner tube via a third set of cooperating threads included in the end cap and the inner tube.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the base cap is configured to attach to a muzzle brake, and includes at least one inlet port configured to allow gas from the muzzle brake to enter the burn chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the inner tube changes over the length of the burn chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the outer tube changes over the length of the burn chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thicknesses of the inner tube and the outer tube both change over the length of the burn chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the outer tube includes a solid cylindrical wall and does not allow gas to escape from or enter the burn chamber. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a firearm flash signature hider, comprising:
 providing an inner tube of the flash signature hider, the inner tube including a passage configured to allow a bullet to travel through the flash signature hider;   providing an outer tube of the flash signature hider, the outer tube configured to at least partially surround the inner tube and to form a burn chamber between the inner tube and the outer tube;   providing a base cap attached to the outer tube and configured to attach the flash signature hider to at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake; and   providing an end cap attached to the outer tube and the inner tube,   wherein, the inner tube is configured to seat securely against the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake, and to fixedly align center axes of the passage and the at least one of a firearm muzzle, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake,   wherein, the passage of the inner tube has a substantially uniform cross-section, and a thickness of the inner tube changes over a length of the burn chamber to change a cross-sectional area of the burn chamber, and   wherein an outer surface of the inner tube includes a plurality of circumferential ridges disposed at different locations along the length of the burn chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a thickness of the outer tube is substantially uniform along the length of the burn chamber.