Firearm suppressor with gas-actuated valve

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for firearm sound suppressors. In one example, a suppressor comprises an outer housing, a projectile entrance, a projectile exit, a gas-actuated valve extending from the projectile entrance toward the projectile exit within an interior of the outer housing, and a projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve arranged along a projectile path between the projectile entrance and the projectile exit.

1 . A suppressor, comprising:
 an outer housing;   a projectile entrance and a projectile exit;   a gas-actuated valve extending from the projectile entrance toward the projectile exit within an interior of the outer housing; and   a projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve arranged along a projectile path between the projectile entrance and the projectile exit.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-actuated valve is joined to a pivot. 
     
     
         3 . The suppressor of  claim 2 , wherein the gas-actuated valve includes:
 a base section joined to a first wall via the pivot; and   an angled extension section joined to the base section and including the projectile opening.   
     
     
         4 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-actuated valve is a reed valve or a spring operated valve which blocks a baffle opening. 
     
     
         5 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position, the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve is arranged along the projectile path. 
     
     
         6 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position, the projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve is offset from the projectile path. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-actuated valve is biased toward a non-actuated position by a pivot. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position, an angle between a base section of the gas-actuated valve and an angled extension section of the gas-actuated valve is within a first angle range, and while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position, the angle between the base section and the angled extension section is within a second angle range. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a first valve stop shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve while the gas-actuated valve is in an actuated position and a second valve stop shaped to contact the gas-actuated valve while the gas-actuated valve is in a non-actuated position. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-actuated valve is a single, unitary piece formed from a metal material. 
     
     
         11 . A suppressor, comprising:
 an outer housing;   a projectile entrance and a projectile exit positioned on a projectile path;   a gas-actuated valve and a baffle body extending toward each other within an interior of the outer housing; and   a baffle body projectile opening arranged on the projectile path, and the baffle body projectile opening is blocked by the gas-actuated valve in an actuated position.   
     
     
         12 . The suppressor of  claim 11 , wherein with the gas-actuated valve in the actuated position, the valve projectile opening is arranged off-center to the baffle body projectile opening, and with the gas-actuated valve in a non-actuated position, the valve projectile opening is on the projectile path. 
     
     
         13 . The suppressor of  claim 11 , wherein a pivot of the gas-actuated valve is fixed at the projectile entrance and the baffle body is fixed at the projectile exit. 
     
     
         14 . The suppressor of  claim 11 , wherein the gas-actuated valve is a removable insert including the projectile entrance and shaped to seat within the outer housing. 
     
     
         15 . The suppressor of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a valve projectile opening formed in the gas-actuated valve; and   a gas diversion opening formed in the baffle body at an angle to a central axis of the suppressor and shaped to form a gas flow path with the valve projectile opening of the gas-actuated valve.   
     
     
         16 . The suppressor of  claim 15 , wherein the gas diversion opening is separated from an interior of the baffle body by a wall of the baffle body, and the interior of the baffle body is fluidly coupled to the interior of the outer housing by the baffle body projectile opening. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 first, firing a projectile through each of a projectile opening of a gas-actuated valve of a suppressor and a baffle body opening of the suppressor toward a projectile exit of the suppressor; and   then, closing the baffle body opening via the gas-actuated valve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: after closing the baffle body opening, urging the gas-actuated valve away from the baffle body opening and toward an equilibrium position via a stiffness of the gas-actuated valve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein closing the baffle body opening includes pivoting the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening and covering the baffle body opening with a wall of the gas-actuated valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein pivoting the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening includes urging the gas-actuated valve toward the baffle body opening via combustion gases generated by the firing of the projectile.