Sound suppressor

Abstract

A suppressor for a firearm is provided, including a tubular body couplable to a barrel of the firearm. The body includes a bore that provides a pathway for a projectile to travel through the suppressor, the bore including an inlet section, a central section and an outlet section; and a first passageway that extends axially along a length of the body and is disposed externally of the bore and is in fluid communication with the inlet section. When the suppressor is coupled to the firearm, expansion gases enter the bore through the inlet section and propel the projectile along the central section and through the outlet section, with a first flow of expansion gases passing from the inlet section into the first passageway before being expelled from the body. Energy is dissipated along the first passageway and sound levels associated with the firing of the projectile are reduced.

1 . A suppressor for a firearm, comprising a tubular body couplable to a barrel of the firearm, the body including:
 a bore that provides a pathway for a projectile to travel through the suppressor, the bore including an inlet section disposed at a proximal end of the body, a central section and an outlet section disposed at a distal end of the body; and   a first passageway that extends axially along a length of the body and is disposed externally of the bore and is in fluid communication with the inlet section,   wherein, when the suppressor is coupled to the firearm, expansion gases enter the bore through the inlet section and propel the projectile along the central section and through the outlet section, with a first flow of expansion gases passing from the inlet section into the first passageway before being expelled from the body, with energy from the first flow of expansion gases being dissipated along the first passageway to thereby reduce sound levels associated with the firing of the projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the first passageway extends between the inlet section and the outlet section such that the first flow of expansion gases bypasses the central section of the bore. 
     
     
         3 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet section includes an end wall having a central orifice for the projectile to exit the bore and at least one perimeter orifice for the first flow of expansion gases to exit the suppressor. 
     
     
         4 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet section includes an end wall having a valve providing fluid communication of the first flow of expansion gases between the inlet section and into the first passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , the body further including:
 a second passageway that extends axially along a length of the body that is disposed externally of the bore and separate from the first passageway and is in fluid communication with the inlet section or the central section of the bore;   wherein, when the suppressor is coupled to the firearm, a second flow of expansion gases passes from the central section and into the second passageway before being expelled from the body, with energy from the second flow of expansion gases being dissipated along the second passageway to thereby reduce sound levels associated with the firing of the projectile.   
     
     
         6 . The suppressor of  claim 5 , wherein the second passageway extends to a secondary orifice, the secondary orifice providing a direct exit for the second flow of expansion gases from the suppressor such that the second flow of expansion gases bypasses the outlet section. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , the body further including a baffle that divides the central section of the bore into a plurality of intermediate sub chambers, with the baffle having an opening permitting passage of the projectile therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor of  claim 7 , wherein the baffle is frustoconically shaped and oriented towards the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor of  claim 7 , wherein the baffle includes an aperture that provides fluid communication between adjacent sub chambers defined thereby, such that, when the suppressor is coupled to the firearm, a third flow of expansion gases pass between adjacent sub chambers of the central section via the aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture is tear shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The suppressor of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture is one of a plurality of apertures disposed equidistantly about a circumference of the baffle. 
     
     
         12 . The suppressor of  claim 7 , wherein the baffle is one of a plurality of baffles disposed along a length of the central section of the bore, with each of the baffles having at least one aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The suppressor of  claim 12 , wherein the apertures of each of the baffles are offset from the apertures of adjacent baffles, such that a third flow of expansion gases passing along the central section must follow a non-linear path thereby dissipating energy and sound levels associated therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , the body further including a fluid reservoir located between the inlet section and the first passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a connector mechanism for coupling the body to the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         16 . The suppressor of  claim 15 , wherein the connector mechanism comprises a first component that is integrally formed with the tubular body and configured to engage with a separate second component, the second component being configured to directly interface with the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         17 . The suppressor of  claim 15 , wherein the connector mechanism includes a first component that is configured to directly interface with the tubular body and configured to engage with a separate second component, the second component being configured to directly interface with the barrel of the firearm. 
     
     
         18 . The suppressor of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second component each comprise complimentary locking elements to rotationally secure the second member to the first member. 
     
     
         19 . The suppressor of  claim 18 , wherein the complimentary locking elements provide a quick release mechanism enabling the second component to be secured to the first component via a quarter turn motion. 
     
     
         20 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a lattice-like infill that is disposed within the tubular body and dissipates energy from the expansion gasses entering into the suppressor.