Suppressor baffle

Abstract

A suppressor baffle has a baffle body having an annular shape and extending axially along a central axis from a proximal end to a distal end. A tapered wall expands in size moving distally along the central axis. The tapered wall defines a projectile opening at a proximal end and connects at a distal end to the baffle body. Vanes on an outside of the tapered wall are arranged to provide a tightening torque in response to combustion gases flowing axially and colliding with the suppressor baffle. The suppressor baffle can be arranged as a blast baffle in a baffle stack or part of a suppressor assembly.

1 . A suppressor baffle comprising:
 a baffle body having an annular shape and extending axially along a central axis from a proximal end to a distal end;   a tapered wall expanding in size moving distally along the central axis, the tapered wall defining a projectile opening at a proximal end and connecting at a distal end to the baffle body; and   vanes on an outside of the tapered wall, the vanes arranged to provide a tightening torque in response to propellant gases colliding with the vanes.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , wherein the vanes include from 3 to 12 vanes. 
     
     
         3 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , wherein individual vanes have a helical twist along the tapered wall. 
     
     
         4 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , further comprising vanes on an outside of the baffle body. 
     
     
         5 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 4 , wherein one or more of the vanes on the outside of the tapered wall is continuous with a corresponding vane on the outside of the baffle body. 
     
     
         6 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 4 , wherein the vanes on the outside of the baffle body are arranged in an alternating pattern such that adjacent vanes generally define a converging V shape or a diverging V shape with respect to forward gas flow along the central axis, each converging V shape or diverging V shape having an open vertex generally pointing in a direction parallel to the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle body defines an opening positioned adjacent the open vertex of the converging V shape. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle body defines an opening positioned within an open mouth of the diverging V shape. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered wall has a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle body is cylindrical. 
     
     
         11 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , further comprising a diffusor ring around part of the cone vanes, the diffusor generally having a frustoconical geometry with an inside surface connected to the cone vanes and expanding to a radially outer circumference, wherein the diffusor ring defines a plurality of diffusor openings. 
     
     
         12 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 11 , wherein the radially outer circumference of the diffusor ring is positioned radially outside of a distal end portion of the tapered wall. 
     
     
         13 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 11 , wherein at least some of the diffusor openings are configured to induce torque about the central axis in response to propellant gases colliding with the diffusor ring. 
     
     
         14 . The suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered wall is a first tapered wall, the suppressor baffle further comprising a second tapered wall connected to an inside of the baffle body such that the second tapered wall is nested with the first tapered wall. 
     
     
         15 . A baffle stack comprising the suppressor baffle of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered wall is at a proximal end of the baffle stack. 
     
     
         16 . A baffle stack for a suppressor, the baffle stack comprising:
 a baffle body having an annular shape and extending axially along a central axis from a proximal end to a distal end;   a first tapered wall expanding in diameter along the central axis, the first tapered wall defining a projectile opening at a proximal end and having a distal end connected to the baffle body;   additional tapered walls positioned distally of the first tapered wall, each additional tapered wall defining a projectile opening and expanding in size from the projectile opening to a connection with an inside with the baffle body; and   vanes on an outside of the first tapered wall, each of the vanes arranged to provide a tightening torque in response to firing a shot axially through the suppressor baffle.   
     
     
         17 . The baffle stack of  claim 16 , further comprising vanes on an outside of the baffle body, wherein at least one of the vanes on the outside of the first tapered wall is continuous with a corresponding vane on the outside of the baffle body, wherein the vanes on the outside of the baffle body include circumferential rows of vanes, and wherein the vanes in the circumferential rows are arranged in an alternating pattern such that circumferentially adjacent vanes generally define a converging V shape or a diverging V shape with respect to forward gas flow along the central axis. 
     
     
         18 . The baffle stack of  claim 17 , wherein the baffle body defines an opening positioned adjacent the open vertex of the converging V shape and/or within an open mouth of the diverging V shape. 
     
     
         19 . The baffle stack of  claim 16 , further comprising a diffusor ring extending circumferentially around part of the cone vanes, the diffusor generally having a frustoconical geometry with an inside surface connected to the cone vanes and expanding to a radially outer circumference, wherein the diffusor ring defines a plurality of diffusor openings. 
     
     
         20 . A suppressor comprising the baffle stack of  claim 16  and having an outer housing around the baffle stack, wherein the suppressor defines a blast chamber proximally of the first tapered wall.