System and associated methods for managing gas flow from a ballistic device

Abstract

A system and associated device for managing gas flow of a ballistic device is provided. The system may comprise a sleeve and a muzzle brake device. The sleeve may be configured and/or utilized to substantially surround a barrel of the ballistic device so that a space between the barrel and the sleeve may be defined as one or more sleeve gas channel. The muzzle brake device may include a first end portion, a second end portion, a second end body member, an inner muzzle body member, and/or one or more muzzle support members. The one or more muzzle support members may be extending between the second end body member and the inner muzzle body member. A space may be created between the second end body member and the inner muzzle body member which may define one or more of a muzzle gas channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing gas flow of a ballistic device, the system comprising:
 a sleeve to substantially surround a barrel of the ballistic device so that a space between an outer wall of the barrel of the ballistic device and an inner wall of the sleeve is defined as at least one sleeve gas channel;   a muzzle brake device having:
 a first end portion that is connectable to an end portion of the sleeve; 
 a second end portion opposite the first end portion; 
 a first end body member; 
 a lip connected to the first end body member; 
 a second end body member connected to the lip and positioned opposite the first end body member; 
 an inner muzzle body member; and 
 at least one muzzle support member extending between an inner portion of the second end body member to an outer portion of the inner muzzle body member; 
 wherein a space created between the inner portion of the second end body member and the outer portion of the inner muzzle body member defines at least one muzzle gas channel; and 
   wherein the at least one muzzle gas channel and the at least one sleeve gas channel are configured so that gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device flows out from the barrel, through the at least one muzzle gas channel, and into the at least one sleeve gas channel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a ballistic device accessory that is matingly connectable to the second end body member of the muzzle break device; wherein the ballistic device accessory includes at least one accessory gas channel; and wherein the at least one muzzle gas channel, the at least one sleeve gas channel, and the at least one accessory gas channel are in fluidic communication while the ballistic device accessory is matingly connected to the second end body member of the muzzle brake device. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device is directed through the at least one accessory gas channel, through the at least one muzzle gas channel, and through the at least one sleeve gas channel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one muzzle gas channel comprises a plurality of muzzle gas channels;   the at least one sleeve gas channel comprises a plurality of sleeve gas channels;   the at least one accessory gas channel comprises a plurality of accessory gas channels; and   the plurality of muzzle gas channels and the plurality of sleeve gas channels are configured so that at least a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device flows out from the barrel in a first direction, and in a second direction through at least one of the accessory gas channels and through at least one of the muzzle gas channels into and through at least one of the sleeve gas channels, and in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction and substantially similar to the first direction into and through at least another one of the sleeve gas channels, through at least another one of the muzzle gas channels, and through at least another one of the accessory gas channels into a space within the ballistic device accessory.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sleeve gas channel defines an expansion chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sleeve vent extending through a portion of the sleeve; wherein the at least one sleeve gas channel is in fluidic communication with the at least one sleeve vent. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device is expelled exterior the ballistic device by flowing through the at least one sleeve gas channel and through the at least one sleeve vent. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sleeve vent is positioned proximate to at least one of a forward portion of the sleeve and a rear portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve matingly engages with a portion of the ballistic device; and wherein while the sleeve is matingly engaged with the portion of the ballistic device the sleeve extends from the ballistic device a length that is less than a length that the barrel extends from the ballistic device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle brake device is configured to matingly engage with at least one of the sleeve and the barrel to be carried thereby. 
     
     
         11 . A muzzle break device comprising:
 a first end portion;   a second end portion opposite the first end portion;   a first end body member;   a lip connected to the first end body member;   a second end body member connected to the lip and positioned opposite the first end body member;   an inner muzzle body member; and   at least one muzzle support member extending between an inner portion of the second end body member to an outer portion of the inner muzzle body member;   wherein a space created between the inner portion of the second end body member and the outer portion of the inner muzzle body member defines at least one muzzle gas channel;   wherein the first end portion is connectable to an end portion of a sleeve that is configured to substantially surround a barrel of a ballistic device; and   wherein the at least one muzzle gas channel is configured so that when the first end portion is connected to the end portion of the sleeve, gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device flows out from the barrel in a first direction, and through the at least one muzzle gas channel in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second end body member of the muzzle break device is matingly connectable to a ballistic device accessory; wherein the ballistic device accessory includes at least one accessory gas channel; and wherein the at least one muzzle gas channel, and the at least one accessory gas channel are in fluidic communication while the ballistic device accessory is matingly connected to the second end body member of the muzzle brake device. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device is directed in a first direction through the barrel, and in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction through the at least one accessory gas channel and through the at least one muzzle gas channel. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one muzzle gas channel includes a plurality of muzzle gas channels;   the at least one accessory gas channel includes a plurality of accessory gas channels; and   the plurality of muzzle gas channels and the plurality accessory gas channels are configured so that at least a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device flows out from the barrel in a first direction, and through at least one of the accessory gas channels and through at least one of the muzzle gas channels in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, and in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction and substantially similar to the first direction through at least another one of the muzzle gas channels, and through at least another one of the accessory gas channels into the ballistic device accessory.   
     
     
         15 . A method for managing gas flow of a ballistic device comprising:
 surrounding a barrel of the ballistic device substantially with a sleeve so that a space between an outer wall of the barrel of the ballistic device and an inner wall of the sleeve is defined as at least one sleeve gas channel;   connecting a first end portion of a muzzle brake that includes at least one muzzle gas channel to an end portion of the sleeve to position the at least one muzzle gas channel in fluidic communication with the at least one sleeve gas channel; and   directing gas expelled from the barrel as a result of firing the ballistic device to flow through the at least one muzzle gas channel and into the at least one sleeve gas channel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising matingly connecting a ballistic device accessory that has at least one accessory gas channel to a second end body member of the muzzle break device so that the at least one muzzle gas channel, the at least one sleeve gas channel, and the at least one accessory gas channel are in fluidic communication while the ballistic device accessory is matingly connected to the second end body member of the muzzle brake device. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising directing a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device through the at least one accessory gas channel, through the at least one muzzle gas channel, and through the at least one sleeve gas channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one muzzle gas channel includes a plurality of muzzle gas channels;   the at least one sleeve gas channel includes a plurality of sleeve gas channels;   the at least one accessory gas channel includes a plurality of accessory gas channels; and   the plurality of muzzle gas channels and the plurality of sleeve gas channels are configured so that at least a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device flows out from the barrel in a first direction, and through at least one of the accessory gas channels and through at least one of the muzzle gas channels into and through at least one of the sleeve gas channels in a second direction, and in a third direction that is substantially opposite the second direction and substantially similar to the first direction into and through at least another one of the sleeve gas channels, through at least another one of the muzzle gas channels, and through at least another one of the accessory gas channels into a space within the ballistic device accessory.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising expelling at least a portion of the gas expelled as a result of firing the ballistic device exterior the ballistic device by directing the portion of the gas expelled through the at least one sleeve gas channel and through at least one sleeve vent formed in the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one sleeve vent is positioned proximate to at least one of a forward portion of the sleeve and a rear portion of the sleeve.