Multi-chamber suppressor for multi-barrel rotary machine gun

Abstract

A sound and flash suppressor system for a powered machine gun having a multi-barrel array that is mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis. The suppressor system has a clamp member for releasable mounting to the multi-barrel array and a suppressor member that is threadedly connected with the clamp member by left-handed threads. The suppressor has multiple blast chambers with internal pressure reducing baffles. The blast chambers are completely isolated from one another to ensure that cartridge gas introduced into a particular blast chamber will be processed separately from any of the other blast chambers. Cartridge gas and projectiles being discharged from the array of gun barrels enter the blast chambers and the projectiles move along paths through the suppressor and exit at ports in a forward end panel.

1 . A suppressor for a multi-barrel rotary machine gun, comprising:
 a suppressor body that extends about a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of blast chambers defined within the suppressor body, parallel with and about the longitudinal axis;   a rear wall panel defining a plurality of barrel muzzle ports, each one of the barrel muzzle ports corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of blast chambers and configured to seal a muzzle end of a barrel of the multi-barrel rotary machine gun;   a tubular suppressor connector connected with the rear wall panel and disposed about the longitudinal axis; and   a forward end panel, the forward end panel defining a plurality of discharge ports corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of blast chambers.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of blast chambers includes a set of baffles. 
     
     
         3 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 1 , wherein each set of baffles projects inwardly and rearwardly from the suppressor body, having baffle ends that are disposed in spaced relation, each set of baffle ends defining a projectile path. 
     
     
         4 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 1 , wherein the suppressor body further defines a central body opening through which the longitudinal axis extends. 
     
     
         5 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular suppressor connector defines a central connector opening fluidly coupled with the central body opening. 
     
     
         6 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 4 , further comprising a fan disposed within the central body opening. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 6 , wherein the fan is in fixed relation with respect to the central body opening and rotates with the suppressor body. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 6 , further comprising a pressure relief sectional divider extending forward from the fan. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp member configured for mounting the tubular suppressor connector to a barrel array of the multi-barrel rotary machine gun. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 9 , wherein the clamp member includes:
 a clamp base that defines a plurality of barrel receptacle openings;   a positioning stem extending forward from the clamp base; and   a forward externally threaded end configured to engage the tubular suppressor connector, the tubular suppressor connector including a correspondingly threaded inner circumference.   
     
     
         11 . A suppressor system for a multi-barrel rotary machine gun, comprising:
 a multi-chamber suppressor, including:
 a suppressor body that extends about a longitudinal axis, 
 a plurality of blast chambers defined within the suppressor body, parallel with and about the longitudinal axis, 
 a rear wall panel defining a plurality of barrel muzzle ports, each one of the barrel muzzle ports corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of blast chambers and configured to seal a muzzle end of a barrel of the multi-barrel rotary machine gun, the rear wall panel including a tubular suppressor connector, and 
 a forward end panel, the forward end panel defining a plurality of discharge ports corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of blast chambers; and 
   a clamp member configured for mounting the tubular suppressor connector to a barrel array of the multi-barrel rotary machine gun, the clamp member including:
 a clamp base that defines a plurality of barrel receptacle openings, 
 a positioning stem extending forward from the clamp base, and 
 a forward end configured to engage the tubular suppressor connector. 
   
     
     
         12 . The suppressor system for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 11 , wherein the clamp base includes:
 an anchor panel in which the plurality of barrel receptacle openings are defined; and   an annular rim connected to the anchor panel, wherein the annular rim defines fastener openings in diametrically opposed portions of the annular rim.   
     
     
         13 . The suppressor system for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 12 , wherein the positioning stem defines a plurality of cut-outs. 
     
     
         14 . The suppressor system for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 12 , wherein the clamp base has a first diameter and the positioning stem has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         15 . A suppressor for a multi-barrel rotary machine gun, comprising:
 a suppressor body that extends about a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of blast chambers defined within the suppressor body, parallel with and about the longitudinal axis;   a rear wall panel defining a plurality of barrel muzzle ports, wherein each one of the barrel muzzle ports:
 corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of blast chambers, 
 defines a circular retainer seal groove about its inner periphery, and 
 includes a gasket disposed in each one of the circular retainer seal grooves; 
   a tubular suppressor connector connected with the rear wall panel and disposed about the longitudinal axis; and   a forward end panel, the forward end panel defining a plurality of discharge ports corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of blast chambers.   
     
     
         16 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 15 , wherein the gasket disposed in each one of the circular retainer seal grooves includes a split ring sealing gasket. 
     
     
         17 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 15 , wherein the rear wall panel further includes a plurality of barrel entry projections, each of the barrel entry projections corresponding to each of the plurality of barrel muzzle ports. 
     
     
         18 . The suppressor for the multi-barrel rotary machine gun of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of barrel entry projections have a curved tubular configuration of decreasing diameter.