Sound suppressor for a firearm

Abstract

A sound suppressor for a firearm is disclosed. The sound suppressor includes a tubular casing adapted to be attached at the muzzle of a firearm, a distal end including an end cap with an exit orifice adapted to permit the passage of a projectile; a core structure defining at least one flow disruptor adapted to disrupt flow of propellant gases leaving said muzzle, said core structure furthermore defining a projectile passageway adapted to be aligned with a bore of said firearm and adapted to permit the passage of a projectile from said muzzle to said exit orifice; a plurality of water drainage openings passing through said tubular casing on an underside thereof, and a shutter including a plurality of through-holes, said shutter being slidably mounted on said tubular casing and displaceable from a first position and a second position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sound suppressor for a firearm, comprising:
 a tubular casing having a proximal end adapted to be attached at the muzzle of a firearm, a distal end comprising an end cap with an exit orifice adapted to permit the passage of a projectile;   a core structure situated in the interior of said tubular casing and defining a at least one flow disruptor adapted to disrupt flow of propellant gases leaving said muzzle, said core structure furthermore defining a projectile passageway adapted to be aligned with a bore of said firearm and adapted to permit the passage of a projectile from said muzzle to said exit orifice; a plurality of water drainage openings passing through said tubular casing on an underside thereof; and   a shutter comprising a plurality of through-holes, said shutter being slidably mounted on said tubular casing and displaceable from a first position, in which said water drainage openings are aligned with respective through-holes, and a second position, in which said water drainage openings are occluded by said shutter.   
     
     
         2 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said core structure comprises a plurality of baffles defining a plurality of expansion chambers, at least some of said expansion chambers having at least one corresponding water drainage opening in fluidic communication therewith. 
     
     
         3 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter is adapted to slide in a plane containing a longitudinal axis of said projectile pathway. 
     
     
         4 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter is adapted to be moved manually from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         5 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter is adapted to be moved from said first position to said second position by action of propellant gas pressure, preferably by action of propellant gas pressure inside said tubular casing. 
     
     
         6 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter is fixed to a sliding blast baffle situated within said tubular casing. 
     
     
         7 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter extends beyond said end cap when in said first position. 
     
     
         8 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter is substantially flush with said end cap when in said second position. 
     
     
         9 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two, preferably all three, of said tubular casing, said end cap and said core structure are monolithic. 
     
     
         10 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first position and said second position are stable positions defined by a detent system. 
     
     
         11 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter is arranged to be locked by said detent system in one or more of said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         12 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said detent system is adapted to permit said shutter to move from its first position to its second position by force applied to said shutter, and wherein an action on said release catch is required to permit said shutter to move from its second position to its first position. 
     
     
         13 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 11 , wherein said detent system comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said shutter and comprising an extremity adapted to cooperate with each of two notches provided on one or more of said tubular casing and said endcap so as to define said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         14 . The sound suppressor according to  claim 12 , wherein said detent system comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said shutter and comprising an extremity adapted to cooperate with each of two notches provided on one or more of said tubular casing and said endcap so as to define said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         15 . A firearm comprising a barrel with a bore opening at a muzzle, wherein a sound suppressor according to  claim 1  is mounted at said muzzle such that said projectile pathway is aligned with said bore.