Firearm sound suppressor with peripheral venting

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a suppressor to be coupled with a muzzle end of a barrel of a firearm to reduce muzzle blast and muzzle flash. The suppressor comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. A front portion within the housing comprises a series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers for attenuating the temperature and energy of propellant gases accompanying a projectile fired from the firearm. An annular gas expansion chamber surrounds the cylindrical gas expansion chambers and directs a portion of the propellant gases from a rear portion of the suppressor to peripheral vents disposed at the distal end. Lateral chambers within the rear portion deflect and rebound a portion of the propellant gases before passing them into the annular gas expansion chamber. Ledges within the annular gas expansion chamber direct the propellant gases distally through suppressor toward the peripheral vents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suppressor for a firearm, comprising:
 a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;   a front portion comprising a plurality of cylindrical gas expansion chambers for attenuating temperature and energy of propellant gases;   an annular gas expansion chamber disposed between an outside surface of the plurality of cylindrical gas expansion chambers and an inner surface of the housing for directing a portion of the propellant gases distally to peripheral vents disposed at the distal end;   a plurality of apertures disposed radially between each of the cylindrical gas expansion chambers and the annular gas expansion chamber; and   a rear portion comprising a lateral gas expansion chamber and a primary gas expansion chamber for deflecting and rebounding a portion of the propellant gases before entering the annular gas expansion chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein each cylindrical gas expansion chamber comprises a pair of adjacent baffles and an intervening cylindrical spacer. 
     
     
         3 . The suppressor of  claim 2 , wherein the apertures are disposed around the circumference of the cylindrical spacers. 
     
     
         4 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the annular gas expansion chamber comprises a continuous chamber that extends from a blast suppression chamber comprising the rear portion to the peripheral vents. 
     
     
         5 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the annular gas expansion chamber includes one or more ledges for directing propellant gases toward the peripheral vents. 
     
     
         6 . The suppressor of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more ledges extend circumferentially around the outside surface of the plurality of cylindrical gas expansion chambers. 
     
     
         7 . The suppressor of  claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more ledges includes a sloped surface facing the distal end and an acutely angled surface facing the proximal end. 
     
     
         8 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the primary gas expansion chamber includes a curved interior surface configured to withstand pressure and temperature of the propellant gases. 
     
     
         9 . The suppressor of  claim 8 , wherein the curved interior surface is configured to divert a first portion of the propellant gases through a blast suppression chamber into the annular gas expansion chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The suppressor of  claim 9 , wherein the primary gas expansion chamber includes one or more vents for directing the first portion of the propellant gases into the blast suppression chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The suppressor of  claim 10 , wherein one or more ledges are disposed along a least a portion of a circumference of the primary gas expansion chamber and the one or more vents. 
     
     
         12 . The suppressor of  claim 11 , wherein the blast suppression chamber includes a tapered blast deflector that exits into a rear-most portion of the annular gas expansion chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The suppressor of  claim 12 , wherein the tapered blast deflector is configured to inhibit a back-flow of the first portion of the propellant gases. 
     
     
         14 . The suppressor of  claim 13 , wherein the blast suppression chamber is disposed between the lateral gas expansion chamber and the annular gas expansion chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The suppressor of  claim 14 , wherein the blast suppression chamber is disposed circumferentially within the rear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The suppressor of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of apertures allows a second portion of the propellant gases to pass from the cylindrical gas expansion chambers into the annular gas expansion chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The suppressor of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion of the propellant gases mixes with the second portion of the propellant gases. 
     
     
         18 . The suppressor of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion includes a back end member configured to receive a firearm attachment that includes a central bore and three long tines that extend into the back end member. 
     
     
         19 . The suppressor of  claim 18 , wherein the lateral gas expansion chamber is disposed between the back end member and the three long tines.