Silencers for firearms, internal combustion engines, or the like

Claim 2

In a firearms silencer adapted to be mounted on a firearm in alignment with the firing chamber of the firearm to receive a bullet discharged from the firing chamber and comprising means defining a passage for the discharged bullet, the improvement comprising positioned in the passage a plug of a resilient material having therethrough in axial alignment with the passage a circular orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet and at least one radial cut communicating with the orifice, the radial cut together with the radius of the orifice being at least equal to the radius of the bullet, the resiliency of the material and the radial cut permitting the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice.

Claim 3

In the firearms silencer improvement according to claim 1, a second radial cut communicating with the orifice, said second radial cut being of length at least equal to that of the first radial cut and in diametrical opposition to the first radial cut.

Claim 4

In a firearms silencer adapted to be mounted on a firearm in alignment with the firing chamber of the firearm to receive a bullet discharged from the firing chamber and comprising means defining a passage for the discharged bullet, the improvement comprising positioned in the passage a first plug of a resilient material having therethrough in axial alignment with the passage an orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet, the resiliency of the material permitting the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice, and a second plug of a resilient material abutting against the bullet exit side of the first plug and having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice through the first plug an orifice of larger diameter than the bullet.

Claim 5

In a firearms silencer adapted to be mounted on a firearm in alignment with the firing chamber of the firearm to receive a bullet discharged from the firing chamber and comprising means defining a passage for the discharged bullet, the improvement comprising positioned in the passage a first plug of a resilient material having therethrough in axial alignment with the passage an orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet, the resiliency of the material permitting the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice, and a second plug of a resilient material abutting against the bullet exit side of the first plug and having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice through the first plug an orifice of larger diameter than the bullet.

Claim 6

In a firearms silencer improvement according to claim 3, a third plug of a resilient material having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice through the second plug an orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet, the resiliency of the material of the third plug permitting the bullet to pass through the orifice of the third plug, and a fourth plug of a resilient material abutting against the bullet exit side of the third plug and having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice of the third plug an orifice of larger diameter than the bullet.

Claim 7

In a firearms silencer improvement according to claim 3, in which the first plug is provided with at least one radial cut communicating with the orifice of the first plug, the radial cut together with the radius of the orifice being at least equal to the radius of the bullet, the radial cut assisting in the permitting of the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice of the first plug.

Claim 8

In a firearms silencer improvement according to claim 5, in which the first plug is provided with a second radial cut communicating with the orifice, said second radial cut being of length at least equal to that of the first radial cut and in diametrical opposition to the first radial cut.

Claim 9

In a firearms silencer improvement according to claim 4, in which the third plug is provided with at least one radial cut communicating with the orifice of the third plug, the radial cut together with the radius of the orifice being at least equal to the radius of the bullet, the radial cut assisting in the permitting of the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice of the third plug.

Claim 10

In a firearms silencer improvement according to claim 7, in which the third plug is provided with a second radial cut communicating with the orifice, said second radial cut being of length at least equal to that of the first radial cut and in diametrical opposition to the first radial cut.

Claim 11

A silencer comprising aligned entry and suppression chambers, the suppression chamber containing helical suppressor elements and the entry chamber being upstream from the suppression chamber, in the entry chamber at least one baffle comprising a plate having an aperture therethrough surrounded by a wall which arcuately flares outwardly to define increasingly greater diameters of the aperture as the distance from the baffle to the suppression zone decreases.

Claim 12

A silencer comprising aligned entry and suppression chambers, the suppression chamber containing helical suppressor elements and the entry chamber being upstream from the suppression chamber, in the entry chamber at least one baffle comprising a plate having an aperture therethrough surrounded by a wall which arcuately flares outwardly to define increasingly greater diameters of the aperture as the distance from the baffle to the suppression zone decreases.

Claim 13

A silencer comprising aligned suppression and resonance chambers, the resonance chamber being positioned downstream from the suppression chamber, a plurality of helical suppressor elements disposed coaxially in the suppression chamber with adjacent helical elements arranged in opposition to each other, means defining an axial passageway through said helical elements and a plurality of radial ports by which communication is established between said passageway and said helical elements, said ports being spaced axially along said passageway whereby gaseous material in said passageway is supplied sequentially to said helical elements through said ports so that self-neutralizing opposed vibrations are produced, at least one baffle positioned in the resonance chamber, the baffle comprising a plate having an aperture therethrough surrounded by a wall which arcuately flares outwardly to define increasingly greater diameters of the aperture as the distance from the baffle to the suppression zone increases.

Claim 14

A silencer comprising aligned suppression and resonance chambers, the resonance chamber being positioned downstream from the suppression chamber, a plurality of helical suppressor elements disposed coaxially in the suppression chamber with adjacent helical elements arranged in opposition to each other, means defining an axial passageway through said helical elements and a plurality of radial ports by which communication is established between said passageway and said helical elements, said ports being spaced axially along said passageway whereby gaseous material in said passageway is supplied sequentially to said helical elements through said ports so that self-neutralizing opposed vibrations are produced, at least one baffle positioned in the resonance chamber, the baffle comprising a plate having an aperture therethrough surrounded by a wall which arcuately flares outwardly to define increasingly greater diameters of the aperture as the distance from the baffle to the suppression zone increases.

Claim 15

A silencer according to claim 9, in which a plurality of said baffles are positioned in the entry chamber.

Claim 16

A silencer according to claim 10, in which a plurality of said baffles are positioned in the resonance chamber.

Claim 17

A silencer comprising aligned entry, suppression and resonance chambers, the suppression chamber containing helical suppressor elements, the entry chamber being upstream from the suppression chamber and the resonance chamber being downstream from the suppression chamber, a plurality of baffles positioned in each of the entry chamber and resonance chamber, each of the baffles comprising a plate having an aperture therethrough surrounded by a wall which arcuately flares outwardly to define increasingly greater diameters of the aperture, the baffles in the entry chamber being so oriented that the diameter of the aperture of a respective baffle increases as the distance from the baffle to the suppression chamber decreases and the baffles in the resonance chamber being so oriented that the diameter of the aperture of a respective baffle increases as the distance from the baffle to the suppression chamber increases.

Claim 18

A silencer comprising aligned entry, suppression and resonance chambers, the suppression chamber containing helical suppressor elements, the entry chamber being upstream from the suppression chamber and the resonance chamber being downstream from the suppression chamber, a plurality of baffles positioned in each of the entry chamber and resonance chamber, each of the baffles comprising a plate having an aperture therethrough surrounded by a wall which arcuately flares outwardly to define increasingly greater diameters of the aperture, the baffles in the entry chamber being so oriented that the diameter of the aperture of a respective baffle increases as the distance from the baffle to the suppression chamber decreases and the baffles in the resonance chamber being so oriented that the diameter of the aperture of a respective baffle increases as the distance from the baffle to the suppression chamber increases.

Claim 19

A silencer according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of helical suppressor elements disposed coaxially in the suppression chamber with adjacent helical elements arranged in opposition to each other, means defining an axial passageway through said helical elements and a plurality of radial ports by which communication is established between said passageway and said helical elements, said ports being spaced axially along said passageway whereby gaseous material in said passageway is supplied sequentially to said helical elements through said ports so that self-neutralizing opposed vibrations are produced.

Claim 20

A silencer according to claim 14, further comprising a tubular outer housing defining the outer wall of the aligned chambers and wherein the thickness of the housing irregularly varies along the length thereof.

Claim 21

A silencer according to claim 14 further comprising a relief valve communicating between the interior of the entry chamber and the exterior of the suppressor.

Claim 22

A silencer according to claim 14, further comprising a mounting means in the form of a hollow element defining the entry end of the silencer and in axial alignment with the entry chamber, said hollow element being provided with a L-shaped slot having a longitudinal arm parallel to the axis of the element and opening at the free end of the element and a second arm communicating with the longitudinal arm and being oriented at right angles to the longitudinal arm.

Claim 23

A firearms silencer according to claim 14, further comprising positioned in the resonance chamber a plug of resilient material having therethrough in axial alIgnment with the passage an orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet to be discharged from the firearm and at least one radial cut communicating with the orifice, the radial cut together with the radius of the orifice being at least eaual to the radius of the bullet, the resiliency of the material and the radial cut permitting the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice.

Claim 24

A firearms silencer according to claim 18, in which the plug is provided with a second radial cut of length at least equal to that of the first radial cut and in diametrical opposition to the first radial cut.

Claim 25

A firearms silencer according to claim 17, further comprising positioned in the resonance chamber a first plug of resilient material having therethrough an orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet to be discharged by the firearm, the resiliency of the material permitting the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice, and a second plug of resilient material abutting against the bullet exit side of the first side and having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice through the first plug an orifice of larger diameter than the bullet.

Claim 26

A firearms silencer according to claim 20, further comprising in the resonance chamber a third plug of resilient material having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice through the second plug an orifice of smaller diameter than the bullet, the resiliency of the material of the third plug permitting the bullet to pass through the orifice of the third plug, and a fourth plug of resilient material abutting against the bullet exit side of the third plug and having therethrough in axial alignment with the orifice of the third plug an orifice of larger diameter than the bullet.

Claim 27

A firearms silencer according to claim 21, in which the first plug and the third plug are each provided with at least one radial cut communicating with the orifice of the respective plug, the radial cut together with the radius of the orifice of the respective plug being at least equal to the radius of the bullet, the radial cut assisting in the permitting of the discharged bullet to pass through the orifice of the respective plug.

Claim 28

In a silencer comprising a housing having an entry end and containing helical suppressor elements and a discharge end, the improvement comprising non-uniform variations of the thickness of the housing.

Claim 29

In a silencer comprising a housing having an entry end and containing helical suppressor elements and a discharge end, the improvement comprising non-uniform variations of the thickness of the housing.

Claim 30

In a silencer comprising aligned entry and suppression chambers, the suppression chamber being downstream from the entry chamber and containing helical suppressor elements, the improvement comprising a relief valve communicating between the interior of the entry chamber and the exterior of the silencer.

Claim 31

In a silencer comprising aligned entry and suppression chambers, the suppression chamber being downstream from the entry chamber and containing helical suppressor elements, the improvement comprising a relief valve communicating between the interior of the entry chamber and the exterior of the silencer.

Claim 32

In a silencer improvement according to claim 24, in which the relief valve comprises means defining a conduit communicating between the interior and the exterior of the silencer, closure means for the conduit mounted for reversible movement from a closed position to an open positon and spring means biasing the closure in a closed position toward the interior of the entry chamber.

Claim 33

In a silencer improvement according to claim 25, in which the closure comprises a wall.

Claim 34

In a silencer improvement according to claim 24, in which the relief valve comprises means defining a tortuous and constricted path between the interior of the entry chamber and the exterior of the silencer.