Laser welded firearm sound suppressors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209152-A1
Application number	US-201614995654-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 14, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various techniques are provided to assemble, manufacture, and operate firearm sound suppressors. In one example, a sound suppressor for a firearm includes a baffle; a spacer abutted to the baffle; and a circumferential laser weld joining the baffle and the spacer. In another example, a sound suppressor for a firearm includes a plurality of baffles; a plurality of spacers; a substantially tubular housing surrounding the baffles and the spacers; wherein the housing and the spacers define an annular volume surrounding the spacers; an aperture in a circumfery of at least one of the spacers; and wherein the aperture is adapted to direct combustion gases in a radial direction from within the spacer into the annular volume to reduce ejection port flash of the firearm. Additional suppressor embodiments and related methods are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sound suppressor for a firearm, the suppressor comprising:
a baffle; a spacer abutted to the baffle; and a circumferential laser weld joining the baffle and the spacer.

2 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is a first spacer abutted to a front side of the baffle, the weld is a first weld, the suppressor further comprising:
a second spacer abutted to a rear side of the baffle; and a second circumferential laser weld joining the baffle and the second spacer.

3 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is a first spacer abutted to a front side of the baffle, the suppressor further comprising a second spacer abutted to a rear side of the baffle and joined to the baffle by the weld.

4 . The suppressor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a substantially tubular housing surrounding the baffle and the spacer; wherein the housing and the spacer define an annular volume surrounding the spacer; an aperture in a circumfery of the spacer; and wherein the aperture is adapted to direct combustion gases in a radial direction from within the spacer into the annular volume to reduce ejection port flash of the firearm.

5 . The suppressor of claim 4 , wherein the aperture is a substantially rectangular notch having a diameter in a range of approximately 0.1 inches to approximately 0.2 inches.

6 . The suppressor of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of the apertures distributed about the circumfery of the spacer.

7 . The suppressor of claim 4 , wherein the baffle is a first baffle, wherein the aperture is a first aperture positioned at a first end of the spacer abutting the first baffle, the suppressor further comprising:
a second baffle abutted to a second end of the spacer; and a second aperture positioned at the second end of the spacer.

8 . The suppressor of claim 7 , wherein the first aperture is offset approximately 60 degrees from the second aperture about the circumfery of the spacer.

9 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the weld extends about only a portion of a circumfery of the spacer.

10 . The suppressor of claim 9 , wherein the weld is an arc extending approximately 120 degrees about the circumfery of the spacer.

11 . The suppressor of claim 9 , wherein the weld is a first weld and the portion is a first portion, the suppressor further comprising a second circumferential laser weld joining the baffle and the spacer, wherein the second weld extends about only a second different portion of the circumfery of the spacer.

12 . The suppressor of claim 11 , further comprising an aperture in the circumfery of the spacer defining a discontinuity between the first and second welds.

13 . A method comprising:
providing a plurality of baffles and spacers of a sound suppressor for a firearm; aligning the baffles and spacers on a fixture to provide an assembly; and operating a laser to provide a circumferential weld joining at least one of the baffles and at least one of the spacers.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising rotating the assembly in relation to the laser during the operating.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the spacer is a first spacer abutted to a front side of the baffle, the weld is a first weld, the method further comprising operating the laser to provide a second circumferential weld joining the baffle to at least a second one of the spacers abutted to a rear side of the baffle.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the spacer is a first spacer abutted to a front side of the baffle, wherein the weld joins the baffle to a second one of the spacers abutted to a rear side of the baffle.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
inserting the assembly into a substantially tubular housing of the suppressor; wherein the housing and the spacer define an annular volume surrounding the spacer; and wherein an aperture in a circumfery of the spacer is adapted to direct combustion gases in a radial direction from within the spacer into the annular volume to reduce ejection port flash of the firearm.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the aperture is a substantially rectangular notch having a diameter in a range of approximately 0.1 inches to approximately 0.2 inches.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of the apertures are distributed about the circumfery of the spacer.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the baffle is a first baffle, wherein the aperture is a first aperture positioned at a first end of the spacer abutting the first baffle, wherein a second aperture is positioned at a second end of the spacer abutted to a second one of the baffles.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first aperture is offset approximately 60 degrees from the second aperture about the circumfery of the spacer.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the weld extends about only a portion of a circumfery of the spacer.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the weld is an arc extending approximately 120 degrees about the circumfery of the spacer.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the weld is a first weld and the portion is a first portion, the method further comprising operating the laser to provide a second circumferential weld joining the baffle and the spacer, wherein the second weld extends about only a second different portion of the circumfery of the spacer.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein an aperture in the circumfery of the spacer defines a discontinuity between the first and second welds.

26 . A sound suppressor for a firearm, the suppressor comprising:
a plurality of baffles; a plurality of spacers; a substantially tubular housing surrounding the baffles and the spacers; wherein the housing and the spacers define an annular volume surrounding the spacers; an aperture in a circumfery of at least one of the spacers; and wherein the aperture is adapted to direct combustion gases in a radial direction from within the spacer into the annular volume to reduce ejection port flash of the firearm.

27 . A method of operating the sound suppressor of claim 26 , the method comprising:
cycling the firearm; and passing combustion gases in the radial direction from within the spacer into the annular volume.

Assignees

• Surefire Llc

Inventors

• Dueck Barry W
• Radgowski Dennis
• Brown Kavan
• Honigmann Karl R

Classifications

• F41A21/34

  Flash dampers · CPC title

• F41A21/30 Primary

  Silencers · CPC title

• B23K26/282

  of tube sections · CPC title