Ordnance – Barrels – Flash shield
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-10-09
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ordnance
Barrels
Flash shield
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a muzzle device for reducing the flash and blast phenomena which occur during the firing of a firearm or projectile launching device, and, in particular, to such a device comprised of reticulated refractory foam.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various previous expedients had been proposed as flash suppressors, muzzle brakes/compensators, and silencers for mounting on the ends of gun tubes. Such devices generally consisted of formed steel muzzle extensions including various baffles, machined orifices, and the like. Flash suppression was generally attempted to be achieved by cooling at least part of the muzzle gases below their autoignition temperatures by expanding them through a series of machined orifices, conical ports or the like. Such prior expedients tended to be less effective than desired. The cost of manufacturing such devices, with their numerous intricately formed and assembled components, was substantial.
These and other difficulties of the prior art have been overcome according to the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of a muzzle device according to the present invention comprises a body of high strength refractory foam mounted at the muzzle end of a gun tube so that a significant portion of the gases from the discharge of the weapon exit the gun tube through the foam. Depending upon the nature of the weapon, the muzzle device can be used once or numerous times. When used, for example, on rifled weapons of any caliber (small arms to large naval guns), the muzzle devices are often designed to last for the expected life of the gun barrel, which may be several thousand rounds. Some projectile launching devices, by contrast, may have an expected life of only one firing.
Forcing the hot gases to exit the weapon through reticulated foam cools the gases by expansion, extracts heat from them by contact with the foam ligaments, filters out carbon particles, and the like. The sound (blast) is also attenuated. The high surface area of the foam permits the extraction of considerable heat. The blast overpressure as well as the infrared and visual signatures of the muzzle blast are thus substantially reduced. Primary, intermediate and secondary flash are all suppressed.
Muzzle devices according to the present invention are generally fabricated from refractory foams. In general, the reticulated foams are composed primarily of refractory metals. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, other rigid foams can be used, provided they are possessed of the necessary strength, shock resistance, toughness and thermal resistance. Reticulated foam structures having pore sizes of from approximately 30 to 1000, preferably from approximately 45 to 100, pores per inch, and between approximately 50 to 90 percent porosity (void volume), are particularly suitable for use in muzzle devices. The refractory materials from which muzzle devices according to the present invention can be constructed include, for example, tantalum, niobium, iron aluminide, nickel aluminide, chromium, titanium, nickel or cobalt based high temperature alloys, superalloys, high temperature iron alloys, and the like.
The high strength refractory foams according to the present invention can be fabricated, for example, by chemical vapor deposition techniques where the refractory material is deposited on a carbon skeleton. Other fabrication processes can be utilized, if desired. For example, bath plating and fiber or powder sintering procedures.
The physical shape of the refractory foam can be adjusted so as to maximize the effect of the foam structure on the hot gases. The refractory foam can also be shaped to perform the functions performed by solid elements in previous expedients or combined with solid elements or baffles. For example, the refractory foam can be configured into baffles, and the like.
Various materials can be incorporated into the foam structure so as to improve or add additional functions to those provided by the foam. For example, sublimation materials or materials which react with the hot gasses can be included within the interstices of the foam, if desired. Materials with high heats of sublimation cool the gases. Such sublimation materials include, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, oxalic acid, sodium or potassium chloride, and the like. Materials which react with the hot muzzle discharge gases to suppress the flash include, for example, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, and the like.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2935912 (1960-05-01), Hartley
patent: 4454798 (1984-06-01), Shea et al.
Brockmeyer Jerry
Peters Gregory
Sherman Andrew J.
Tuffias Robert H.
DiCostanzo Nicholas W
Jagger Bruce A.
Jordan Charles T.
Ultramet
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