GB966934A - Improvements in or relating to silencers and/or flash eliminators for firearms - Google Patents

Abstract

966,934. Silencers and flash eliminators for firearms. G. W. PATCHETT. May 6, 1963 [June 12, 1962], No. 22593/62. Heading F3C. The barrel of a firearm is provided with apertures 13 along its length and is encircled by a spaced diffuser tube 15 provided with apertures 18, sound-absorbing material 25 being located between the tube 15 and a further tube 12 having apertures 20 larger than the apertures 18 and the whole assembly being arranged in an outer casing 48. The soundabsorbing material may comprise layers of expanded sheet metal or wire wool. The barrel 10 tapers from the breech to the muzzle end and the apertures 13 extend outwardly from the bottom of the rifling 13a and are countersunk at 14 at their outer ends. The outer casing 48 extends beyond the muzzle and is provided with an apertured end member 47, an apertured cup-shaped element 29 and annular baffle plates 52 each having a radial slit and the material of the plate being bent in opposite directions on opposite sides of the slit so that the edges of one plate join up with the edges of adjacent plates to form a helical blade. Holes 50 in a ring 19 permit passage of gases from the space between the tubes 12 and 15 to the interior of the cup-shaped element 29. Instead of the baffle plates 52, an obturator may be arranged in a somewhat similar manner to that described in Specification 757,640. This comprises essentially a passage 35, Figs. 4, 5, normally closed by a spring-urged pivoted shutter 37 but is opened by a push-rod 23 when the breech block 24 moves to its closed position. On firing the shutter closes as soon as the breech block recoils thus trapping the gases following the bullet, the pressure of the gases holding the shutter in its closed position.