Firearm sound suppressor with peripheral venting

1 . A suppressor for a firearm, comprising:

a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a front portion for attenuating temperature and energy of propellant gases and comprising a series of baffles;

an annular gas expansion chamber disposed between an outside surface of a plurality of spacers and an inner surface of the housing, the annular gas expansion chamber comprising a continuous chamber surrounding a series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers and extending along a portion of the suppressor's length, and configured for directing a portion of the propellant gases distally to peripheral vents disposed at the distal end;

a plurality of circumferential apertures disposed radially between each of the cylindrical gas expansion chambers and the annular gas expansion chamber; and

a rear portion comprising a back end member defining 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;

wherein the back end member comprises at least one curved interior surface adapted to deflect a portion of the propellant gases toward one or more vents disposed at a rear of the primary gas expansion chamber;

wherein the at least one curved interior surface is configured to withstand pressure and temperature of the propellant gases;

wherein the suppressor is configured to divert a first portion of the propellant gases deflected by the at least one curved interior surface through the annular gas expansion chamber prior to mixing the first portion of the propellant gases with a second portion of the propellant gases introduced through the plurality of circumferential apertures into the annular gas expansion chamber;

wherein the primary gas expansion chamber and the one or more vents include one or more ledges for directing the propellant gases toward a blast suppression chamber; and

wherein the blast suppression chamber is disposed between a tapered blast deflector and a portion of the at least one curved interior surface, such that the blast suppression chamber surrounds the lateral gas expansion chamber.

2 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers are configured for attenuating the temperature and energy of the propellant gases; wherein the annular gas expansion chamber surrounds the series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers; and wherein the rear portion includes the at least one curved interior surface for deflecting and rebounding the propellant gases.

3 . The suppressor of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spacers is adapted to separate the series of baffles from one another.

4 . The suppressor of claim 3 , wherein pairs of adjacent baffles in the series of baffles each define one of the series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers to reduce the temperature of the propellant gases, the pressure of the propellant gases, a velocity of the propellant gases, or any combination thereof.

5 . The suppressor of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of circumferential apertures is configured to direct the propellant gases from one or more of the series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers into the annular gas expansion chamber.

6 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the continuous chamber of the annular gas expansion chamber comprises a multitude of continuous chambers.

7 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the continuous chamber of the annular gas expansion chamber comprises a series of chambers.

8 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the annular gas expansion chamber extends continuously from the rear portion to the peripheral vents.

9 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein one or more ledges are disposed within the annular gas expansion chamber for directing the propellant gases toward the peripheral vents.

10 . The suppressor of claim 9 , wherein the one or more ledges are disposed circumferentially around an interior of the annular gas expansion chamber and include a sloped surface and an acutely angled surface.

11 . The suppressor of claim 9 , wherein the one or more ledges are configured to keep the propellant gases flowing distally through the annular gas expansion chamber until exiting the peripheral vents.

12 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the lateral gas expansion chamber is disposed between a portion of tines of a firearm attachment and the at least one curved interior surface and is adapted to divert and allow for expansion of a portion of the propellant gases entering through a central bore of the firearm attachment.

13 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein the one or more ledges are disposed along at least a portion of a circumference of the primary gas expansion chamber and the one or more vents.

14 . The suppressor of claim 1 , wherein a rear portion of the blast suppression chamber exits into a rear-most portion of the annular gas expansion chamber such that the propellant gases travel around the tapered blast deflector before entering the annular gas expansion chamber.

15 . The suppressor of claim 14 , wherein the tapered blast deflector is configured to inhibit back-flow of the propellant gases from the blast suppression chamber into the primary gas expansion chamber.

16 . A method for making a suppressor for a firearm, comprising:

forming a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

arranging a front portion for attenuating temperature and energy of propellant gases, wherein the front portion comprises a series of baffles;

disposing an annular gas expansion chamber between an outside surface of a plurality of spacers and an inner surface of the housing, the annular gas expansion chamber comprising a continuous chamber surrounding a series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers and extending along a portion of the suppressor's length, and configured for directing a portion of the propellant gases to peripheral vents disposed at the distal end;

providing a plurality of circumferential apertures disposed radially between the cylindrical gas expansion chambers and the annular gas expansion chamber;

configuring a rear portion comprising a back end member defining 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, the back end member comprising at least one curved interior surface adapted to deflect the portion of the propellant gases toward one or more vents disposed at a rear of the primary gas expansion chamber, the at least one curved interior surface configured for withstanding pressure and temperature of the propellant gases, the primary gas expansion chamber and the one or more vents including one or more ledges for directing the propellant gases toward a blast suppression chamber;

disposing the blast suppression chamber between a tapered blast deflector and a portion of the at least one curved interior surface, such that the blast suppression chamber surrounds the lateral gas expansion chamber; and

diverting, by deflecting off of the at least one curved interior surface, a first portion of the propellant gases through the annular gas expansion chamber prior to mixing the first portion of the propellant gases with a second portion of the propellant gases introduced through the plurality of circumferential apertures into the annular gas expansion chamber.