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A sound suppressor for a firearm comprises a cylindrical housing having a rear end cap attached to the housing and having means for mounting to the muzzle of a firearm, a front end cap attached to the housing and having a centrally positioned aperture, and at least one baffle element positioned with

A sound suppressor for a firearm comprises a cylindrical housing having a rear end cap attached to the housing and having means for mounting to the muzzle of a firearm, a front end cap attached to the housing and having a centrally positioned aperture, and at least one baffle element positioned within the housing between the rear end cap and front end cap. The baffle element comprises a flat plate with an integral rearward-protruding cone with the cone having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, with the cone having an elongated aperture that extends from the entrance aperture toward the flat plate. An initial coaxial spacer element is positioned between the rear end cap and the baffle element, with the initial coaxial spacer element having at least one gas port and at least one notch at an edge of the initial coaxial spacer element. Inner and outer expansion chambers are formed between the rear end cap, the initial coaxial spacer element and the baffle element. A coaxial spacer element is positioned between the front end cap and the baffle element, and the coaxial spacer element has at least one gas port and at least one notch at an edge of the coaxial spacer element. Inner and outer expansion chambers are formed between the baffle element, the coaxial spacer element and the front end cap.

대표청구항 ▼

A sound suppressor for a firearm comprises a cylindrical housing having a rear end cap attached to the housing and having means for mounting to the muzzle of a firearm, a front end cap attached to the housing and having a centrally positioned aperture, and at least one baffle element positioned with

A sound suppressor for a firearm comprises a cylindrical housing having a rear end cap attached to the housing and having means for mounting to the muzzle of a firearm, a front end cap attached to the housing and having a centrally positioned aperture, and at least one baffle element positioned within the housing between the rear end cap and front end cap. The baffle element comprises a flat plate with an integral rearward-protruding cone with the cone having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture, with the cone having an elongated aperture that extends from the entrance aperture toward the flat plate. An initial coaxial spacer element is positioned between the rear end cap and the baffle element, with the initial coaxial spacer element having at least one gas port and at least one notch at an edge of the initial coaxial spacer element. Inner and outer expansion chambers are formed between the rear end cap, the initial coaxial spacer element and the baffle element. A coaxial spacer element is positioned between the front end cap and the baffle element, and the coaxial spacer element has at least one gas port and at least one notch at an edge of the coaxial spacer element. Inner and outer expansion chambers are formed between the baffle element, the coaxial spacer element and the front end cap. er actuator further capable of returning said plunger from said second position to said first position. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame further defines a channel, said channel comprising a floor, a plurality of side walls, and a plurality of slots in said floor, said slots being located and sized such that said array of circular blades protrudes therethrough, and said plunger being configured to move within said channel toward said array of circular blades while pushing said wood chips within said channel. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planar portion is shaped to align said wood chips substantially parallel to said planar portion as said plunger moves from said first position to said second position. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dam positioned above and adjacent said plunger, said dam being shaped to align said wood chips substantially parallel to said plunger face as said plunger returns from said second position to said first position. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plunger actuator further comprises a motor, a drive shaft connected to said motor, a drive assembly disposed between said drive shaft and said plunger, said drive assembly configured to move said plunger back and forth between said first position and said second position, a plurality of sensors responsive to the position of said plunger, and a controller in communication with said plurality of sensors for activating said plunger actuator in response to a specified position of said plunger. 6. An apparatus for processing a plurality of wood chips, comprising: a frame; a saw assembly comprising an array of circular blades each including a cutting edge, said array of circular blades defining gaps therebetween, and said array of circular blades also defining a cylindrical cutting zone; a plunger on said frame, said plunger defining a plunger face and also defining an array of recesses therein positioned to accept insertion of said array of circular blades, said plunger moveable relative to said saw assembly from a first position to a second position, said first position being characterized by said plunger being disengaged from said array of circular blades wherein said plunger face is spaced apart from said cutting edges, said second position being characterized by said plunger being engaged with said array of circular blades wherein said array of circular blades is at least partially inserted within said array of recesses; a dam positioned above and adjacent said plunger, said dam being shaped to align said wood chips substantially parallel to said planar portion of said plunger face as said plunger returns from said second position to said first position; and a plunger actuator for moving said plunger from said first position to said second position, such that said wood chips placed intermediate said plunger and said saw assembly may be pushed by said plunger into said cutting edges to create a plurality of cut wood chips within said gaps, and wherein said cut wood chips are pushed into and then completely through at least a portion of said cutting zone as said plunger reaches said second position, said plunger actuator further capable of returning said plunger from said second position to said first position. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plunger face further comprises a planar portion in addition to said overhanging portion, said planar portion being shaped to align said wood chips substantially parallel to said planar portion as said plunger moves from said first position to said second position. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said frame further defines a channel, said channel comprising a floor, a plurality of side walls, and a plurality of slots in said floor, said slots being located and sized such that said array of circular blades protrudes therethrough, and said plunger being configured to move within said channel toward said array of circular blades while pushing said wood chips within said channel. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said frame further comprises a plurality of guide rails positioned to guide said plunger along said floor of said channel. 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said saw assembly further comprises a saw motor, a shaft connected to said motor, a coupling disposed between said saw motor and said shaft, a plurality of bearings positioned to support said shaft, an array of circular blades disposed upon said shaft, and an array of spacers disposed upon said shaft between each of said circular blades. 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plunger actuator further comprises a motor, a drive shaft connected to said motor, a drive assembly disposed between said drive shaft and said plunger, said drive assembly configured to move said plunger back and forth between said first position and said second position, a plurality of sensors responsive to the position of said plunger, and a controller in communication with said plurality of sensors for activating said plunger actuator in response to a specified position of said plunger. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said drive assembly comprises a cable spool disposed upon said drive shaft, a keel descending from said plunger, a first cable coupled to said keel and said cable spool, a second cable coupled to said keel and said cable spool, and an idler pulley supporting said second cable and mounted to said frame. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a first proximity switch positioned to sense the presence of said plunger at said first position and a second proximity switch positioned to sense the presence of said plunger at said second position. 14. An apparatus for processing a plurality of wood chips, comprising: a saw assembly comprising an array of circular blades disposed upon a common shaft, an array of spacers disposed upon said shaft, said spacers positioned alternately between said circular blades, and a saw motor for rotating said shaft; a feeder assembly positioned to accept an incoming flow of wood chips, said feeder assembly comprising a plurality of paddles fixedly connected to a central hub, said hub mounted in such a manner as to permit rotation of the entire feeder assembly about an axis, said axis being located adjacent said common shaft in such a location as to permit the intersection of said plurality of paddles and said array of circular blades, said paddles including an array of slots therethrough positioned to accept insertion of said array of circular blades; and an actuator for rotating said feeder assembly about said axis at a specified rotational velocity, such that as said feeder assembly is rotated about said axis, said paddles urge said incoming wood flow of chips towards said array of circular blades, such that said feeder assembly feeds said wood chips into said array of circular blades and said wood chips are cut by said blades. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said plurality of paddles comprise a flat inner portion and a contoured outer portion, said contoured outer portion being sized to capture said wood chips, shaped to orient said wood chips substantially parallel to said axis, and positioned to guide said wood chips into and completely through said array of circular blades. 16. A method for processing wood chips, comprising the steps of: providing a moveable plunger and a saw assembly, said saw comprising an array of blades, said array of blades defining gaps therebetween, said array of blades defining a cutting zone, said plunger comprising a plunger face and an array of recesses therein, said recesses positioned to accept insertion of said array of blades, said plunger face comprising a planar portion and an overhanging portion, said plunger moveable relative to said saw assembly from a first position to a second position, said first position being characterized by said plunger being disengaged from said array of bla des wherein said plunger face is spaced apart from said cutting edges, said second position being characterized by said plunger being engaged with said array of blades wherein said array of blades is at least partially inserted within said array of recesses; moving said plunger from a first position to a second position relative to said saw assembly, such that said wood chips placed intermediate said plunger and said saw assembly may be pushed by said plunger into said cutting edges to create a plurality of cut wood chips within said gaps, and wherein said cut wood chips are pushed into and then completely through at least a portion of said cutting zone as said plunger reaches said second position. 17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of: containing said wood chips within said cutting zone during cutting by holding said wood chips in place relative to said array of blades with said overhanging portion of said plunger face. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein a portion of said wood chips are characterized by their elongate shape, the method further comprising the step of: orienting said elongate wood chips to be substantially parallel to said plunger face as said plunger moves from said first position to said second position by pushing said elongate wood chips with said planar portion of said plunger face. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein a portion of said wood chips are characterized by their elongate shape, the method further comprising the step of: orienting said elongate wood chips to be substantially parallel to said plunger face as said plunger moves from said second position to said first position by pushing said elongate wood chips with a dam, said dam positioned above and adjacent said plunger. 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of returning said plunger from said second position to said first position. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein a portion of said wood chips are characterized by their elongate shape, the method further comprising the step of: orienting said elongate wood chips to be substantially parallel to said plunger face as said plunger returns from said second position to said first position by pushing said elongate wood chips with a dam, said dam positioned above and adjacent said plunger. 22. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of moving said plunger from a first position to a second position relative to said saw assembly is performed by a plunger actuator, said plunger actuator comprising a motor, a drive shaft connected to said motor, a drive assembly disposed between said drive shaft and said plunger, said drive assembly configured to move said plunger back and forth between said first position and said second position, a plurality of sensors responsive to the position of said plunger, and a controller in communication with said plurality of sensors for activating said plunger actuator in response to a specified position of said plunger. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said drive assembly comprises a cable spool disposed upon said drive shaft, a keel descending from said plunger, a first cable coupled to said keel and said cable spool, a second cable coupled to said keel and said cable spool, and an idler pulley supporting said second cable and mounted to said frame. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a first proximity switch and a second proximity switch. 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: a. accelerating said plunger from said first position toward said cutting zone from zero to a specified sawing velocity using said drive assembly; b. moving said plunger at said specified sawing velocity using said drive assembly toward, into, and then completely through said cutting zone; c. sensing the presence of said plunger at said second position using said plurality of sensors; d. decelerating said plunger from said specified sawing velocity to zer