A heat dissipation assembly for use with a barrel forming a part of a firearm upper receiver. An annular shaped barrel nut is adapted to secure the barrel to the upper receiver. An elongated handguard is affixed to the barrel nut at a heat conducting location, the handguard adapted to surround a proximal extending portion of the barrel, the handguard having a plurality of apertures defined therethrough. At least one cooling element is located on an exterior of the handguard. A thermoelectric generator is incorporated into the handguard for transferring heat from the barrel nut to the cooling element. A fan component is integrated into the handguard and operated by the thermoelectric generator for drawing air through the apertures in order to provide additional cooling to the barrel.

An improved hybrid composite projectile barrel comprising an inner liner and an outer composite matrix, the inner liner having a breech transition region and a muzzle transition region. The breech transition region and the muzzle transition region each comprises locking features that secure the outer composite matrix to the inner liner at the transition regions. In a first embodiment, the locking features are a series of longitudinally extending ribs with notches. In a second embodiment, the locking features are a plurality of pins disposed around the circumference of the breech and muzzle transition regions. In a third embodiment, the ridges and pins are combined such that a pin extends from the top of each ridge. In each embodiment with pins, the height of the pins is preferably adjusted so that the top ends of the pins form a line that is parallel with the outer diameter of the inner liner.

An improved hybrid composite projectile barrel comprising an inner liner and an outer composite matrix, the inner liner having a breech transition region and a muzzle transition region. The breech transition region and the muzzle transition region each comprises locking features that secure the outer composite matrix to the inner liner at the transition regions. In a first embodiment, the locking features are a series of longitudinally extending ribs with notches. In a second embodiment, the locking features are a plurality of pins disposed around the circumference of the breech and muzzle transition regions. In a third embodiment, the ridges and pins are combined such that a pin extends from the top of each ridge. In each embodiment with pins, the height of the pins is preferably adjusted so that the top ends of the pins form a line that is parallel with the outer diameter of the inner liner.

A disclosed firearm suppressor includes a fully over the barrel (FOTB) relation between the suppressor and a barrel and a barrel guard of the firearm wherein the suppressor comprises a primary expansion chamber and a plurality of secondary expansion chambers comprising a volume thereof. The disclosure also includes a plurality of fins formed into an exterior wall of the suppressor in an intimate contact with the barrel to increase a heat transfer to an atmosphere around the suppressor. The disclosure additionally includes a plurality of ribs formed into the volume of the suppressor to increase a heat transfer therefrom. The disclosure further includes a plurality of holes configured along the barrel guard to penetrate the barrel guard and promote atmospheric cooling of the barrel and the FOTB suppressor.

A barrel having a monolithic body, formed of an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end; a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to the muzzle end; and a sleeve material positioned around at least a portion of the barrel to encompass at least a portion of the barrel, wherein the sleeve material includes filler particles embedded or dispersed within the sleeve material.

Weapon barrels are disclosed which offer improved thermal performance and rigidity with no, minimal or negative weight increase. In general the barrel comprises a barrel core surrounded by a lightweight, thermally conductive sleeve made from metal-matrix composite (MMC) materials, also referred to as metal-matrix material. The increased diameter of the sleeve improves the barrel's stiffness and the sleeve's thermal conductivity and distributes the heat more evenly along the barrel. Manufacturing and joining techniques are disclosed as well as materials and material combinations that allow the barrel to perform at high cadence over the whole temperature range the barrel is used. Hot spots may be reduced and more surface area can contribute to heat dissipation. The increased diameter also allows integration of phase changing and/or vibration dampening materials, which further enhance performance.

Weapon barrels are disclosed which offer improved thermal performance and rigidity with no, minimal or negative weight increase. In general the barrel comprises a barrel core surrounded by a lightweight, thermally conductive sleeve made from metal-matrix composite (MMC) materials, also referred to as metal-matrix material. The increased diameter of the sleeve improves the barrel's stiffness and the sleeve's thermal conductivity and distributes the heat more evenly along the barrel. Manufacturing and joining techniques are disclosed as well as materials and material combinations that allow the barrel to perform at high cadence over the whole temperature range the barrel is used. Hot spots may be reduced and more surface area can contribute to heat dissipation. The increased diameter also allows integration of phase changing and/or vibration dampening materials, which further enhance performance.

Disclosed herein are suppressors for use with firearms or the like, and methods of making and using such firearm suppressors. Some aspects relate to a firearm suppressor including a helical portion extending helically around a cylindrical body portion, at least a section of the helical portion being canted such that it extends radially outward from the cylindrical body portion at an oblique angle relative to a plane normal to the central longitudinal axis. In some cases, the helical portion is canted distally.

In another respect, a firearm suppressor including a helical portion extending radially outward from and helically around a cylindrical body portion having a bore to define a crest and a root, and at least one channel extends from an inner opening along the bore to an outer opening along the root of the helical portion.

In yet another respect, a firearm suppressor including a cylindrical wall defining a central bore extending about a longitudinal axis, and one or more cooling bores spaced from the central bore, the cooling bores extending into the wall offset from the central longitudinal axis.

Disclosed herein are suppressors for use with firearms or the like, and methods of making and using such firearm suppressors. Some aspects relate to a firearm suppressor including a helical portion extending helically around a cylindrical body portion, at least a section of the helical portion being canted such that it extends radially outward from the cylindrical body portion at an oblique angle relative to a plane normal to the central longitudinal axis. In some cases, the helical portion is canted distally.

In another respect, a firearm suppressor including a helical portion extending radially outward from and helically around a cylindrical body portion having a bore to define a crest and a root, and at least one channel extends from an inner opening along the bore to an outer opening along the root of the helical portion.

In yet another respect, a firearm suppressor including a cylindrical wall defining a central bore extending about a longitudinal axis, and one or more cooling bores spaced from the central bore, the cooling bores extending into the wall offset from the central longitudinal axis.

A cooling system for a cold spray nozzle or a thermal spray barrel and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The cooling system includes a sleeve with cooling fins that encapsulate a spray nozzle or barrel to enable heat transfer from the nozzle or barrel to the fins and then to the external ambient environment. The sleeve may optionally include one or more channels with cooling tubes to enable enhanced cooling with a cooling medium flowing through the tubes and across the fins.