Pneumatic pump noise reduction

Abstract

A silencer device may be positioned in-line with an exhaust tube of a pneumatic pump to reduce a noise generated at the exhaust tube. The silencer devices includes a noise absorbing media and a body section housing the noise absorbing media and radially sealing peripheral walls thereof. The silencer device also includes a fluid inlet section having an inlet tube that directs fluid flow from the exhaust tube into the noise absorbing media and an inlet airflow restrictor fluidly connected to the fluid inlet section to restrict fluid flow therethrough. The silencer device further includes a fluid outlet section having an outlet tube that directs fluid flow from the noise absorbing media and an outlet airflow restrictor fluidly connected to the fluid outlet section to restrict fluid flow therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A silencer device configured to be positioned in-line with an exhaust tube of a pneumatic pump to reduce a noise generated at the exhaust tube, the silencer device comprising:
 a noise absorbing media;   a body section housing the noise absorbing media and radially sealing peripheral walls thereof;   a fluid inlet section comprising:
 an inlet tube configured to direct a fluid flow from the exhaust tube into the noise absorbing media; and 
 an inlet airflow restrictor fluidly connected to the fluid inlet section and configured to restrict fluid flow therethrough; and 
   a fluid outlet section comprising:
 an outlet tube configured to direct fluid flow from the noise absorbing media; and 
 an outlet airflow restrictor fluidly connected to the fluid outlet section and configured to restrict fluid flow therethrough. 
   
     
     
         2 . The silencer device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner side wall of the body section is threaded. 
     
     
         3 . The silencer device of  claim 2 , wherein the noise absorbing media is press-fitted within the body section. 
     
     
         4 . The silencer device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet section and the body section are integrally formed. 
     
     
         5 . The silencer device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet section and the body section are integrally formed. 
     
     
         6 . The silencer device of  claim 1 , wherein the body section comprises a tube. 
     
     
         7 . The silencer device of  claim 6 , wherein the tube is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         8 . The silencer device of  claim 1 , wherein the noise absorbing media is a porous media. 
     
     
         9 . The silencer device of  claim 8 , wherein the porous media comprises metal. 
     
     
         10 . The silencer device of  claim 8 , wherein the porous media is a foam. 
     
     
         11 . The silencer device of  claim 10 , wherein the foam comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         12 . A silencer device configured to be positioned in-line with an exhaust tube of a pneumatic pump to reduce a noise generated at the exhaust tube, the silencer device comprising:
 a porous foam media;   a body section housing the porous foam media and radially sealing peripheral walls thereof;   a fluid inlet section comprising an inlet tube configured to direct fluid flow from the exhaust tube into the porous foam media, and   a fluid outlet section comprising an outlet tube configured to direct fluid flow from the porous foam media.   
     
     
         13 . The silencer device of  claim 12 , wherein the body section comprises an annular wall that circumferentially surrounds the porous foam media and that radially seals against the peripheral walls of the porous foam media. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising a pneumatic pump and a silencer device positioned in-line with an exhaust tube of the pneumatic pump to reduce a noise generated at the exhaust tube, the silencer device comprising:
 a noise absorbing media;   a body section housing the noise absorbing media and radially sealing peripheral walls thereof;   a fluid inlet section comprising:
 an inlet tube configured to direct fluid flow from the exhaust tube into the noise absorbing media; and 
 an inlet airflow restrictor fluidly connected to the fluid inlet section and configured to restrict fluid flow therethrough; and 
   a fluid outlet section comprising:
 an outlet tube configured to direct fluid flow from the noise absorbing media; and 
 an outlet airflow restrictor fluidly connected to the fluid outlet section and configured to restrict fluid flow therethrough. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein an inner side wall of the body section is threaded. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the noise absorbing media is press-fitted within the body section. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid inlet section and the body section are integrally formed. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid outlet section and the body section are integrally formed. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the body section comprises a tube. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , comprising a capnograph with the pneumatic pump, the exhaust tube, and the silencer device.