Patent ID: 8051948

Claim:
A silencer apparatus for attenuating sound propagated through a flowing gas from a noise source, the silencer apparatus comprising: a housing having an interior cavity and a gas flow inlet and outlet that are adapted to be connected to a passage such that a gas flowing through the passage enters and exits the interior cavity of the housing through the inlet and outlet, respectively; a silencer cartridge unit removably disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and defining first and second openings fluidically connected to the inlet and the outlet of the housing and through which the flowing gas is able to enter and exit, respectively, the silencer cartridge unit, the first and second openings of the silencer cartridge unit being aligned with the inlet and outlet of the housing to define therewith a gas flow path throughout the housing and the silencer cartridge unit, wherein airflow within the gas flow path is not restricted because the gas flow path has a substantially constant cross-sectional area, the silencer cartridge unit comprising a unitary assembly having first and second walls that define an enclosure surrounding the gas flow path and at least one sound-attenuating means surrounding the gas flow path, one of the first and second walls being a noise barrier and another of the first and second walls enabling sound energy to enter the enclosure from the gas flow path, the sound-attenuating means comprising means within the enclosure for absorbing and converting to thermal energy at least a portion of the sound energy that enters the enclosure through the second wall; and a closure sealingly closing a portion of the housing, the closure being releasable from the housing so as to provide an access opening in the housing through which the silencer cartridge unit in its entirety, including the unitary assembly, the first and second walls, the enclosure, and the sound-attenuating means thereof, can be removed from the housing without dismantling the silencer cartridge unit and can be replaced with a second silencer cartridge unit to maintain the performance of the silencer apparatus and protect downstream equipment from damage.