Patent ID: 8171959

Claim:
A dampening system for use with an industrial process having fluid flow, comprising: a first dampener device having a vertical axis comprising: a first conduit through which process fluid flows; a second conduit having a fist and second end connected to said first conduit, wherein said second conduit extends away from said first conduit generally along the vertical axis; a third conduit having a first and second end connected to said first conduit, wherein said third conduit extends away from said first conduit generally along the vertical axis in opposing relationship to said second conduit; a first dampener valve positioned on said first conduit; and a fourth conduit extending in opposing relation to said first conduit, said fourth conduit extending between said second and third conduits; a first air valve connected to said fourth conduit; a first diverter valve positioned on said first conduit, wherein said first diverter valve controls the fluid flow to said dampener device; a bypass conduit connected to said first diverter valve; and a reciprocating pump having an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein said dampener device is connected to and in fluid communication with one of the inlet side or the outlet side of said reciprocating pump; a second dampener device in fluid communication with said first dampener device, having a vertical axis connected to and in fluid communication with one of the inlet side or the outlet side of said reciprocating pump, said second dampener device comprising: a fifth conduit through which process fluid flows; a sixth conduit having a fist and second end connected to said first conduit, wherein said sixth conduit extends away from said fifth conduit generally along the vertical axis; a seventh conduit having a first and second end connected to said fifth conduit, wherein said seventh conduit extends away from said fifth conduit generally along the vertical axis in opposing relationship to said second conduit; a second dampener valve positioned on said fifth conduit; an eighth conduit extending in opposing relation to said fifth conduit, said eight conduit extending between said sixth and seventh conduits; and a second air valve connected to said eighth conduit.