Patent ID: 7819222

Claim:
A device for attenuating energy along a conduit, comprising: a first member having an essentially semi-cylindrical outer surface with a first outer radius, wherein said first member is provided with a first cavity that extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of said first member from a first end thereof to an opposite second end thereof; and a second member having an essentially semi-cylindrical outer surface with a second outer radius that is the same as the first outer radius of said first member, wherein said second member is provided with a second cavity that extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of said second member from a first end thereof to an opposite second end thereof, further wherein said first and second members are adapted to be secured to one another to form said device for attenuating energy, further wherein in a secured state of said first and second members, said first and second cavities thereof are positioned facing one another so as to form a bore in said device that extends from a first end of said device to an opposite second end thereof, further wherein said bore has respective opposing tapered portions having a first axial length and a circular cross-sectional configuration that decreases in diameter inwardly from the respective end of said device, further wherein said bore has a central, cylindrical portion that is disposed between and interconnects said tapered portions, further wherein said cylindrical portion of said bare has a second axial length, and wherein said second axial length of said central portion of said bore is no greater than one third of the overall axial length of said device, wherein the first member and the second member are configured to receive the conduit within the bore such that the conduit extends through the bore with the first member and the second member secured about an exterior of the conduit; wherein each of said first and second members is provided with an alignment or interlocking means; wherein said alignment or interlocking means comprises cooperating projections and recesses on surfaces of said first and second members that face one another when said first and second members are secured to one another.