Patent ID: 7278514

Claim:
A filter for reactive reflection of acoustical energy within a fluid conducted through a piping system, comprising: an outer casing enclosing a flow chamber between opposite axial ends thereof through which the fluid is conducted; an inner cylindrical support drum positioned within the outer casing and surrounding the flow chamber configured to allow undiverted fluid flow in an axial direction through the flow chamber; a plurality of axial sections positioned within the outer casing and surrounding the inner cylindrical support drum, wherein: each axial section is associated with a hole in the inner cylindrical support drum, each axial section is separated from an adjacent axial section by a connector plate, each axial section has a length that differs from a length of each of the other axial sections, and wherein each axial section further comprises: flexible means positioned within the outer casing and surrounding the inner cylindrical support drum for exposure to the fluid within the flow chamber through the hole in the inner cylindrical support drum associated with the axial section, wherein the flexible means covers the hole to form a barrier that prevents fluid from flowing through the hole; and gas cavity means enclosed within the outer casing through which the flexible means is exposed to pressurized gas in opposition to said exposure to the fluid in the flow chamber.