Patent ID: 7360518

Claim:
An expandable manifold comprising: an intake end; an output end opposite said intake end; a flexible expansion chamber defined by a resilient surface, said expansion chamber positioned between said intake end and said output end, wherein: said resilient surface is expandable responsive to an increase in pressure within said chamber and contractible responsive to a decrease in pressure within said chamber; a pressure within said chamber tends to increase as a first fluid flows into said chamber from said output end; said resilient surface tends to expand responsive to said increased pressure; a volume of said chamber tends to increase responsive to said increased pressure; said increased pressure within said chamber tends to be reduced as a second fluid flows into said chamber via said conduit; said resilient surface tends to contract responsive said reduced pressure; and said increased volume tends to decrease responsive to said reduced pressure; a conduit extending within said expansion chamber from said intake end, said conduit being coupled to said expansion chamber in a fluid tight relationship; and a void within said expansion chamber, said void defined by an outer surface of said conduit and an inner surface of said resilient surface of said expansion chamber, wherein: a volume of said void is increasable responsive to an increase in internal pressure of said chamber; and said volume of said void is decreasable responsive to a decrease in internal pressure of said chamber.