Patent ID: 7007718

Claim:
An energy attenuation apparatus in fluid communication with tubing that is adapted to convey a liquid under pressure, said apparatus comprising: a unitary liquid-conveying means that is in fluid communication with said tubing and has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said tubing, wherein said liquid-conveying means includes three chambers disposed in series, and wherein one of said chambers contains no physical structure; a first tube disposed in a second one of said chambers, wherein an annular space is formed between an inner peripheral surface of said liquid-conveying means and an outer peripheral surface of said first tube, wherein said first tube has a first end connected to and in fluid communication with an inlet or outlet end of said second one of said chambers, wherein said first tube has a second, free end that is spaced by an open gap from said outlet or inlet end of said second one said chambers, and wherein said first tube has at least one aperture in said free end and/or on said peripheral surface thereof for providing fluid communication between said first tube and said second one of said chambers; and a second tube disposed in a third one of said chambers, wherein an annular space is formed between an inner peripheral surface of said liquid-conveying means and an outer peripheral surface of said second tube, wherein said second tube has a first end connected to and in fluid communication with an inlet or outlet end of said third one of said chambers, wherein said second tube has a second, free end that is spaced by an open gap from said outlet or inlet end of said third one of said chambers, and wherein said second tube has at least one aperture in said free end and/or on said peripheral surface thereof for providing fluid communication between said second tube and said third one of said chambers.