Diffuser apparatus for pneumatic tools

Claim 2

A diffuser apparatus for attachment to a pneumatically operated device to disperse a gaseous stream exhausting therefrom, comprising: a housing; an inlet passageway formed within said housing and communicating with said device to permit conducting of a gas through said inlet passageway to said device; an exhaust passageway formed within said housing and adapted to be flow-connected to said inlet passageway to permit conducting of a gas therethrough, said exhaust passageway being separated from said inlet passageway, said exhaust passageway disposed outwardly of said inlet passageway; and portions of said housing defining at least one annular opening communicating with said exhaust passageway for conducting the gas from said exhaust passageway into the ambient.

Claim 3

A diffuser apparatus for attachment to a pneumatically operated device to disperse a gaseous stream exhausting therefrom, comprising: a housing; an inlet passageway formed within said housing and communicating with said device to permit conducting of a gas through said inlet passageway to said device; an exhaust passageway formed within said housing and adapted to be flow-connected to said inlet passageway to permit conducting of a gas therethrough, said exhaust passageway being separated from said inlet passageway, said exhaust passageway disposed outwardly of said inlet passageway; and portions of said housing defining at least one annular opening communicating with said exhaust passageway for conducting the gas from said exhaust passageway into the ambient.

Claim 4

A diffuser apparatus for attachment to a pneumatically operated device to disperse a gaseous stream exhausting therefrom, comprising: a housing; an inlet passageway formed within said housing and communicating with said device to permit conducting of a gas through said inlet passageway to said device; an exhaust passageway formed within said housing and adapted to be flow-connected to said inlet passageway to permit conducting of a gas therethrough, said exhaust passageway being separated from said inlet passageway, said exhaust passageway disposed outwardly of said inlet passageway; and portions of said housing defining at least one annular opening communicating with said exhaust passageway for conducting the gas from said exhaust passageway into the ambient.

Claim 5

An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the portions of the housing define the annular openings to extend substantially transverse to the direction of the gas flow through the exhaust passageway to produce turbulence in the flow of the exhaust gas and thereby substantially reduce the noise associated with the exhausting of the gas.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the portions of the housing define a plurality of the annular openings axially spaced with respect to each other and extending radially outwardly from each of the exhaust passageways.

Claim 7

A diffusion apparatus for use with a gas operated device to suppress the noise associated with the exhausting of the gas therefrom, comprising: a housing; first portions of the housing defining an inlet passageway for conducting the gas to the device for the operation thereof; second portions of the housing disposed outwardly of the first portions of the housing and defining at least one exhaust passageway separated from the inlet passageway and communicating with the device to receive the gas therefrom; and third portions of the housing defining at least one annular opening communicating with and extending, transversely of each of the exhaust passageways for receiving the gas from the exhaust passageways and abruptly changing the direction of the gas as it is exhausted to the ambient.

Claim 8

A diffusion apparatus for use with a gas operated device to suppress the noise associated with the exhausting of the gas therefrom, comprising: a housing; first portions of the housing defining an inlet passageway for conducting the gas to the device for the operation thereof; second portions of the housing disposed outwardly of the first portions of the housing and defining at least one exhaust passageway separated from the inlet passageway and communicating with the device to receive the gas therefrom; and third portions of the housing defining at least one annular opening communicating with and extending, transversely of each of the exhaust passageways for receiving the gas from the exhaust passageways and abruptly changing the direction of the gas as it is exhausted to the ambient.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein the second portions define a plurality of the exhaust passages spaced from each other in axial cross section on the circumference of an imaginary circle and the inlet passageway is defined interiorly of the imaginary circle.

Claim 10

The apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein the third portions of the housing define the annular openings with an inner radius and an outer radius, the inner radius being substantially equal to the radius of the imaginary circle and concentric therewith so that the annular openings communicate with each of the exhaust passageways.