Compressor suction noise attenuator and assembly method

A suction noise attenuator for in-line placement in one or more suction gas conduits of a gas compressor unit, and having an elongated, tubular body or shell having a base end and a closure end, a base cap on the base end and a closure cap on the closure end, said caps and body forming an elongated, substantially closed attenuation cell having major and minor transverse axes oriented normally to each other, an elongated wave modulating barrel formed on or affixed to the closure cap and having major and minor transverse axes oriented normally to each other, the barrel being positioned within the cell substantially longitudinally thereof with the major transverse axis of the barrel being angularly offset from the major transverse axis of the cell and substantially dividing the cell into enlongated substantially equal volume halves, a socket receiving the distal end of the barrel and being formed in the interior surface of the base cap and defined by a floor and a sealing wall surrounding the same and extending generally normally therefrom, a sealing surface on the distal end of the barrel engaging the sealing wall and forming a fluid seal therebetween, mating sealing shoulders on the closure end of the body and the closure cap and forming a fluid seal therebetween, one or more ports formed in the base cap and extending through the floor, one or more gas passages formed in the closure cap and barrel generally longitudinally thereof, the ports and passages being in fluid communication across the floor, and damping vents in the wall of the barrel placing the passages into fluid communication with each half of the cell.