Perforation Acoustic Muffler Assembly and Method of Reducing Noise Transmission Through Objects

• US 20160232885A1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noiseout, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noiseout, Inc.
• Inventors: Schnitta, Bonnie S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,490,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/00 Layered products having a non-planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/04 comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/14 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/102 Insulating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2419/00 Buildings or parts thereof walls, panels B32B2607/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/24 one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/08 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7409 special measures for sound or thermal insulation, including fire protection
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7457 with wallboards attached to the outer faces of the posts, parallel to the partition E04B2/7459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/001 characterised by provisions for heat or sound insulation
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/02 having means for ventilation or vapour discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/242 : Sound-absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 : Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/168 : Plural layers of different materials, e.g. sandwiches
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2803 : for loudspeaker transducers

Abstract

A rugged noise muffler system is configured to substantially surround sound-emitting openings in a working unit or structure, to absorb sound emitted from the sound-emitting openings. A barrier component, formed as a housing, covers a sound emitting opening to inhibit sound from emanating from the housing, except at an open end of the housing. Each sound emitting opening in the working unit or structure requires a housing positioned over same. The housing includes a hood portion and an elongate portion that includes the open end of the housing. The inner surfaces of the hood portion and an elongate portion are lined with sound absorbing material. The emitted sound first enters the hood portion, is partially absorbed therein and any unabsorbed sound passes into and is substantially absorbed in the elongate portion as the sound travels towards the open end of the housing,

Claims

1. A noise attenuation system, comprising an enclosure configured to substantially surround at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in a working unit or structure that is positioned in a room or space, and to inhibit a direct acoustic path of sound emitted from or entering into the sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening, from or into the room or space in order that sound detected at the working unit or structure does not exceed a predetermined level, wherein the enclosure comprises:

a sound absorbing muffler plate;

wherein the sound absorbing muffler plate covers the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the working unit or structure to inhibit sound from emanating from the working unit or structure into and/or out of the room or space;

wherein an aperture is formed in the sound-absorbing muffler plate at a predetermined distance from a location of the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the working unit or structure; and

wherein the sound emitted from or entering the sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening travels along the predetermined distance of the sound-absorbing muffler plate to the aperture, during which travel sound is absorbed, so that the sound detected outside the working unit or structure does not exceed the predetermined level sound.

2. The noise attenuation system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is calculated in consideration of a singular or average frequency of the sound emitted from or entering into the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening.

3. The noise attenuation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is calculated in consideration of a loudness of the sound emitted from or entering into the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening.

4. The noise attenuation system of claim 1, wherein the noise absorbing muffler plate comprises at least one layer of sound absorbing material.

5. The noise attenuation system of claim 4, wherein the noise absorbing muffler plate includes an STC barrier layer upon which the at least one layer of sound-absorbing material is disposed.

6. The noise attenuation system of claim 5, wherein the noise absorbing muffler plate includes at least one sound absorbing layer on opposing sides of the STC barrier layer.

7. The noise attenuation system of claim 4, wherein the predetermined distance is calculated in consideration of a sound transmission class (STC), a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) rating of the sound absorbing material, or both.

8. The noise attenuation system of claim 4, wherein the working unit or structure, and therefore, the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening is located in a ceiling, a wall or a floor, and wherein the sound absorbing muffler plate comprises a substantially planar portion from which side portions formed with the muffler plate extend vertically thereby forming a quasi-enclosure.

9. The noise attenuation system of claim 8, wherein the quasi-enclosure formed with the sound-absorbing muffler plate is moveable towards and away from the sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the ceiling, the wall or the floor.

10. The noise attenuation system of claim 8, wherein the working unit or structure is a packaged terminal air conditioning (PTAC) unit, wherein the quasi-enclosure substantially surrounds the PTAC unit but for the aperture and wherein the aperture is arranged at a predetermined distance from an intake opening, an exhaust opening or both in the PTAC unit, while not compromising the required distance of the intake and exhaust.

11. The noise attenuation system of claim 8, wherein the working unit or structure is an air conditioning (AC) unit wherein the quasi-enclosure substantially surrounds the AC unit on an inside portion of the AC unit but for the aperture and wherein the aperture is arranged at a predetermined distance from an exhaust opening of AC unit.

12. A noise attenuation system, comprising an enclosure configured to substantially surround at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in a door to a volume in which noise-generating mechanical equipment is positioned, and to inhibit a direct acoustic path of sound emitted from the sound-emitting or sound transferring opening in the door, into a room or space in order that sound detected at the door does not exceed a predetermined sound level for the room or space, wherein the enclosure comprises:

a sound absorbing muffler plate;

wherein the sound absorbing muffler plate covers the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the door to inhibit sound emitted from the noise generating mechanical equipment from emanating from the volume into the room or space;

wherein an aperture is formed in the sound-absorbing muffler plate at a predetermined distance from a location of the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the door; and

wherein the sound emitted from or entering the sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening travels along the predetermined distance of the sound-absorbing muffler plate to the aperture, during which travel sound is absorbed, so that the sound detected outside the room does not exceed the predetermined level sound.

13. A noise attenuation system, comprising an enclosure configured to substantially surround at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in a toe kicker opening or a HVAC grill on a floor, attached to a duct under the floor, to inhibit a direct acoustic path of sound emitted from or entering into the sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening, from or into the toe kicker opening or duct grill and duct in order that sound detected at the toe kicker opening or a HVAC grill on a floor does not exceed a predetermined level, wherein the enclosure comprises:

a sound absorbing muffler plate;

wherein the sound absorbing muffler plate covers the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the toe kicker opening or a HVAC grill on a floor to inhibit sound from emanating from the toe kicker opening or a HVAC grill on a floor into the room or space;

wherein an aperture is formed in the sound-absorbing muffler plate at a predetermined distance from a location of the at least one sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening in the toe kicker opening or a HVAC grill on a floor; and

wherein the sound emitted from or entering the sound-emitting or sound-transferring opening travels along the predetermined distance of the sound-absorbing muffler plate to the aperture, during which travel sound is absorbed, so that the sound detected outside the toe kicker opening or a HVAC grill on a floor does not exceed the predetermined level sound.