Mounting assembly for active noise attenuation system

• US 7,162,040 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Vanderveen, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grier; Laura A.
• Application Number:
  US09/814,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71.1, 381/71.4, 381/71.5, 381/71.8, 381/71.9, 381/86, 381/71.7, 381/386, 381/365, 181/204, 181/724, 181224-226
• US Class Current: 381/71.5
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/021 Arrangements of air flow meters in or on air cleaner housings
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/04 specially arranged with respect to engine , to intake system or specially adapted to vehicle; Mounting thereon ; Combinations with other devices combined with silencers F02M35/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10373 Sensors for intake systems throttle position sensors F02D9/105
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/125 by using active elements, e.g. speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/1283 Manufacturing or assembly; Connectors; Fixations
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/14 Combined air cleaners and silencers

Abstract

An active noise attenuation system includes a speaker housing for a speaker assembly that attenuates noise generated by an air induction system for a vehicle engine. The speaker housing is a generic housing formed from plastic that can be utilized with many different vehicle types. An air cleaner housing is positioned between the speaker housing and the engine for filtering out contaminants from the air before the air is drawn into the engine. Brackets are joined to the air cleaner and speaker housings for mounting the housings to a vehicle structure.

Claims

1. An active noise attenuation system comprising:

a plastic speaker housing having an open end into which air is drawn;

a speaker mounted within said speaker housing;

a plastic air cleaner housing positioned between said speaker housing and an engine; and

a plurality of brackets joined to said speaker and air cleaner housings for attachment to a vehicle structure with at least one of said brackets mounting said air cleaner housing to the vehicle structure and at least one of said brackets mounting said speaker housing to the vehicle structure wherein each of said brackets includes a first end portion mounted to the vehicle structure and a distal portion joined with said air cleaner housing or said speaker housing.

2. A system according to claim 1 including an isolator mounted between said first and the vehicle structure.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said distal portions is welded to said housing.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said distal portions are fastened to said housings.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said distal portions are pre-formed and insert molded to said housing.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said distal portions are snap-fit to said housing.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at plurality of bracket comprises a single bracket body having a plurality of leg mounts extending between said speaker and air cleaner housing and the vehicle structure.

8. A method for mounting an active noise attenuation system to a vehicle structure comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a generic speaker housing common to multiple vehicle types;

(b) forming the speaker housing as part of an air induction component having a passage for directing airflow to an engine;

(c) providing a bracket assembly including a plurality of bracket portions with each bracket portion having a first end portion and a distal portion;

(d) joining the distal portions to the speaker housing; and

(e) attaching the first end portions to a vehicle structure.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein step (b) includes forming the speaker housing from plastic.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein step (d) includes pre-forming the bracket assembly and insert molding the distal portions to the speaker housing.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein step (d) includes snap-fitting the distal portions to the speaker housing.

12. A method according to claim 8 wherein step (d) includes welding the distal portions to the speaker housing.

13. A method according to claim 8 wherein step (d) includes fastening the distal portions to the speaker housing.

24. A method according to claim 8 including the step of mounting an isolator between the first end portions and the vehicle structure.

26. A method according to claim 8 including positioning an air cleaner housing between the speaker housing and the engine such that air flows through the passage from the speaker housing and into the air cleaner housing.

27. A method according to claim 26 including joining at least one distal portion to the speaker housing and at least one distal portion to the air cleaner housing.

14. A method for mounting an active noise attenuation system to a vehicle structure comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a generic speaker housing common to multiple vehicle types and an air cleaner housing positioned between the speaker housing and an engine;

(b) providing a bracket assembly including a plurality of bracket portions with each bracket portion having a first end portion and a distal portion;

(c) joining at least one distal portions to the air cleaner housing and joining at least one distal portion to the speaker housing; and

(d) attaching the first end portions to a vehicle structure.

15. An active noise attenuation system comprising:

a first housing portion having an inlet into which air is drawn;

at least one noise attenuation component mounted within said first housing portion;

a second housing portion in fluid communication with said first housing portion for conducting air from said inlet into a vehicle engine wherein said first and second housing portions are molded from plastic; and

a bracket assembly including a plurality of bracket portions with at least one of said bracket portions mounting said first housing portion to a vehicle structure and at least one of said bracket portions mounting said second housing portion to the vehicle structure wherein each of said bracket portions includes a first end portion mounted to the vehicle structure and a distal portion joined with said first or second housing portion.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said first housing portion comprises a speaker housing and said second housing portion comprises an air cleaner housing.

17. A system according to claim 15 including an isolator mounted between each of said bracket portions and the vehicle structure.

18. A system according to claim 15 wherein each of said distal portions is welded to said first or second housing portions.

19. A system according to claim 15 wherein each of said distal portions is fastened to said housing with at least one fastener.

20. A system according to claim 15 wherein said bracket assembly is pre-formed with one end of each of said distal portions being insert molded to one of said first or second housing portions.

21. A system according to claim 15 wherein each of said distal portions is snap-fit to said first or second housing portions.

22. A system according to claim 15 wherein said bracket assembly comprises a single bracket body member having a plurality of leg mounts that form said bracket portions, said leg mounts extending between said first and second housing portions and the vehicle structure to form a cradle mount.

23. A system according to claim 15 wherein said bracket assembly comprises a plurality of seperate bracket members with at least one of said bracket members mounting said first housing portion to the vehicle structure and at least one of said bracket members mounting said second housing portion to the vehicle structure.

25. A method for mounting an active noise attenuation system to a vehicle structure comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a generic speaker housing common to multiple vehicle types wherein the speaker housing includes an air cleaner housing portion adjacent to the speaker housing;

(b) providing a bracket assembly including a plurality of bracket portions with each bracket portion having a fist end portion and a distal portion;

(c) joining at least one of the distal portions to the speaker housing and joining at least one of the distal portions to the air cleaner housing portion; and

(d) attaching the first end portions to a vehicle structure.