Sound absorbing element and method for producing a sound absorbing element

• US 7,717,228 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Boock, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUKS, JEREMY AUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US12/066,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 181/207, 181/208, 181/210, 181/213, 181/290, 181/292, 181/295, 244/1.N
• US Class Current: 181/208
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/066 Interior liners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/40 Sound or heat insulation , e.g. using insulation blankets
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/8428 containing specially shaped acoustical bodies, e.g. funnels, egg-crates, fanfolds
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/8447 with two facing trays
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2228/08 pre-stressed
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/02 with springs made of steel or of other material having low internal friction
• 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 11/172 using resonance effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4957 Sound device making

Abstract

A sound absorbing element, in one example, includes a first wall area, a second wall area as well as a plurality of spring elements. In this arrangement, the first wall area and the second wall area are arranged so as to be spaced apart by a clear space. In one example, the plurality of spring elements are arranged in the clear space and connect the first wall area and the second wall area to each other. By pre-tensioning the plurality of spring elements to a state in which their spring constant approaches zero, significant decoupling between the first and the second wall areas may occur, with accompanying sound noise reduction.

Claims

1. A sound absorbing element comprising:

a first wall area;

a second wall area; and

a plurality of spring elements;

wherein the first wall area and the second wall area are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other by a clear space, in which clear space the plurality of spring elements being arranged in the clear space, the plurality of spring elements connecting the first wall area and the second wall area to each other, and wherein each of the plurality of spring elements is pre-tensioned for decoupling the first wall area from the second wall area;

and a negative pressure is applied to the clear space, as a result of which pressure, the plurality of spring elements are pre-tensioned,

wherein each of the plurality of spring elements has a spring function within at least one region in which a slope approaches zero,

wherein the plurality of spring elements are pre-tensioned up to a region in which the value of the slope is less than 5% of the maximum value of the slope in an entire region of the spring function.

2. The sound absorbing element of claim 1,

wherein each of the plurality of spring elements has a spring characteristic function at least in part with a decreasing region.

3. The sound absorbing element of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of spring elements are formed as saucer springs.

4. The sound absorbing element of claim 1, further comprising:

a sealing element that borders the first wall area and the second wall area and that seals the clear space from the atmosphere.

5. An aircraft comprising at least one component of the group of components consisting of an ice protection shield and a fuselage skin, wherein the at least one component is designed as a sound absorbing element of claim 1.

6. A method for producing a double-shell sound absorbing element, comprising the steps of:

connecting a first wall area to a second wall area using a plurality of spring elements such that the first wall area and the second wall area are arranged spaced apart from each other by a clear space; and

pre-tensioning of the plurality of spring elements such that the first wall area and the second wall area are dynamically decoupled, wherein negative pressure is applied to the clear space, such that pretensioning of the plurality of spring elements takes place,

wherein the step of connecting selects each of the plurality of spring elements to have a spring function within at least one region in which a slope approaches zero, and the step of pre-tensioning of the plurality of spring elements takes place up to a region in which the value of the slope is less than 5% of the maximum value of the slope in an entire region of the spring function.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of:

sealing the clear space off from the atmosphere with a sealing element that borders the first wall area and the second wall area.