Acoustically insulated machine
First Claim
1. An acoustically insulated machine comprising:
- a machine having an internal source of noise;
an insulation member comprising a plurality of porous, sound absorbing layers and a plurality of dense layers attached to faces of the sound absorbing layers;
wherein the porous, sound absorbing layers are made from a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein the dense layers have densities that are greater than densities of the sound absorbing layers;
wherein the insulation member is oriented such that at least one of the dense layers faces toward the internal source of noise;
wherein each dense layer that faces the internal source of noise is configured to allow a majority of airborne acoustic energy having frequencies in the range of 100 to 500 Hz from the internal source of noise to pass through each dense layer that faces the internal source of noise into an adjacent porous, sound absorbing layer in the insulation member; and
wherein at least one of the dense layers has an airflow resistance between 600 and 1,400 Rayls and a thickness between 0.01 and 0.1 centimeters.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Acoustically insulated machines have an internal source of noise and an insulation member. The insulation member may include a plurality of porous, sound absorbing layers and a plurality of dense or facing layers attached to faces of the sound absorbing layers. The dense or facing layers each have a density that is greater than the densities of the sound absorbing layers. The insulation member may be oriented such that one of the dense or facing layers faces toward the internal source of noise. The insulation member may be configured such that most of the low frequency sound energy generated by the internal source of noise is not reflected back into the machine. That is, the dense or facing layer may be configured to allow a majority of low frequency sound energy from the internal source of noise to pass into the insulation member.
92 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An acoustically insulated machine comprising:
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a machine having an internal source of noise; an insulation member comprising a plurality of porous, sound absorbing layers and a plurality of dense layers attached to faces of the sound absorbing layers; wherein the porous, sound absorbing layers are made from a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate; wherein the dense layers have densities that are greater than densities of the sound absorbing layers; wherein the insulation member is oriented such that at least one of the dense layers faces toward the internal source of noise; wherein each dense layer that faces the internal source of noise is configured to allow a majority of airborne acoustic energy having frequencies in the range of 100 to 500 Hz from the internal source of noise to pass through each dense layer that faces the internal source of noise into an adjacent porous, sound absorbing layer in the insulation member; and wherein at least one of the dense layers has an airflow resistance between 600 and 1,400 Rayls and a thickness between 0.01 and 0.1 centimeters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18)
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7. A washing machine comprising:
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a cabinet having a front or top opening for accepting clothes and a bottom opening having at least one lip portion; a washing assembly disposed in the cabinet configured to accept clothes to be washed by the washing machine through the front or top opening; a motor assembly disposed in the cabinet and coupled to the washing assembly for operating the washing assembly; and an acoustic insulation member disposed in the bottom opening of the cabinet, wherein the acoustic insulation member is soft and flexible such that the acoustic insulation member is assembled with the cabinet by folding up the acoustic insulation member, placing the acoustic insulation member in the bottom opening of the cabinet, and unfolding the acoustic insulation member such that the acoustic insulation member engages the at least one lip portion to thereby retain the acoustic insulation member in the bottom opening; wherein the acoustic insulation member has a plurality of porous, sound absorbing layers and a plurality of dense layers attached to faces of the sound absorbing layers; wherein each of the porous, sound absorbing layers is made from a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate; wherein at least one of the dense layers is perforated and has an airflow resistance between 600 and 1,400 Rayls and a thickness between 0.01 and 0.1 centimeters; and wherein the dense layers are configured to allow a majority of airborne acoustic energy having frequencies in the range of 100 to 500 Hz from the motor to pass through the dense layers into adjacent porous, sound absorbing layers in the insulation member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19)
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15. A dishwasher comprising:
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a housing including a washing chamber and an access door; a plurality of legs supporting the housing; a pump and drive motor provided in a cavity between the legs and below the housing; a plate closing a front side of the cavity; an insulation member provided between the plate and the pump and drive motor, the insulation member comprising;
a plurality of porous, sound absorbing layers and a plurality of dense layers attached to faces of the sound absorbing layers;wherein the porous, sound absorbing layers are made from a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate; wherein the dense layers have densities that are greater than densities of the sound absorbing layers; wherein the insulation member is oriented such that at least one of the dense layers faces toward the pump and drive motor; wherein the dense layers that face the pump and drive motor are configured to allow a majority of airborne acoustic energy having frequencies in the range of 100 to 500 Hz from the pump and motor to pass through the dense layers facing the pump and drive motor into an adjacent porous, sound absorbing layer in the insulation member; and wherein at least one of the plurality of dense layers has an airflow resistance between 600 and 1,400 Rayls and a thickness between 0.01 and 0.1 centimeters. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 20)
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Specification