Patent Application
20180194492
The present invention falls within the scope of soundproofing structures for aircrafts, typically existing in airports or in any infrastructures for aircrafts. In order to adequately testing and servicing an aircraft, the latter is required to undergo specific extreme conditions which generate high noise in its vicinity.
Therefore, soundproofing structures based on noise barriers are used for this purpose, surrounding the aircraft, and typically leaving an open area for entry and exit of the same.
It is the intention of the present invention to allow an installed infrastructure to be expandable, by providing an acoustic insulation as regards the noise resulting from aircrafts of different sizes.
The background of this invention is closely related to the noise barriers available on the market, which are typically U-shaped, protecting the surrounding areas from the noise generated by the engines of the aircraft to be tested. This U-shaped configuration means a structure with three barriers, i.e. two side barriers and one front barrier, wherein at least part of the two side barriers are parallel, including their ends which are not attached to the front barrier.
The patent application U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,888 is a clear example of this technology, presenting barriers that are intended for insulating the noise generated by an aircraft and, in the particular case of this application, showing improvements as regards the stability of the structure under conditions of irregular winds.
The patent application DE 10310525 A1 also discloses a barrier structure of this same type which, although being focused on improving the details of a previous barrier, also comprises an array of three barriers that form the said U-shaped configuration.
This invention was aimed at solving the problem associated to the lack of versatility of soundproofing structures for aircrafts which, due to the fact that the side barriers are parallel for most of their length, do not allow for an expansion. Thus, an airport that has a soundproofing infrastructure with capacity for smaller aircrafts cannot use it for larger aircrafts without destroying it and building a larger one that enables servicing and testing of both types of aircraft. In another example, an airport anticipating the need for larger aircrafts but that—for the moment—only receives smaller aircrafts, will be required to install a larger infrastructure since the beginning.
Thus, the present invention, through its different features, solves this problem by presenting itself as a suitable technological solution for aircraft noise insulation with expandability.
In a specific example, the structure of the present invention can be expanded to a size that accommodates aircrafts from class C to class D only, according to the classification of aircrafts and related soundproofing structures as defined by Annex 14 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) [1].
It is therefore the object of the present invention an expandable soundproofing structure for aircrafts, characterized in that it contains at least one front barrier (1) and two side barriers (2), wherein each side barrier (2) extends in a given direction and is arranged in such a way towards one of the ends of the front barrier (1) that the angle formed between each side barrier (2) and the front barrier (1) is greater than 90° and the free ends (3) of each one of the side barriers (2) are suitable to be expanded.
The free ends (3) of the side barriers (2) are the ends of these barriers that are more distant from the front barrier (1).
The side barriers (2) may or may not be physically joined to the front barrier (1).
This configuration of the side barriers (2) in relation to the front barrier (1), as well as in relation to each other, allows an opening to be formed as one runs through the side barriers, while diverting from the front barrier (1). Such a configuration allows not only to accommodate aircrafts of different sizes with a single soundproofing structure and in a smaller area, but also—with the side barriers (2) being susceptible of an increase in length—to accommodate larger aircrafts. The fact that the free ends (3) of each of the side barriers (2) are expandable provides an increased capacity of the soundproofing infrastructure for aircrafts.
In a more specific configuration of this invention, the angles formed between each of the side barriers (2) and the front barrier (1) are equal, so that the expansion of the structure is homogeneous in length.
The present invention enables the expansion of soundproofing structures for aircrafts, through an innovative configuration of the said structure.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is an expandable soundproofing structure for aircrafts, comprising at least one front barrier (1) and two side barriers (2), wherein each side barrier (2) extends in a given direction and is arranged in such a way towards one of the ends of the front barrier (1) that the angle formed between each side barrier (2) and the front barrier (1) is greater than 90° and the free ends (3) of each one of the side barriers (2) are suitable to be expanded.
In a more specific configuration of the invention, the angles formed between each of the side barriers (2) and the front barrier (1) are equal, so that the expansion of the structure is homogeneous in length.
In another specific configuration of the invention, possibly cumulatively to the above mentioned ones, the angle formed between each side barrier (2) and the front barrier (1) is between 95 and 130°.
Furthermore, in a configuration also associated with this innovation, each of the free ends (3) of each of the side barriers (2) contains a supporting beam (4) which is suitable for its expansion in length.
In another configuration of the present invention, the structure is provided with supporting beams (4) that are suitable for fixing to the ground and, optionally, with physical connection installed between the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2).
In another configuration of the present invention, the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2) consist, each one, in a single piece.
In what concerns the materials of the elements of the present invention, the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2) may be made up of a soundproofing material.
In an even more specific configuration of the invention, possibly cumulatively to the above, each of the free ends (3) of each of the side barriers (2) contains a supporting beam (4) which is suitable for its expansion in length. This element is a possible way to expand in width and length the area insulated by the soundproof structure of this invention.
In one configuration of the present invention alternative to that on which the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2) consist, each, in a single piece, both the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2) are comprised of a plurality of barrier elements (5), which in their turn consist of flat elements of a substantially rectangular shape.
In one specific configuration of the preceding one, the barrier elements (5) are joined together by means of supporting beams (4).
A further object of the present invention is the use of the structure described above, in its various—cumulative and alternative configurations, in view of the embodiments described below, as regards the equipment for aircrafts noise insulation.
The present invention is suitable for aircrafts that fall within the scope of any classification of aircrafts and their relevant soundproofing structures, as defined by the aforementioned Annex 14 [1].
In a preferred embodiment, the aircrafts belong to classes C to F, according to the classification of aircrafts and corresponding soundproofing structures, as defined by the said Annex 14 [1].
In an embodiment of the object of the present invention, the soundproofing material of the side barriers (2) consists of expanded aluminium coated with thermo-bonded polyester powder.
In another embodiment, alternatively or cumulatively to the foregoing, the soundproofing material of the front barrier (1) consists of steel or aluminium.
In an embodiment, which is alternative or cumulative to the two described above, the rear surface (6) of the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2) contain a non-combustible inert material.
In an alternative or cumulative embodiment to those described above, the front barrier (1) and the side barriers (2) are provided with a cover made of steel plate.
In an alternative or cumulative embodiment to those described above, the supporting beams (4) are made of steel.
As will be evident to the person skilled in the art, the invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein, and various changes are possible which remain within the scope of the present invention.
Of course, the preferred methods presented above are susceptible of being combined, in different possible ways, with the repetition of all such combinations being herein avoided.
The invention should be limited only by the spirit of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| MU11196 | Jun 2015 | PT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2016/053719 | 6/22/2016 | WO | 00 |
