Patent Application
20240105155
The present disclosure relates generally to sound absorbing devices, and particularly to sound absorbing devices that include acoustic resonators.
Acoustic noise resulting from a gas (e.g., air) flowing through an opening in a panel can be undesirable. For example, a duct can be used to provide air flow to the opening and the velocity of the air in combination with the cross section area of the duct can result in an audible noise that may be unpleasant to an individual standing or seated in proximity to the opening.
An acoustic resonator, e.g., a Helmholtz resonator or a quarter-wavelength tube, can be used for acoustic absorption of a specific frequency range. However, if air flows through the duct at different velocities, then acoustic noise resulting from frequencies outside the specific frequency range is not absorbed. Stated differently, an acoustic resonator does not provide broadband acoustic absorption. In addition, attachment and support of multiple acoustic resonators around a duct can be problematic.
The present disclosure addresses issues related to the use of acoustic resonators for broadband acoustic absorption, and other issues related to acoustic absorption.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
In one form of the present disclosure, a sound absorbing device includes a panel with an opening, a duct extending from the panel and in fluid communication with the opening, and a plurality of acoustic resonators embedded within the panel and in fluid communication with the duct.
In another form of the present disclosure, a sound absorbing device includes a panel with an opening, a duct extending from the panel and in fluid communication with the opening, and a plurality of quarter-wavelength acoustic resonators embedded within the panel and in fluid communication with the duct.
In still another form of the present disclosure, a sound absorbing device includes a panel with an opening, a duct extending from the panel and in fluid communication with the opening, and a plurality of acoustic resonators embedded within the panel and in fluid communication with the duct. The duct has a rectangular cuboid shape and the plurality of acoustic resonators include a first subset of quarter-wavelength acoustic resonators extending from a first planar side of the duct, a second subset of quarter-wavelength acoustic resonators extending from a second planar side of the duct, a third subset of quarter-wavelength acoustic resonators extending from a third planar side of the duct, and a fourth subset of quarter-wavelength acoustic resonators extending from a fourth planar side of the duct.
Further areas of applicability and various methods of enhancing the above technology will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The present teachings will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present disclosure provides sound absorbing devices that absorb or suppress acoustic noise resulting from a gas (e.g., air) flowing through an opening in a panel. The sound absorbing device includes the panel with the opening, a duct extending from the panel and in fluid communication with the opening, and a plurality of acoustic resonators (also referred to herein simply as “acoustic resonators”) embedded in the panel and in fluid communication with the duct The acoustic resonators can be quarter-wavelength acoustic resonators with a resonance frequency ‘f’ equal to f=c/4L, where c equals the speed of sound and L is the length of a particular acoustic resonator. Accordingly, in some variations the acoustic resonators have different lengths such that acoustic waves with a broad range of frequencies are absorbed and/or suppressed before exiting the opening.
Referring to
The opening 110 has a length dimension (x direction shown in the figures), a width direction (y direction) and a thickness t. Accordingly, the opening 110 extends between the first surface 102 and the second surface 104. And while the opening 110 and/or the duct 120 shown in
In some variations, the acoustic resonators 140 are completely embedded within the panel 100. For example, in at least one variation one or more of the acoustic resonators 140 is/are disposed within the panel 100 between the first surface 102 and the second surface 104, and is/are spaced apart from the first surface 102 and/or the second surface 104 by a predefined distance. In other variations, one or more of the acoustic resonators 140 has a surface that forms at least part of the first surface 102 and/or the second surface 104, i.e., there is no predefined distance between one or more of the acoustic resonators 140 and the first surface and/or the second surface 104. In at least one variation, one or more of the acoustic resonators 140 has a portion that is disposed within the panel 100 and another portion that extends from the panel 100, i.e., only a portion of the one or more acoustic resonators is disposed within the panel 100. And in some variations, one or more of the acoustic resonators 140 are in fluid communication with the duct 120 and not embedded within the panel 100, i.e., one or more of the acoustic resonators 140 are in fluid communication with the duct 120 and are not embedded completely or partially within the panel 100.
Referring now to
The acoustic resonators 140 can include subsets of quarter-wavelength tubes 141 and subsets of the quarter-wavelength tubes 141 can extend in a generally normal direction for at least one planar side of the opening 110 and/or the duct 120. For example, the acoustic resonators 140 shown in
Still referring to
In some variations, the acoustic resonators 140 have or exhibit symmetry about a geometric plane. For example, and as illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
It should be understood from the teachings of the present disclosure that sound absorbing devices that include one or more acoustic resonators decorated with fabric are provided. The fabric can be at least one fabric layer that absorbs acoustic frequencies generally not absorbed by the one or acoustic resonators without the at least one fabric layer. That is, average pore size, the range of pore sizes, the distance and volume of gas between at least two fabric layers, and/or the elasticity and/or vibration properties of a fabric layer are adjustable such that an increased range of acoustic frequencies that are absorbed by the sound absorbing device is provided.
The preceding description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it may be described in the background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present technology.
As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical “or.” It should be understood that the various steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Disclosure of ranges includes disclosure of all ranges and subdivided ranges within the entire range.
The headings (such as “Background” and “Summary”) and sub-headings used herein are intended only for general organization of topics within the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the disclosure of the technology or any aspect thereof. The recitation of multiple variations or forms having stated features is not intended to exclude other variations or forms having additional features, or other variations or forms incorporating different combinations of the stated features.
As used herein the term “about” when related to numerical values herein refers to known commercial and/or experimental measurement variations or tolerances for the referenced quantity. In some variations, such known commercial and/or experimental measurement tolerances are +/−10% of the measured value, while in other variations such known commercial and/or experimental measurement tolerances are +/−5% of the measured value, while in still other variations such known commercial and/or experimental measurement tolerances are +/−2.5% of the measured value. And in at least one variation, such known commercial and/or experimental measurement tolerances are +/−1% of the measured value.
The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The phrase “at least one of . . . and . . . ” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As an example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” includes A only, B only, C only, or any combination thereof (e.g., AB, AC, BC, or ABC).
As used herein, the terms “comprise” and “include” and their variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in succession or a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that may also be useful in the devices and methods of this technology. Similarly, the terms “can” and “may” and their variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation that a form or variation can or may comprise certain elements or features does not exclude other forms or variations of the present technology that do not contain those elements or features.
The broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the specification and the following claims. Reference herein to one variation, or various variations means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with a form or variation or particular system is included in at least one variation or form. The appearances of the phrase “in one variation” (or variations thereof) are not necessarily referring to the same variation or form. It should be also understood that the various method steps discussed herein do not have to be conducted in the same order as depicted, and not each method step is required in each variation or form.
The foregoing description of the forms and variations has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular form or variation are generally not limited to that particular form or variation, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected form or variation, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations should not be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
