Aircraft Glazed-Element Seal With Localized Viscoelastic Sound Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft glazed elements face challenges in achieving effective sound insulation due to limitations in thickness and increased manufacturing costs, with existing methods failing to enhance soundproofing without compromising structural integrity and ease of installation.

Innovation Solution

A seal for aircraft glazed elements is designed with visco-elastic materials having a loss factor greater than 0.10, incorporating damping parts to increase sound insulation, and a holding part with a lower loss factor for secure mounting, allowing for improved soundproofing without significant thickness or cost increases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the thickness of the glazed unit is increased to improve sound insulation, then sound insulation properties are improved, but manufacturing costs increase and the size of the glazed unit is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound insulationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the seal from conventional low-loss-factor materials to visco-elastic materials with a loss factor greater than 0.10. This material parameter change enables the seal to dissipate sound energy through visco-elastic losses, improving sound insulation without increasing glazed unit thickness or manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is formed from visco-elastic materials that combine damping properties with structural functionality. This composite approach integrates sound damping into the seal structure itself, eliminating the need for separate damping layers or thicker glazed units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the thickness of the glazed unit is increased to improve sound insulation, then sound insulation properties are improved, but the size of the glazed unit is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound insulationVSAvoidthickness of glazed unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a seal with high loss factor material is used to improve sound insulation, then sound insulation is improved, but the structural integrity and mounting stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound insulationVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is designed with different regions having different material properties: the damping part uses visco-elastic material with high loss factor (>0.10) for sound insulation, while the holding part uses material with lower loss factor for structural integrity and mounting stability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between sound damping and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is divided into functionally distinct parts: a damping part for sound insulation and a holding part for structural support. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function, with the damping part using high-loss-factor material and the holding part using lower-loss-factor material for better mechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The seal significantly enhances sound insulation in audible frequency ranges by dissipating sound energy through visco-elastic losses, while maintaining structural integrity and facilitating easy installation on aircraft walls.

Implementation Method 1

A first material forming the first damping part has a first loss factor η1 strictly greater than 0.10

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVisco-elastic losses: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 2

The seal significantly enhances sound insulation in audible frequency ranges by dissipating sound energy through visco-elastic losses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS12391359B2Seal for a glazed element of an aircraft

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 SAINT GOBAIN SULLY

AI summary

A seal of a glazed element of an aircraft, the seal being configured to receive an edge of a first glazed unit, the first glazed unit having a first face, the seal including a first surface adapted to be mounted on the first face so as to receive the first glazed unit, wherein the seal includes a first damping part, the first damping part including the first surface, and wherein a first material forming the first damping part has a first loss factor η1 strictly greater than 0.10.