Brass Instrument Mute Structure for Sound Reduction and Blowing Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brass instrument silencers that are inserted into the bell of a brass instrument generally provide either excellent sound volume reduction at the cost of impaired blowing feel, pitch, and controllability, or reduced resistance at the expense of insufficient sound volume reduction.
Innovation Solution
A brass instrument mute with a main body, lid body, and buffer members that includes a sound-absorbing material and buffer members to absorb sound while maintaining a comfortable blowing feel, featuring a design that allows breath to be discharged effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a silencer is inserted into the bell opening to reduce sound volume, then sound volume reduction is improved, but blowing feel and controllability deteriorate due to increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous sound-absorbing material (such as foam or felt) that allows air to pass through while absorbing sound waves. The porosity enables breath to flow through the material with minimal resistance, maintaining blowing feel, while the material structure absorbs acoustic energy to reduce sound volume effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The silencer is designed with different structural zones: a rigid outer shell for structural integrity, a porous sound-absorbing layer for sound reduction, and strategically placed air channels or openings to facilitate breath flow. This local differentiation of material properties and structural features allows simultaneous optimization of sound reduction and playing comfort.
2Ease of operation
If the silencer structure allows exhaled air to escape easily, then resistance during performance is reduced, but sound volume reduction becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The silencer is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer casing, a porous sound-absorbing material layer, and integrated air escape channels. The air channels are strategically positioned and sized to allow sufficient breath escape while the porous material continues to absorb sound, achieving both low resistance and effective sound reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous sound-absorbing material acts as an intermediary between the breath flow and the external environment. It allows air to pass through while absorbing sound energy, serving as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of breath escape and sound reduction.
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 mute achieves both effective sound reduction and improved blowing feel by using a design that minimizes resistance and maintains playability.
Implementation Method 1
a sound-absorbing material configured to cover an inner wall of the main body below the mounting table
Implementation Method 2
a buffer member provided on an upper surface of the mounting table and on a back surface of the lid body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
A mute for a brass instrument is provided. The mute includes a main body having a bottomed cylindrical shape and a mounting table located at an axially intermediate portion, on which a bell of the brass instrument is mounted. A lid body is threadedly engaged with an upper portion of the main body, such that the bell mounted on the mounting table is sandwiched between the lid body and the mounting table. A sound-absorbing material covers an inner wall of the main body below the mounting table. The lid body comprises two or more lid bodies. A buffer member is disposed on an upper surface of the mounting table and on a back surface of the lid body. This configuration enables stable mounting of the instrument, effective sound absorption, and suppression of vibration or damage during use.