Vehicle Door Leaf Structure With Gas Gaps for Sound Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current passenger transport vehicle door leaves lack effective sound insulation, leading to inadequate noise reduction, and increasing mass to improve acoustic performance compromises mechanical strength and introduces non-structural surfaces vulnerable to damage.

Innovation Solution

A door leaf design featuring a rigid filling plate with integrated acoustic blocks and intermediate spaces filled with gas, providing enhanced sound insulation without significantly altering mechanical strength, by using a combination of high-density and low-density materials strategically arranged to break solid-body vibration transmission bridges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the surface mass of the panel is increased to improve acoustic performance, then the sound insulation properties are improved, but the mass of the leaf increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulation propertiesVSAvoidmass of the leaf
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The filling is divided into multiple acoustic blocks arranged in an alternating pattern with rigid material blocks. This segmentation allows the acoustic blocks to provide sound insulation while the rigid blocks maintain structural strength, avoiding the need to increase the overall mass of the leaf.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the filling serve different functions: acoustic blocks are placed in regions where sound insulation is needed, while rigid blocks are positioned to provide structural support. This local differentiation optimizes both acoustic performance and mechanical strength without increasing overall mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a complete acoustic shell is used to improve sound insulation, then the acoustic performance is improved, but the structural zone thickness must be reduced, significantly increasing the mass of the leaf

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a continuous acoustic shell that would compromise structural integrity, the acoustic blocks are segmented and distributed throughout the filling. This allows the structural zone to maintain its thickness and strength while still providing effective sound insulation through the distributed acoustic blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filling uses a composite arrangement of acoustic blocks and rigid blocks. The acoustic blocks provide sound insulation properties while the rigid blocks maintain structural strength, creating a composite structure that achieves both acoustic performance and mechanical strength without increasing mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the thickness of the acoustic shell is increased to around 20 millimeters for effective sound insulation, then the sound insulation is improved, but the structural zone thickness must be reduced, increasing the mass and reducing mechanical behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulation effectivenessVSAvoidstructural configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic insulation function is achieved through multiple smaller acoustic blocks distributed throughout the filling rather than a single thick shell. This segmentation allows the total thickness to remain limited while still providing effective sound insulation through the cumulative effect of multiple blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing thickness in one dimension (which would require reducing structural zone thickness), the acoustic blocks are distributed throughout the volume of the filling. This three-dimensional distribution provides effective sound insulation while maintaining the structural zone thickness and overall leaf configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution achieves superior acoustic performance while maintaining structural integrity and reducing the risk of damage from external impacts, offering a cost-effective and practical solution for improved sound insulation in vehicle doors.

Implementation Method 1

at least one block formed of an acoustic insulating material... significantly reduce the noise pollution suffered by the passengers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

intermediate spaces (50) delimited by said blocks and said rigid filling, said spaces being free of any solid material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas filling in intermediate spaces:

Data Source

PatentEP4159576B1Door leaf for a passenger transport vehicle with improved sound insulation properties, door and vehicle equipped with same
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 FAIVELEY TRANSPORT TOURS
  • EP4159576B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4159576B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4159576B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

This door leaf, particularly for tram, trolleybus, bus, metro, or train doors, comprises an inner facing (10) and an outer facing (12), each with an opening (11, 13) for receiving a pane of glass (14), a filling (20) with at least one cutout (34) for receiving this pane of glass (14), a structural frame, and means for mounting the door leaf onto the door frame. According to the invention, the filling comprises: - at least a first region (30), referred to as the rigid filling, made of a first material, this first region covering at least part of a first facing, in particular the outer facing; - at least a second region (40), made of a second material; - at least an intervening space (50) occupied by a gas, in particular air.This intermediate space, which is capable of breaking at least a substantial part of the vibrational transmission bridges between the facings, makes it possible to improve the overall acoustic insulation of the leaf without significantly altering its overall mechanical strength.