Elastic Suspension Isolates Speaker Enclosure Vibrations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vinyl record players with built-in speakers face significant issues with unwanted noise and feedback due to sympathetic vibrations of the speaker enclosure and chassis, which degrade sound quality, especially at low frequencies.

Innovation Solution

The speakers are mounted in a substantially airtight enclosure suspended using elastic members in tension, such as extension springs, to isolate vibrations from the chassis, preventing sound conduction and feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If speakers are mounted directly in the phonograph chassis, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but sympathetic vibrations and feedback increase degrading sound quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker mounting structureVSAvoidsympathetic vibration and feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary isolation platform positioned between the phonograph chassis and the speakers. This platform acts as a mediator that decouples the speakers from the chassis, preventing direct transmission of vibrations and feedback while still allowing integrated mounting within the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the speakers from direct mounting on the phonograph chassis and places them on a separate isolation platform. This separation removes the harmful vibrational coupling while maintaining the integrated design, effectively taking out the speakers from the problematic mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If speakers are remotely mounted away from the turntable, then feedback is reduced, but the device complexity increases and integration is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic feedbackVSAvoidspeaker placement configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation platform serves as an intermediary structure that enables speakers to be positioned within the phonograph chassis without direct coupling to the chassis. This mediator allows close integration while maintaining the acoustic isolation necessary to reduce feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the benefits of remote mounting (feedback reduction) with the benefits of integrated design (compactness, simplicity) by combining the speakers and isolation platform into a unified assembly that fits within the phonograph chassis. This merging achieves both acoustic isolation and spatial integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If heavy coiled compression springs are used to mount the speaker assembly, then vibration damping is improved, but the weight of the system increases and high frequency response deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidspeaker assembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs lightweight elastomeric materials instead of heavy metal springs. These simpler, lighter materials provide sufficient vibration damping for the application without the excessive weight and high-frequency limitations of traditional coiled compression springs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters from metal springs to elastomeric compounds, altering the damping characteristics and weight properties. This parameter change achieves vibration damping with significantly reduced weight and improved high-frequency response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution effectively reduces sympathetic vibrations and feedback, enhancing sound quality by minimizing unwanted noise and allowing deeper bass extension without distortion.

Implementation Method 1

the substantially airtight enclosure is suspended within the sound system chassis using elastic members in tension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the speakers are mounted in a substantially airtight enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS10405076B2Elimination of parasitic audio vibrations using spring mounted speakers

Publication Date: 2019.09.03 CONCORSO JAMES A

AI summary

The Present Invention is for a speaker system both standalone and in a phonograph that greatly reduces sympathetic vibration and feedback due to interaction of sound vibration transmitted from bass speakers to the chassis. The solution is twofold. First, the speakers are mounted in a substantially airtight enclosure. Second, the substantially airtight enclosure is suspended within the sound system chassis using elastic members in tension. A typical elastic member is an extension spring. In a phonograph, the elastic suspension almost completely isolates vibrations of the speaker enclosure from the phonograph chassis, thereby drastically reducing sympathetic vibration and feedback, and accommodating new depths of bass extension.