Nested Waveguide Funnels for Audio Enclosure Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio source enclosures face challenges in efficiently transmitting pressure waves and airflow due to frictional forces, leading to suboptimal sound quality and larger enclosure sizes, with traditional port designs limiting acoustic and aesthetic performance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a waveguide system with flared funnels and passages that create a stratified air flow path, utilizing the Coanda and Venturi effects to enhance airflow and pressure wave transmission, allowing for smaller enclosures with improved acoustic characteristics and flexible port placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If traditional port designs are used in audio source enclosures, then the enclosure can provide basic airflow communication, but the frictional forces between the structure and working fluid impart drag force that inhibits efficient flow and pressure wave propagation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy loss due to frictional dragVSAvoidflow efficiency and pressure wave propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The waveguide incorporates curved surfaces and smooth transitions instead of sharp angles or flat surfaces. The curved geometry reduces flow separation and turbulence, minimizing frictional drag between the air and waveguide structure while maintaining efficient pressure wave propagation from the port to the enclosure interior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The waveguide cross-sectional area varies along its length, creating a gradual expansion or contraction profile. This parameter change optimizes the flow velocity and pressure distribution, reducing turbulent losses and improving the efficiency of pressure wave transmission while minimizing energy dissipation through friction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the enclosure size is reduced for compactness, then the aesthetic and space requirements are met, but the transmission of pressure waves and airflow is inhibited by increased frictional forces relative to the available flow path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenclosure volumeVSAvoidenergy loss in pressure wave transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The compact waveguide utilizes curved flow paths and smooth surface transitions to minimize flow separation and turbulence within the limited space. This curvature-based design reduces frictional drag and energy loss, enabling efficient pressure wave transmission despite the reduced enclosure volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The waveguide employs three-dimensional curved surfaces and spatial optimization to achieve efficient flow paths within a compact volume. By utilizing dimensional optimization and spatial arrangement, the design maintains low energy loss while fitting within a smaller enclosure footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If shaped surfaces are added to guide pressure waves and create stratified stream airflow, then flow efficiency and acoustic characteristics are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic performance and flow efficiencyVSAvoidwaveguide structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The waveguide employs curved surfaces to guide pressure waves and create stratified stream airflow patterns. These curved geometries naturally direct the flow along smooth paths, improving acoustic performance and flow efficiency while the integration into a single component minimizes the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 approach results in enhanced sound quality, reduced drag, and a more compact enclosure design while maintaining or improving acoustic performance, with the ability to position ports for aesthetic and acoustic advantages.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing the Coanda and Venturi effects to enhance airflow and pressure wave transmission

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoanda effect: Coanda Effect

Implementation Method 2

utilizing the Coanda and Venturi effects to enhance airflow and pressure wave transmission

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11134335B2Audio source waveguide

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 QUEST ENGINES LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of apparatus for affecting air flow and/or pressure wave propagation in relation to an audio source enclosure are disclosed. The apparatus may include two waveguide sections mounted within an audio source enclosure. The waveguide sections may include complementary nested first and second funnels disposed relative to each other in a manner to channel air flow in and/or from the enclosure.