Percussion Sound Bar With Graded Density for Easier Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound bars for percussion instruments like marimbas and xylophones lack flexibility in design, particularly in adjusting sound quality, strength, and overall thickness, especially when using materials like resin-impregnated wood that affect pitch and durability.
Innovation Solution
The sound bar design incorporates a striking surface with varying weight distribution along its longitudinal direction by using a surface layer and base with different specific gravities, impregnated with a dissimilar material, and oriented fibers, allowing for controlled thickness and density changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a laminate of wood material and fiber reinforced plastic sheet is used to improve sound quality and durability, then strength and durability are improved, but the degree of freedom in designing sound bar is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the impregnation depth of the second material (resin) along the longitudinal direction of the striking surface. The impregnation depth changes from a first depth at a first location to a second depth at a second location, creating local variations in density and weight distribution. This allows different regions of the sound bar to have optimized properties for sound quality and durability while maintaining design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the impregnation depth parameter of the second material along the longitudinal direction. By controlling how deep the resin penetrates at different locations, the invention adjusts local density and weight distribution without changing the overall structure or material composition, thereby achieving both improved durability and enhanced design freedom.
2Manufacturing precision
If the overall size of the sound bar is controlled based on the quality of each functional layer to produce sound in a desired pitch range, then sound quality is improved, but the degree of freedom in designing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating spatial variations in the impregnation depth of the second material along the longitudinal direction. This produces local differences in density and weight distribution that can be precisely controlled to achieve desired pitch characteristics while maintaining flexibility in overall sound bar design and dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by varying impregnation depth in the longitudinal direction, adding a gradient dimension to the otherwise uniform layer structure. This dimensional variation allows precise control of weight distribution and pitch characteristics without constraining the overall size or basic structure of the sound bar.
3Manufacturing precision
If rare wood materials are used to improve sound quality, then sound quality is improved, but material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a first material (wood material) with a second material (resin or other impregnating material). This composite structure allows the use of smaller amounts of rare wood material while achieving the desired sound quality through the synergistic combination of materials with different properties, thereby reducing material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the impregnation depth parameter to optimize the distribution and amount of second material throughout the sound bar. This allows precise control of material usage, ensuring that rare wood material is used only where necessary for sound quality while minimizing overall material consumption.
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 design enhances the freedom in designing sound quality, strength, and overall thickness, while maintaining ease of tuning and reducing material waste by optimizing the use of rare woods, thus improving the performance and durability of percussion instruments.
Implementation Method 1
the elongated member is impregnated with a second material from the striking surface in a thickness direction of the elongated member
Data Source
AI summary
A sound bar includes an elongated member having a striking surface having an elongated shape. A weight of a striking surface side area of the elongated member, per unit volume of the striking surface side area of the elongated member, changes along a longitudinal direction of the striking surface. The striking surface side area is defined in a range of a uniform thickness from the striking surface.