Sound-absorbing Panel with Integrated Frame and Anti-vibration Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound-absorbing panels with rock wool material deteriorate quickly under adverse conditions like high humidity and require cumbersome and costly thickness increases to maintain soundproofing, with fixing methods like gluing or riveting further reducing insulation properties and complicating maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A sound-absorbing panel design featuring an integrated frame with releasable layers of sound-absorbing materials, an anti-vibration layer, and a protective sheet, eliminating the need for perforated sheets and rigid fixings, allowing direct exposure to sound waves and improved assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rock wool is used as sound-absorbing material, then excellent sound insulation properties are achieved, but rapid deterioration and degradation occur under adverse operating conditions like high humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is divided into multiple functional layers: a protective front sheet (grated element) that shields the rock wool from direct environmental exposure, the rock wool layer itself for sound absorption, and a rear sheet for structural completion. This segmentation allows the rock wool to maintain its sound insulation properties while being protected from deterioration by the front sheet.
Solution Approach 2:
The front sheet acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the rock wool layer. It allows sound waves to pass through (via perforations) while protecting the rock wool from direct contact with adverse conditions like high humidity, thus extending its service life.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a perforated front sheet is added to protect the rock wool, then service life is increased, but soundproofing properties significantly decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The front sheet is designed as a perforated (porous) structure that allows sound waves to pass through to the rock wool layer while still providing physical protection. The porosity enables acoustic functionality to be maintained while the solid portions of the sheet provide protective coverage against environmental deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The front sheet has different local properties: the perforated areas allow sound transmission while the solid areas provide protection. This local differentiation enables the sheet to simultaneously fulfill both protective and acoustic transmission functions.
3Reliability
If sheet thickness is increased to improve soundproofing properties, then sound insulation is enhanced, but encumbrance and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The panel uses a composite structure combining a perforated front sheet, rock wool layer, and rear sheet. This composite approach achieves effective soundproofing through the synergistic interaction of different materials and layers, avoiding the need to increase the thickness of any single layer while maintaining or improving overall acoustic performance.
4Stability of the object's composition
If sheets are glued or nailed or riveted to the rock wool, then structural stability is achieved, but maintenance becomes difficult and sound insulation properties are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from rigid (gluing, nailing, riveting) to a more dynamic, adaptable approach using mechanical retention elements that can accommodate material expansion and contraction while maintaining stable attachment. This allows for easier disassembly and maintenance while preserving structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing means are designed to be removable and replaceable, allowing the sound-absorbing layer to be extracted and replaced independently of the frame structure. This extraction capability simplifies maintenance operations while the fixing means maintain structural stability during normal operation.
5Strength
If fixing means like glue or nails are used to attach sheets to rock wool, then structural integrity is maintained, but sound insulation properties are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing means act as intermediaries that connect the sheets to the rock wool while minimizing their negative impact on sound insulation. By using specialized retention elements rather than traditional rigid fixings, the system maintains structural integrity while reducing sound insulation degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The perforated front sheet design allows sound waves to pass through the open areas, compensating for the presence of fixing means. The porous structure ensures that even with fixings in place, sufficient sound transmission occurs to maintain effective sound insulation properties.
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 enhances sound insulation performance, simplifies assembly and maintenance, and increases the service life of the panel while maintaining soundproofing effectiveness with the same thickness, avoiding the drawbacks of traditional panels.
Implementation Method 1
a first layer 4 of sound-absorbing material, a second layer 5 of sound-absorbing material
Implementation Method 2
an anti-vibration layer 19 arranged between the frame 6 and the first layer 4 and second layer 5
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A sound-absorbing panel (1) is described comprising a first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material, a second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material, and an integrated frame (6) supporting the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material and the second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material; the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material has a first front surface (7) apt to be directly exposed to an acoustic source for being struck by sound waves (3) without the interposition of grated elements or other parts, a first rear surface (8) opposite the first front surface (7), and a first lateral surface (10) delimited between the first front surface (7) and the first rear surface (8); the second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material has a second front surface (11) facing towards said first rear surface (8) and separated from the external environment by means of the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material, a second rear surface (12) opposite the second front surface (11), and a second lateral surface (13) delimited between the second front surface (11) and the second rear surface (12); the frame (6) comprises: a support profile (14) laterally surrounding at least part of the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material and of the second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material and having an abutment wall (15) for said first lateral surface (10) and second lateral surface (13) and a flange (16) projecting from the abutment wall (15); a protective sheet (17) resting against the flange (16) of the support profile (14) and defining, in turn, an abutment element for said second rear surface (12), so that the second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material is interposed between the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material and the protective sheet (17) itself; and at least one containment bracket (18) having a fixing portion (18a) fixed to the support profile (14) and a containment portion (18b) cooperating with the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material at said first front surface (7); the sound-absorbing material of the first layer (4) is made of natural or artificial resin-bonded fibres; the first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material and the second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material are releasably interposed and fitted between said containment portion (18b) and the protective sheet (17); the panel (1) further comprises a layer of anti-vibration material (19) interposed between the frame (6) and said first layer (4) of sound-absorbing material and second layer (5) of sound-absorbing material.