AU783415B2

AU783415B2 - Sound insulation device for systems with a moveable element

Info

Publication number: AU783415B2
Application number: AU18283/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Karl Haab; Bruno Stauffer
Original assignee: Hawa AG
Current assignee: Hawa Sliding Solutions AG
Priority date: 2000-03-29
Filing date: 2001-02-05
Publication date: 2005-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-05
Also published as: CA2340846A1; EP1138860B1; ATE246764T1; AU1828301A; EP1138860A1; DE50100447D1; JP4902909B2; JP2001336343A

Abstract

The device comprises a base plate (31) which is made from a sound-resistant centre part (3) connectable to the mechanical system and designed to connect two wing members (32a, 32b ) together. The wing members are each connected to a side part (22a, 22b) of a sound-resistant angular element (2a, 2b) through a sound-soft elastic layer (4a, 4b). The angular element has a base part (21a, 21b) connectable with the assembly body. The nature and dimensions of the two sound-soft layers is selected taking into consideration the incline of the wing members and side parts so that the assembled sound protection device expands the mechanism system into a vibration system whose resonance frequency is below the frequency range of disturbing sounds.

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Hawa AG Actual Inventors: Karl Haab and Bruno Stauffer Address for Service: BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: 'SOUND INSULATION DEVICE FOR SYSTEMS WITH A MOVEABLE ELEMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- Fil::666. U.

File: 30666AUP00 0 w 9 onu' 1 la- SOUND INSULATION DEVICE FOR SYSTEMS WITH A MOVEABLE ELEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a sound insulation device for mechanical systems with a moveable, particularly with a laterally slideable element in accordance with the preamble BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

In order to close off and/or divide rooms use is frequently made of sliding doors which are connected to a running mechanism guided in a rail (Fig. 4 as an example shows a running mechanism 6 and a rail From publication document DE 32 02 879 A a fitting arrangement for a sliding door is known, with which, for the noise and vibration absorption, a guide rail is connected by means of a rubber element with a carrier.

From publication document DE 22 46 130 A an interior movable sliding door for vehicles is known, which is hung up at a ball rail connected by means of rubber spring elements with the chassis of the vehicle. In accordance *with patent specification DE 21 41 065 C3 the use of rubber spring elements serves to reduce the work required for 30 mounting the door and the susceptibility to interference of the door.

Furthermore from patent specification US-A-4 344,206 it is known that by means of flexible elements also unwanted -2movements of parts of a device can be prevented, which serves the mounting of a sliding door.

The rail is usually mounted on the ceiling or on a sidewall. These devices often cause disturbing noise which depends on the used running mechanism and rail, the usually significant weight of the sliding doors and the structure of the wall.

In case that for example a lecture is given in a conference room, then the sounds caused by moving sliding doors or sidewalls in neighbouring rooms may be considered disturbing in the conference room. Said noises are also disturbing in private apartments particularly during night time, when the prevailing noise level besides is reduced to a minimum. Modern closing systems are sometimes equipped with running mechanisms, which are driven by electro motors. Vibrations caused by the electro motors may also appear disturbing.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

e• ooooo SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a sound insulation device for connecting a mechanical system to a mounting body such as a wardrobe top cover, ceiling or a said system having a moveable element being laterally slideable with respect to the mounting body, the device including: a sound hard middle part having a base plate disposed between a pair of wing elements, the base plate being connectable to the mechanical system; a pair of sound hard angle elements each having a side part and a base part, each base part being connectable to the mounting body; and a sound soft elastic layer interconnecting each wing element with each side part, wherein the wing elements and side parts are inclined towards each other such that the sound soft layers are stressed in view of shearing and pressure during movement of the middle part in the direction of gravitational force.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

The sound insulation device which is designed for a mechanical system comprising at least one moveable element prevents the transmission of disturbing sound waves from o the mechanical system to a neighbouring system. Mechanical systems of this kind consist for example of a rail in which *a running mechanism is slideable mounted. The rail is connected by means of the sound insulation device for 0*0000 example to the ceiling of a room or to the top cover of a wardrobe.

The sound insulation device which in conjunction with the mechanical system forms an oscillating system is designed 30 in such a way that the resonant frequency of the oioo oscillating system lies outside the frequency band in which S" an undamped system causes disturbing sound waves. Sound waves outside the resonant frequency area are reflected in the sound insulation device on two reflection zones which are arranged in series.

-3a- The sound insulation device comprises preferably two angle elements to be connected to a mounting body with each of the angle elements being connected through a sound soft elastic layer with a middle part on which the mechanical system is suspended. The angle elements and the middle part are preferably designed in such a way that by said elements a pressure is applied to the sound soft layer in order to prevent the sound soft layer, which is attached by means of an adhesive, from getting detached from the middle part and the corresponding angle element.

In a preferred embodiment the complete detachment of the middle part from the angle elements is further prevented, in case of a fire when the sound soft layer is melted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows an inventive sound insulation device 1 in a preferred embodiment, o•* S" Fig. 2 shows the sound insulation device 1 according to Fig. 1 connected to a rail 5 which is designed to guide a running mechanism, Fig. 3 shows a second sound insulation device 100, which on one side is connected to a rail 5 and on the other side is mounted on a carrier plate 200, 4 shows a third sound insulation device 101 S"integrated in a ceiling respective in a top cover of a wardrobe 201 and connected to a rail 5 and 3b Fig. 5 shows the sound insulation device 1 according to Fig. 1 equipped with holding strips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows an inventive sound insulation device 1 serving for the attachment of a mechanical system comprising a moveable, particularly a laterally slideable element. As shown for example in Fig. 4 the mechanical system consists of a rail 5, which is connected by means of the sound insulation device 1 to a mounting body, and of a running mechanism 6, guided in said rail 5 and slideable holding a sliding door or a sliding element.

The sound insulation device 1, by which oscillations caused by the moveable element are strongly damped and partially reflected, consists of a sound hard middle part 3 preferably made of metal and two sound hard angle elements 2a, 2b preferably made of metal.

9 •co -4- The middle part 3 comprises a base plate 31 connectable to the mechanical system, e.g. to the rail 5, which base plate 31 connects two wing elements 32a, 32b with each other.

Each of the wing elements 32a, 32b is connected over a sound soft, elastic layer 4a respective 4b with a side part 22a respective 22b of an angle element 2a respective 2b.

The angle elements 2a, 2b comprise besides the side part 22a respective 22b a base part 21a, 21b which is connectable to the mounting body.

The installed sound insulation device 1 expands a mechanical system connected thereto to an oscillation system with at least one resonance frequency, which lies below the frequency range of disturbing sound signals which may occur when a moveable element is laterally slided. The oscillation system is adjusted through selection of constitution and size of the two sound soft layers 4a, 4b which consist preferably of a high quality rubber material Sand which are attached by means of an adhesive to the corresponding wing element 32a respective 32b and to the corresponding side part 22a respective 22b.

The resonant frequency of the oscillation system results from the square root of the spring constant of the sound insulation device 1 divided by the square root of the weight of the system connected thereto. In a preferred

S.

25 embodiment the surface pressure on the sound soft layers

P.S.

4a, 4b is selected in the range from 2 kg/cm 2 to 4 kg/cm 2 Due to the selection of a sound soft material for the layers 4a, 4b two reflection zones arise in the transition zones between the sound soft layer 4a respective 4b and the sound hard wing element 32a respective 32b and the side part 22a respective 22b. Sound waves lying outside the resonant area of the oscillation system are reflected on the reflection zones so that the sound insulation device 1 provides a doubled acoustical insulation of the mechanical system.

The percentage of the reflection is dependant on the ratio of the sound hardness respective the acoustical impedances of the materials adjoining the reflection zones, the wavelength and the density of the sound.

Substances with a high acoustical impedance are called sound hard. Substances with a low acoustical impedance are called sound soft. The acoustical impedance respective the sound hardness results by multiplying the density of the material and the velocity of propagation of the sound within this material.

The wing elements 32a, 32b connected to the middle part 3 and the side parts 22a, 22b connected to the angle elements 15 2a, 2b are preferably inclined towards each other in such a way that the sound soft layers 4a, 4b during a movement of the middle part 3 in the direction of the gravitational force are simultaneously stressed in view of shearing and pressure.

Low frequency oscillations with high amplitude may occur through shearing movements. With a pressure simultaneously applied the sound soft material remains in the predetermined form and in addition a detachment of the layers 4a, 4b by shearing) is prevented. The device 25 shown in Fig. 1 therefore allows the use of elastic materials with a low acoustical impedance. The relevant dimensions (heights h, breadths b, lengths 1 and thicknesses d) of the device elements marked with indices are drawn in Fig. 2. It can be seen that the middle part 3 and the angle elements 2a, 2b in direction of the gravitational force are shifted relative to each other in such a way that during the occurrence of oscillations the -6middle part 3 does not touch the mounting body and the angle elements 2a, 2b do not touch the rail The wing elements 32a, 32b and the side parts 22a respective 22b are in direction of the gravitational force strongly inclined (in the shown embodiment by 300 respective 350), so that when a load is applied on the sound insulation device 1 consequently high force vectors arise through which the sound soft layers 4a, 4b are simultaneously stressed in view of shearing and pressure.

With the inclination respective a mutual overlapping of the side parts 22a respective 22b and the wing elements 32a, 32b it is achieved, that the wing elements 32a, 32b of the middle part 3 are supported by the side parts 22a respective 22b of the angle elements 2a, 2b when the sound 15 soft layers 4a, 4b are molten. In such a way the mechanical system which may comprise a moveable part remains even in a case of fire connected to the mounting body.

A detachment of sound soft layers 4a, 4b during load condition may further be prevented by selecting a preferred 20 contour of the layers 4a, 4b at their end parts. Preferably a contour converging towards the supporting surfaces is selected so that under load an even distribution of mechanical tension results along the sound soft layers 4a, 4b. The material of the sound soft layers 4a, 4b lies preferably in such a way on the wing elements 32a, 32b connected to the middle part 3 and on the side parts 22a, 22b connected to the angle elements 2a, 2b that the end parts of the sound soft layers 4a, 4b follow the form of a cylinder thereby getting continuously thinner towards the end. For easier handling during production, where preferably a vulcanising process is applied, the rubber layers 4a, 4b are delimited by bodies having the from of a cylinder (see Fig. i, circles kl and k2).

-7- Inventive sound insulation devices 1 may be used to install mechanical systems of different kinds to a mounting body.

Due to the small dimensions, the sound insulation devices 1 may advantageously be used for the installation of rails (see Fig. along which a running mechanism 6 is guided carrying a sliding door or a sliding separation element (see Fig. 4).

The sound insulation device 1 may be installed with simple means. The base plate 31 of the middle part 3 and the base part 21a, 21b of each angle element 2a, 2b preferably comprise openings 32a, 23b; 33, through which mounting screws can be inserted, which are connected to the mounting body and to the rail The middle part 3 of the sound insulation device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is installed opened towards the top. It is however S. also possible to install the middle part 3 installed opened downwards. A middle part 3 installed opened downwards could have the form of a rail 5 as the one shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a second sound insulation device 100, which is 20 connected on the one side to a rail 5 and on the other side -to a carrier plate 200. The sound insulation device 100 comprises a sound soft element 400, in which a tube 400 with a thread is encapsulated, into which a mounting screw 7 designed for holding the rail 5 is turned. Between the sound soft element 400, the carrier plate 200 and the tube 300, in the present case also on the rail 5 adjoining the sound soft element 400, arise reflection zones which reduce the transmission of sound.

Fig. 4 shows a third sound insulation device 101 integrated in a ceiling respective in a top cover of a wardrobe 201 and connected to a rail 5. The sound insulation device 101 comprises a sound soft element 401, which embraces a tube 301 comprising a flange 302.

-8- The rail 5 is connected by means of a mounting screw 7 to the tube 301. The sound soft element 401 comprises a flange 404 with a bordering edge 403 and cylindrical body 402, in which for the insertion of the tube 301 an opening is provided. In the ceiling respective in the top cover 201 of the wardrobe an opening 202 is provided suitable for receiving the sound soft element 401.

Between the sound soft element 401 and the ceiling 201 is a further elastic layer 405 arranged, through which the rail 5 is decoupled from the ceiling 201 respective from the top cover 201 of the wardrobe. Between the sound soft element 401 and the ceiling 201 respective the top cover 201 of the wardrobe and the tube 301 result again reflection zones, which reduce the sound transmission.

Fig. 5 shows the sound insulation device 1 according to *Fig. 1, in which the sides of middle part 3 and the angle elements 2a, 2b directed towards each other are equipped with holding strips 34. The holding strips 34 which may have a height in the range from 1/10 mm to 5 mm and which may lead straight or inclined sloping from bottom to top are used for holding the elastic layers 4a, 4b in place and/or for the form fitting connection of the middle part 3 and the angle elements 2a, 2b in case that the elastic layer 4a respective 4b loses adhesive connection, thereby providing an increased safety level. The holding strips 34 may also be shorter or comprise one or more breaks.

Claims

9- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: i. A sound insulation device for connecting a mechanical system to a mounting body such as a wardrobe top cover, ceiling or a sidewall, said system having a moveable element being laterally slideable with respect to said mounting body, said device including: a sound hard middle part having a base plate disposed between a pair of wing elements, said base plate being connectable to said mechanical system; a pair of sound hard angle elements each having a side part and a base part, each said base part being connectable to said mounting body; and a sound soft elastic layer interconnecting each said wing element with each said side part, wherein said wing elements and side parts are inclined towards each other such that said sound soft layers are stressed in view of shearing and pressure during movement of said middle part in the direction of gravitational force. 2. The sound insulation device as claimed in claim i, wherein the constitution and size of the two sound soft layers are selected with regard to the inclination of the wing elements and the side parts such that the 0oo installed sound insulation device expands the mechanical system to an oscillation system with a resonant frequency lying below the frequency range of 0o0o 0 disturbing sound signals. 00*0 0o 30 3. The sound insulation device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the wing elements, connected to the middle part 090000 S"and the side parts connected to the angle elements are inclined towards each other such that the middle part is held by the angle elements in direction of gravitational force after the sound soft layers are melted. 4. The sound insulation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sound soft layers consist of rubber and/or are connected by means of an adhesive to the wing elements and to the side parts. The sound insulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the material of the sound soft layers fits on to the wing elements of the middle part and the side parts of the angle elements in such a way that the end parts of the sound soft layers preferably follow the form of a cylinder thereby getting continuously thinner towards the end. 6. The sound insulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the angle elements are connected to a ceiling or a wall and the middle part is connected to a rail along which a running mechanism carrying a sliding door or a sliding separation element is guided. 7. The sound insulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base plate of the middle part and the base part of each angle element is equipped with openings through which mounting screws can be guided. wee* 0.0o8. The sound insulation device according to any one of 30 claims 1 to 7, wherein, relative to the angle elements, .:00 06: the middle part is directed downwards or upwards. oeo.o. 9. The sound insulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the middle part is part of the rail. -11- The sound insulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the surface pressure on the sound soft layers is in the range from 2 kg/cm 2 to 4 kg/cm 2
11. The sound insulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sides of the middle parts and angle elements, which are connected by the sound soft layers, are equipped with holding strips.
12. A sound insulation device substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. DATED this 14 th day of July, 2005 Shelston IP Attorneys for: HAWA AG a o a o 4* .o o*oa