EP1741091B1 - Device for sonic coupling between an inlet tract and/or engine bay and a vehicle interior in a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for sonic coupling between an intake tract or engine compartment and a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle has a housing into which sound enters from the intake tract via a first line, and out of which sound exits into the vehicle interior via a second line. A transmission body is arranged in the housing, the transmission body having a gas-tight separating wall between a sound inlet into the housing and a sound outlet out of the housing. The position of the separating wall is held essentially constant by a positioning device. A transmission wall between the separating wall and the housing provides an acoustic transfer function that is adjustable. The separating wall runs generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of sound propagation and the transmission wall runs at an angle alpha to the longitudinal axis of sound propagation.

Description

The invention relates to a device for sound coupling between on the one hand an intake tract and / or engine compartment and on the other hand a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle. It can be arranged either in the flow path of uncompressed or compressed intake air. Such devices are already in use for sound modulation.

For example, from the DE 199 22 216 A1 is a sound modulation with the use of resonance effects known. For this purpose, a cross-sectional enlargement must be present within a sound path between the intake of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and an interior of the motor vehicle, which leads to the formation of a resonator, so that absorbed by resonance within a desired frequency band sound energy from the intake and through the resonator via a as a vibrating body functioning membrane can be fed to the vehicle interior.

A similar device for noise in a motor vehicle is in the DE 100 42 012 B4 described. In this case, a hollow body is used, which is divided by at least one oscillatable membrane in at least two rooms. This membrane fulfills two functions, on the one hand a suppression of a flow in the hollow body and on the other hand a control of a frequency range and an amplification of transmitted noise.

Also in the EP 1 138 887 A2 is a transducer for Abgaspulsationen described, which is characterized in that it is formed in the form of an impedance converter which radiates by coupling to the pulsations of an exhaust gas flow using a membrane in the interior of a motor vehicle engine-dependent sound. In this case, resonance characteristics are again used to adjust the radiated airborne sound.

The EP 1 365 120 B1 discloses a sound transducer in which the radiated sound is to be adjusted substantially independently of pressure changes at the entrance of a transmission body by using a rigid or rigid vibration body, which is held by means of a holder oscillatory, said support against spring force in the direction of vibration of the Oscillating body is adjustable. By this construction is to be achieved that low-frequency pressure fluctuations in the input region of the transmission body can be compensated by appropriate relative adjustments of the holder together with the oscillating body held by the holder adjusted so far until the spring force establishes a balance. In contrast, higher-frequency airborne sound to be coupled out can cause the vibrating body to vibrate in order to cause emission of audible, modulated airborne sound.

From the EP 1 306 829 A2 a further device for transmitting engine noise is known, which consists of a housing in which a partition wall is arranged, which is broken by a flap element.

Also the DE 101 49 169 C1 relates to a Schallwandlerkopf which is designed so that on the one hand in particular exhaust gas pulsations of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle are converted into vibrations in a substantially closed space and on the other hand a functionality is ensured even at, for example, static pressures of 0.5 to 1 bar by an excitation membrane either is coupled with a Schallabstrahlungsmembran or a structure-borne noise with pressure compensation.

Another device for sound design in a motor vehicle is from the DE 102 23 873 A1 known, in which a sound transmission device with at least two oscillatory elements, between which an acoustically inactive wall is arranged and which are coupled via a passing through this wall connecting element, is used.

Although the known sound transducers have proven to be successful, there is still the need for a cost-effective and durable device for selectively radiating sound into the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for sound coupling between on the one hand an intake and / or engine compartment and on the other hand, a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, which is not only inexpensive and easy to produce, but also durable.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

It can be provided that the positioning device is on the one hand in operative connection with the partition and on the other hand with the housing.

Furthermore, it is proposed according to the invention that at least the region of the dividing wall to which the positioning device engages is reinforced or formed thicker.

According to the invention, an outer tube comprising the housing and the second conduit is provided.

The inner tube can be stiff or rigid.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the inner tube is at least partially inserted into the outer tube so that the positioning device is arranged substantially within the housing.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the inner tube has at least one opening, preferably a multiplicity of openings, in the region of the positioning device and in the region of the transmission wall.

The invention further proposes that the first line, the housing, the second line and / or the outer tube comprise or comprise aluminum or plastic, and / or the inner tube comprises aluminum, plastic or foam, wherein in particular the inner tube in the area the positioning device comprises foam.

It can also be provided that the dividing wall and / or the transfer wall comprise or comprise an elastomer or plastic film or a fabric membrane.

It is also proposed that the transmission wall is gas-tight.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the amount of α is a maximum of 10 °.

It has been found to be advantageous according to the invention that the transfer body is cup-shaped, in particular in the form of a flowerpot.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the transfer body has a connected to the transmission wall or formed with the same edge which engages the housing, preferably between the housing and the first line is clamped.

It is preferred that the edge of the transfer body is clamped between an integrally formed on the inner tube flange and thus, in particular releasably connected flange of the outer tube.

The invention also proposes that the acoustic transfer function can be set via the effective surface and / or at least one material property of the transfer wall and / or the opening (s) in the inner tube.

It can again be provided that the stiffness, the modulus of elasticity, at least one damping characteristic and / or the mass of the transmission wall can be varied as an adjustable material property.

It can also be proposed according to the invention that the dimensioning of each opening, the number of openings and / or the placement of the opening (s) for setting the transfer function can be varied.

Finally, it can also be provided according to the invention that the housing can be arranged or arranged in the flow path of uncompressed or compressed intake air of the motor vehicle.

The invention is thus based on the surprising finding that in a motor vehicle between an engine compartment and a vehicle interior or between an intake tract of an internal combustion engine and the vehicle interior by utilizing uncompressed or compressed intake air to be transmitted sound not necessarily a change in cross section and a membrane disposed substantially perpendicular to the flow direction must happen, but a transmission wall can be used, which is just not substantially perpendicular to the flow or longitudinal axis of sound propagation from the intake or engine compartment to the vehicle interior and also does not fulfill the function of pressure equalization so that it can be arbitrarily thin to optimally transmit sound 1: 1. According to the invention, a transfer body is used, for example, in the form of a flower pot, the side wall of which represents said transfer wall, while its bottom represents a gas-tight partition wall and fulfills the function of pressure equalization. The transfer body can be mounted pointing away with its partition to the vehicle interior and away from the latter. According to the invention, the transfer function of the transfer body can be set primarily via the effective surface of the transfer wall and / or material properties thereof. The effective surface is the vibratory surface of the transmission wall, which can be adjusted by targeted fixing of certain surface areas. Suitable material properties are not only the mass of the transmission wall, but also their rigidity, their modulus of elasticity and / or their damping characteristics.

Furthermore, the transfer wall according to the invention is mounted with the partition, which is arranged for example substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of sound propagation from the intake or engine compartment to the vehicle interior, in a housing, that the partition substantially does not contribute to the sound coupling. The partition wall is held for this purpose by means of a positioning device, so that it remains in a specific position during operation of the device according to the invention, not only substantially independent of the attacking gas pressure, but also over the entire lifetime of the device, so in particular a possible Settling behavior of the material of the transfer body is substantially compensated. The positioning device is realized, for example, in the form of a spiral spring holding the transfer body under tension in the housing or as a perforated or rigid, ie non-oscillatable supporting body, perforated in the region of the transfer wall. In turn, the effective surface of the transfer wall can be adjusted via the holes or openings of the support body.

The housing is in turn provided by an outer tube, while the positioning device as a support body is part of an inner tube inserted therein at least in regions.

The partition wall is formed with the transmission wall in preferred embodiments of the invention in one, for example, an elastomer or plastic film or a fabric membrane, wherein the partition wall may have a relation to the transmission wall increased material thickness.

Thus, according to the invention, for the first time, a long-lasting device of the same kind for sound coupling between an intake tract or engine compartment and a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle is provided, which can be produced in a cost-effective and simple manner.

Figur 1

eine Vorrichtung zwischen einem Motorraum und einem Fahrzeuginnenraum im Schnitt, und

Figur 2

eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in der gleichen Darstellung wie Figur 1.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which an embodiment of the invention with reference to a schematic drawing is exemplified in detail. Showing:

FIG. 1

a device between an engine compartment and a vehicle interior in section, and

FIG. 2

a device according to the invention in the same illustration as FIG. 1 ,

As FIG. 1 can be seen, a sound coupling device 1 is arranged with its housing 2 between on the one hand a line 3 from an engine compartment, not shown, and on the other hand, a line 4 to a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, not shown). The housing 2 is substantially tubular, with a longitudinal axis which coincides substantially with the longitudinal axis 5 of a sound entry into the housing 2 and the longitudinal axis 6 of a sound outlet from the housing 2. More specifically, the conduit 3 is part of an inner tube 8, while the housing 2 and the other conduit 4 are part of an outer tube 9, wherein the inner tube 8 is partially inserted into the outer tube 9, concentric therewith, such that a Pipe edge 8a of the inner tube 8 abuts an expansion 9a of the outer tube 9. In the region of the housing 2, the outer tube 9 is formed somewhat wider than in the region of the conduit 4, so that a step 9b is provided between the housing 2 and the conduit 4.

Within the housing 2, a transfer body 10 is provided for example of an elastomeric foil in the form of a flowerpot. This transfer body 10 in turn comprises a gas-tight partition wall 11 (bottom of the flowerpot) substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axes 5, 6 and a transfer wall 12 (side wall of the flower pot) extending from the partition wall 11 to the area of sound entry into the housing 2. The transmission wall 12 has a smaller thickness than the partition wall 11. In addition, the transmission wall 12 is arranged at an acute angle α with an amount of approximately 5 ° to said longitudinal axes 5, 6.

In order to prevent that, for example due to pressure fluctuations or a material setting behavior, the position of the partition wall 11 changes in the course of operation of the sound coupling device 1 according to the invention, the same is held by a tension spring 13 in position. The tension spring 13, which is thus a positioning device is clamped for this purpose between the line 3 and the inner tube 8, more precisely in the region of a step 8b of the inner tube 8, and the partition wall 11, wherein in the region of engagement of the tension spring 13 at the partition wall 11, the partition wall 11 is material reinforced.

Finally, the transfer body 10 still comprises a rim 14 at the open end of the transfer wall 12, with which the transfer body 10 is clamped between the conduit 3 from the engine compartment or the tube edge 8a of the inner tube 8 and the housing 2 or the widening 9a of the outer tube 9 ,

If sound is applied to the sound coupling device 1, it passes from the line 3 from the engine compartment along the arrow 5 in the FIG. 1 in the transfer body 10 a. In the transfer body 10 is now a function sharing such that over the partition 11, a pressure compensation is accomplished, while on the transmission wall 12 sound is transmitted, as indicated by arrows 7 in the FIG. 1 shown. The transmission wall 12 thus fulfills only the function of sound transmission and can be formed arbitrarily thin for this purpose to optimally transmit sound 1: 1. A modulation of the sound is possible in a simple manner in that the effective surface of the transmission wall 12 and / or material properties thereof are varied. The material properties of the transfer wall 12 can be set particularly easily over the mass thereof. Likewise, the stiffness, the modulus of elasticity or an attenuation characteristic can be adjusted, all sizes are of course anisotropically adjustable. The transmitted and / or modulated sound then leaves the sound coupling device 1 along the arrow 6 in FIG. 1 ,

The sound coupling device 1 thus basically comes without cross-sectional enlargement in a line system from an engine compartment to a vehicle interior and without the use of a membrane, which is at the same time oscillating body and pressure compensator from. Due to the separation of functions of pressure compensation and sound transmission, an accurate adjustability of the sound to be radiated into the vehicle compartment over the entire service life of the sound coupling device 1 is also made possible in a simple manner.

A sound coupling device 1 'according to the invention is shown in FIG FIG. 2 shown and includes as well as the sound coupling device 1, a housing 2 'between a first conduit 3' from the engine compartment and a second conduit 4 'to the vehicle interior. In this case, the first line 3 'in the form of an inner tube 8' in the housing 2 'hineinverlängert to position a transfer body 10' within the housing 2 ', ie to provide a positioning device 13' in the form of a rigid or rigid support body. The inner tube 8 'can be made of a plastic, which in the region of the transfer body 10' a plurality of openings 8'c radially to the longitudinal axis 5 'of the sound entry into the housing 2' and to the longitudinal axis 6 'of the sound outlet from the housing 2'. exhibit. The transfer body 10 'rests against the inner tube 8', wherein in the region of a partition wall 11 'of the transfer body 10' no opening in the inner tube 8 'is provided, in contrast to the region of the inner tube 8', in which the transfer wall 12th 'applies, so that via the openings 8'c the effective surface of the transmission wall 12' and thus the sound coupling with its longitudinal axis 7 'in the region of each opening 8'c is adjustable. The transfer body 10 'may consist overall of a tissue membrane which is clamped between a first flange 8'a on the inner tube 8' and a second flange 9'a of an outer tube 9, the outer tube 9 'the housing 2' as well also the second line 4 ', wherein between the housing 2' and the second line 4 ', a step 9'b is arranged. Through the flanges 8'a and 9'a a fastening member, such as a screw (not shown), guided for fixing.

Sound now enters along the arrow 5 'in the transfer body in', so he leaves this along the arrows 7 'in the region of the openings 8'c, and then along the arrow 6' the inventive sound coupling device 1 ', as in FIG. 2 shown to leave. About the dimension and geometry of the openings 8'c in the inner tube 8 'can thereby cause a modulation of the sound, which is why the opening 8'c can also be referred to as "sound openings".

Overall, the sound coupling device 1 'has the same functions as the sound coupling devices 1, but with a simpler and less expensive structure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 '

Acoustic coupling device

2, 2 '

casing

3, 3 '

Lead from the engine compartment

4, 4 '

Lead to the vehicle interior

5, 5 '

Longitudinal axis of the sound entry into the housing

6, 6 '

Longitudinal axis of the sound outlet from the housing

7, 7 '

Longitudinal axis of the sound coupling

8,8 '

inner tube

8a

pipe edge

8'a

flange

8b

step

8'c

opening

9, 9 '

outer tube

9a

widening

9 'a

flange

9b, 9'b

step

10, 10 '

transmission body

11, 11 '

partition wall

12, 12 '

transfer wall

13, 13 '

tension spring

14, 14 '

edge

Claims (17)

1. Device (1') for sonic coupling between, on the one hand, an intake tract and/or engine compartment and, on the other hand, a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, with a first line (3'), a second line (4') and a housing (2') into which sound enters from the intake tract and/or engine compartment via the first line (3') and from which sound exits into the vehicle interior via the second line (4'), and with a transmission body (10') for sound that is arranged in the housing (2') in such a way that the sound enters the transmission body (10') or impinges the transmission body (10') via the first line (3'), which transmission body has, between the sound entry (5') into the housing (2') and the sound exit (6') from the housing (2'), a gas-tight separating wall (11') whose position in the housing (2') is kept substantially constant via a positioning device (13'), and also comprises, between the separating wall (11') and the housing (2'), a transmission wall (12') via which the acoustic transmission function of the transmission body (10') can be adjusted for sonic coupling (7'), wherein the transmission wall (12') is connected to the separating wall or is formed with the separating wall (11'), the separating wall (11') extends, at least in certain regions, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (5', 6') of the sound propagation at the inlet and/or outlet of the housing (2'), and the transmission wall (12') extends, at least in certain regions, at an angle α to the longitudinal axis (5', 6') of the sound propagation at the inlet and/or outlet of the housing (2'), characterized in that the value of α is at most 30°, an outer tube (9') comprises the housing (2') and the second line (4'), and an inner tube (8') comprises the first line (3') and the positioning device (13').
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the positioning device (13') is operatively connected to the separating wall (11') on the one hand and to the housing (2') on the other hand.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that at least that region of the separating wall (11') on which the positioning device (13') acts has a reinforced or thicker design.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner tube (8') is stiff or rigid.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner tube (8') is inserted, at least in certain regions, into the outer tube (9') such that the positioning device (13') is arranged substantially inside the housing (2').
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the inner tube (8') comprises at least one opening (8'c), preferably a plurality of openings (8'c), in the region of the positioning device (13') and in the region of the transmission wall (12').
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first line (3'), the housing (2'), the second line (4') and/or the outer tube (9') comprises or comprise aluminium or plastic, and/or the inner tube (8') comprises aluminium, plastic or foam, wherein in particular the inner tube (8') comprises foam in the region of the positioning device (13').
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating wall (11') and/or the transmission wall (12') comprises or comprise an elastomer or plastic film or a woven fabric membrane.
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission wall (12') is gas-tight.
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the value of α is at most 10°.
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission body (10') has a pot-shaped design, in particular in the form of a flowerpot.
12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission body (10') has a rim (14') which is connected to the transmission wall (12') or formed therewith and engages on the housing (2, 2'), preferably being clamped between the housing (2') and the first line (3').
13. Device according to Claim 12, characterized in that the rim (14') of the transmission body (10') is clamped between a flange (8'a) integrally formed on the inner tube (8') and a flange (9'a) of the outer tube (9') connected, in particular detachably, thereto.
14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic transmission function can be adjusted via the effective surface area and/or at least one material property of the transmission wall (12') and/or the opening or openings (8'c) in the inner tube (8').
15. Device according to Claim 14, characterized in that the adjustable material property which can be varied is the stiffness, the modulus of elasticity, at least one damping characteristic and/or the mass of the transmission wall (12').
16. Device according to Claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the dimension of each opening (8'c), the number of openings (8'c) and/or the placing of the opening or openings (8'c) can be varied to adjust the transmission function.
17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2, 2') can be arranged or is arranged in the flow path of non-compressed or compressed intake air of the motor vehicle.

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