EP1840270B1

EP1840270B1 - Soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing sectional module for a soundproofing wall

Info

Publication number: EP1840270B1
Application number: EP07105073A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luciano Ferrari
Original assignee: Tecant Engineering Srl
Current assignee: Tecant Engineering Srl
Priority date: 2006-03-29
Filing date: 2007-03-28
Publication date: 2009-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-28
Also published as: ITUD20060078A1; PL1840270T3; DE602007001093D1; ATE431463T1; EP1840270A1

Abstract

Soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing sectional module (10) for a soundproofing wall (11) comprising at least two modular panels (13) coupled together in a co-planar manner. Each modular panel (13) comprises a first external sheet (19) made of ductile material, a second external sheet (20) made of ductile material, and a middle layer (21), interposed between the first external sheet (19) and the second external sheet (20), and made of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing material. The first external sheet (19) and the second external sheet (20) comprise respective first peripheral portions (15) reciprocally shaped so as to define at least a first coupling edge (13a), which is coupled with a corresponding second coupling edge (13b) of an adjacent modular panel (13), in order to form a connection joint (17) between the modular panels (13), at least the first peripheral portion (15) of the first external sheet (19) comprises an end bent with respect to the first coupling edge (13a) so as to form a first longitudinal rib (22), while the first peripheral portion (15) of the second external sheet (20) has an end bent over the first longitudinal rib (22) in order to form a first gripping loop (23).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing module of the sectional type which can be coupled to other analogous modules, so as to achieve a soundproofing wall, for example of the type that can be positioned at the side of roads, motorways, railways or other big communication routes, in order to limit the propagation towards the outside of the noise produced by the moving vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soundproofing walls are known, disposed at the sides of big communication routes, such as roads, motorways, railways or other, which allow to limit the propagation towards the outside of the noise produced by vehicles in transit, such as cars, trucks, trains, etc, in order to limit noise pollution in residential or industrial areas, built along such routes.
Soundproofing walls of the known type normally consist of a plurality of soundabsorbing modules of the sectional type, that is, formed by a number of longitudinal panels which are coupled to each other and disposed side by side for a lateral segment of the communication route.
Known soundabsorbing modules normally have a height comprised between about 2500-4000 mm, particularly of about 3000 mm, and are connected to each other by lateral uprights, which are substantially made of H shaped steel beams fixed in advance to the ground by means of set screws, plinths or other.
Each longitudinal panel is modular and consists of a box-shaped metal structure, normally substantially parallelepiped in shape, inside which a layer of soundabsorbing material is disposed. Each modular panel preferably has a standardized height, for example of about 500 mm and its co-planar coupling with other analogous modules defines the total height of the module.
The coupling of several modular panels is achieved by means of a connection joint, which is defined by a mating male/female shaping of the lower and upper edges of each panel.
The box-shaped metal structure of each modular panel typically consists of two metal sheets, respectively, a first disposed frontally and a second disposed behind, connected to each other at the lower and upper ends, with different types of joints, which are normally fixed to each other with screws or rivets disposed at interaxes which normally vary between 800 mm and 1000 mm.
However, this solution entails an increase in production time and costs, due to the positioning of the attachment elements, and in any case does not guarantee a complete watertightness of the box-shaped structure, because of the water infiltrations between one attachment point and the other.
Furthermore, in the panels of known modules, both the lower edge and the upper edge have male/female shapings with a simple fixed joint and in some cases with substantially flat and regular surfaces, which thus define, in the coupled condition, a coupling cavity substantially linear in shape.
Also, the join line between two adjacent panels is directly exposed to the exterior of the wall, thus encouraging water infiltration.
This coupling method favors the transverse passage of the sound waves produced by vehicles in transit, from one side of the module to the other, thus reducing the effectiveness of the soundproofing of the wall.
This disadvantage appears more evident when each module consists of many modules (normally five, but also seven or more), where the same number of connection joints are provided.
Modules are also known whose front and rear surfaces are crossed longitudinally by stiffening ribs that, as well as strengthening the structure of the module, allow to maintain the soundabsorbing layer in a correct assembly position.
However, for the sake of simplicity and economy in working, such stiffening ribs are not made in correspondence with the connection joints, thus creating a disagreeable aesthetic impact, which highlights the joints, or cavities, between the various modular panels.
GB 641 946 A discloses another soundproofing module comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1.
One purpose of the present invention is therefore to achieve a soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing module which requires relatively low production costs and times, and which prevents water or other atmospheric agents from infiltrating and stagnating both inside the box-shaped structure and also in correspondence with the connection joints.
Another purpose of the present invention it to achieve a soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing module for a soundproofing wall, whose modular panels have connection joints that substantially prevent the sound waves from passing through the soundproofing wall through the coupling cavities, guaranteeing an excellent acoustic sealing of the wall, without needing to insert acoustic sealing packings.
A further purpose of the present invention is to achieve a soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing module for a soundproofing wall that also allows to achieve ribs in correspondence with the connection joints, without compromising the soundproof sealing of the soundproofing wall, and to render the connection joints between adjacent panels invisible, so as to achieve a substantially continuous wall.
A further purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the covering element, or coping, disposed at the upper part of the soundabsorbing wall in order to prevent infiltrations of rainwater from the upper edge of the highest panel of the wall.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, a soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing module for a soundproofing wall according to the present invention comprises at least two modular panels able to be coupled in a co-planar manner with each other, and each of which comprises a first external sheet and a second external sheet both made of ductile material, for example metal sheet, and an intermediate layer, interposed between the two external sheets, and made of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing material, for example mineral wool.
The first external sheet and the second external sheet comprise respective first peripheral portions reciprocally shaped so as to define at least a first coupling edge, which is able to be coupled with a corresponding second coupling edge of an adjacent modular panel, in order to form a connection joint between the two modular panels.
Furthermore, the first peripheral portion of the first external sheet has an end bent with respect to the first coupling edge, so as to form a first longitudinal rib, while the first peripheral portion of the second external sheet has an end bent over the first longitudinal rib, in order to form a first gripping loop.
In this way, the external sheets of the modular panel define the coupling edges, substantially eliminating the need for attachment elements of the edges.
At the same time, the solution according to the present invention guarantees the hermetic seal of each modular panel, by means of the gripping between the two ends of the external sheets, thus preventing water or other atmospheric agents from infiltrating inside the modular panel, and/or stagnating in correspondence with the connection joint, eliminating the upper covering element of the wall.
The two external sheets also comprise respective second peripheral portions reciprocally shaped so as to define on the same panel a second coupling edge.
The second peripheral portion of the second external sheet has an end bent with respect to the second coupling edge, so as to form a second longitudinal rib, while the second peripheral portion of the first external sheet has an end bent over the second rib in order to form a second gripping loop.
In this way, each modular panel has both coupling edges defined by the external sheets, and closed hermetically by gripping, thus obtaining the hermetic and automatic closure of the two external sheets of the panel and eliminating the manual attachment of the upper and lower edges of the panel with screws or rivets and the relative cost, and preventing infiltrations and/or the stagnation of water in the connection joints.
Furthermore, a longitudinal seating is provided made on either the first coupling edge or the second coupling edge, and wherein the first gripping loop and the second gripping loop are housed, in a coupled condition of the modular panels.
According to the invention, the first longitudinal rib is formed on the first coupling edge in a position substantially misaligned with respect to the position where the second rib is formed on the second coupling edge, so that, in a coupled condition of the modular panels, the first gripping loop does not interfere with the second gripping loop and so that the ribs and the loops form together a labyrinth seal in said seating.
Therefore, a preferred form of embodiment defines a coupling cavity that, due to the offset reciprocal position of the two gripping loops, has a substantially labyrinthine transverse development, at least inside the longitudinal seating.
In this way, the sound waves that possibly pass through a first transverse segment of the connection joint, are diffracted by the gripping loops and dispersed inside the labyrinthine cavity, preventing them from totally passing through the soundproofing wall, thus guaranteeing an optimum soundproof sealing and avoiding the placement of soundproofing packings and their relative cost.
According to another preferential form of embodiment of the present invention, the first external sheet and the second external sheet advantageously comprise respective first inclined walls made in correspondence with the first coupling edge, so as to define respective first stiffening half-ribs, and respective second inclined walls made in correspondence with the second coupling edge, so as to define second stiffening half-ribs.
In this way, in a coupled condition of the panels, the first stiffening half-ribs and the second stiffening half-ribs define respective lateral stiffening ribs in correspondence with the connection joint.
In one form of embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the two coupling edges is shaped so as to have respective covering walls which, in the assembled condition of the two modules, define the respective bottom walls of the stiffening ribs, substantially covering the coupling cavity.
With this solution it is therefore possible to achieve the stiffening ribs also in correspondence with the connection joints, substantially without compromising the soundproof sealing of the soundproofing wall and making the join lines between adjacent panels substantially invisible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a soundproofing wall made with a plurality of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing sectional modules according to the present invention;
fig. 2 is a partial vertical section view of two modular panels of one of the modules of fig. 1, in a separate condition;
fig. 3 is a partial section view of the two modular panels of fig. 2 in a coupled condition;
fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail of fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a soundproofing wall 11 is partly shown, consisting of a plurality of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing sectional modules 10, reciprocally connected in line with each other by means of relative uprights 12 and disposed, in the case shown here, along the hard shoulder of a motorway, in order to limit the propagation towards the outside of the noise produced by vehicles in transit thereon.
Each module 10 according to the present invention substantially consists of a plurality of panels 13 of the modular type, in this specific case three, coupled to each other in a co-planar manner so as to define the overall height of the module 10.
In particular, each modular panel 13 has a standardized height of about 1000 mm, in order to define, in this specific case, a module 10 with a height of about 3000 mm. The height can also be equal to or more than 750 mm.
Each modular panel 13 comprises two external sheets, respectively front 19 and rear 20, both made of metal, or aluminum sheet, or in the so-called "corten" metal sheet, or other ductile material, which have a desired width and height according to the size of the respective modular panel 13.
Each modular panel 13 also comprises an intermediate layer 21, which is made of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing material, such as mineral wool or other, is located between the two external sheets 19 and 20 and has a thickness that varies according to the degree of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing required. The thickness is advantageously comprised between about 60 mm and about 150 mm.
The two external sheets 19 and 20 are preferably made by continuous profiling of two respective coils of metal sheet so as to define a fretted profile with deep longitudinal stiffening ribs 18, whose function is also to fix the intermediate layer 21 in the exact position.
In this specific case, the external front sheet 19 has a plurality of holes, not shown, with different diameters, for example comprised between about 3 mm and about 8 mm, so as to allow the sound wave produced by the vehicles in transit to pass through the external front sheet 19.
Both the external front sheet 19, and the external rear sheet 20 comprise respective upper portions 15 and respective lower portions 16, which protrude peripherally from the intermediate layer 21.
The upper portions 15 of the external front sheet 19 and of the external rear sheet 20 are reciprocally shaped in specular manner so as to define at least a male coupling edge 13a, while the lower portions 16 are reciprocally shaped in specular manner so as to define at least a female coupling edge 13b.
The male edge 13a is able to be inserted into the corresponding female edge 13b of an adjacent modular panel 13, in order to form a connection joint 17 (figs. 3 and 4), between the modular panels 13, and define a substantial structural continuity between the latter.
In this specific case, the female edge 13b comprises a longitudinal seating 27, whose functionality will be described in detail hereafter, while the male edge 13a is defined laterally by two lateral insertion walls 29 and 30, in this specific case substantially parallel to each other.
In particular, the upper portion 15 of the external front sheet 19 comprises an end bent upwards with respect to the male edge 13a, so as to form a longitudinal rib 22, while the upper portion 15 of the external rear sheet 20 has an end bent over the rib 22 in order to form a gripping loop 23.
In the same way, the lower portion 16 of the external rear sheet 20 presents an end bent with respect to the female edge 13b so as to form a relative longitudinal rib 25, while the lower portion 16 of the front external sheet 19 presents an end bent over the rib 25 in order to form a relative gripping loop 26.
In the coupled condition of two adjacent panels 13, the gripping loop 23 made on the male edge 13a and the gripping loop 26 made on the female edge 13b are housed without reciprocal interference in the longitudinal seating 27.
In fact, the longitudinal rib 22 is formed on the male edge 13a in a substantially misaligned position with respect to the position where the longitudinal rib 25 is formed inside the longitudinal seating 27 of the female edge 13b.
Both the front external sheet 19 and the external rear sheet 20 also comprise respective upper inclined walls 31, made in correspondence with the male edge 13a, and respective lower inclined walls 32, made in correspondence with the female edge 13b.
The upper and lower inclined walls 31 and 32 are shaped so as to define respective first lower half-ribs and second upper half-ribs.
In this way, in a coupled condition of the modular panels 13, the first lower half-ribs and the second upper half-ribs define respective stiffening ribs 18 in correspondence with the connection joints 17.
The stiffening ribs 18 defined in this way are closed on the bottom by the lateral walls 29 and 30 of the male edge 13b. In this way, the coupling cavity defined by the connection joint 17 is rendered invisible, substantially hiding the latter.
It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the soundabsorbing sectional module 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, it comes within the field and scope of the present invention to produce each modular panel 13 in an inverse manner, that is, with the male edge made in the lower area and the female edge made in the upper area. In this case, the female edge is not shaped as deeply, so as to avoid a possible stagnation of water.
It also comes within the field and scope of the present invention to provide a substantially specular shape, or T-shape, or dove-tale shape or other, of the male and female edges.
According to an advantageous solution of the present invention, the module 10 comprises two semi-uprights of the type described in a parallel application for a patent of industrial invention filed by the Applicant. Each first and second semi-upright 15 and 16 is mounted on respective head surfaces opposite the panel 13.
Each module 10 also comprises two sealing packings interposed between the semi-upright elements and the respective head surfaces.
The first semi-upright comprises a box-shaped portion facing towards the external front sheet 19 and an attachment portion facing towards the external rear sheet 20, while the second semi-upright comprises an attachment portion facing towards the front external sheet and able to cooperate with the box-shaped portion of the first semi-upright of the adjacent module 10, and a box-shaped portion facing towards the external rear sheet and with which the attachment portion of the first semi-upright of the adjacent module 10 is able to cooperate.
The reciprocal cooperation between the first semi-upright of one module 10 and the second semi-upright of an adjacent module 10 defines a supporting upright for two adjacent modules 10.
The upright made in this way is fixed on set screws, of a substantially known type, that are anchored to plinths or to concrete foundation blocks, also of a known type.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing sectional module for a soundproofing wall, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing sectional module for a soundproofing wall (11) comprising at least two modular panels (13) able to be coupled to each other in a co-planar manner, wherein each of said modular panels (13) comprises a first external sheet (19) made of ductile material, a second external sheet (20) made of ductile material, and an intermediate layer (21), interposed between said first external sheet (19) and said second external sheet (20), and made of soundabsorbing and/or soundproofing material, wherein said first external sheet (19) and said second external sheet (20) comprise respective first peripheral portions (15) reciprocally shaped so as to define at least a first coupling edge (13a), which is able to be coupled with a corresponding second coupling edge (13b) defined by second peripheral portions (16) of the sheets (19, 20) of an adjacent modular panel (13), in order to form a connection joint (17) between said modular panels (13), wherein the first peripheral portion (15) of said first external sheet (19) comprises an end bent with respect to said first coupling edge (13a) so as to form a first longitudinal rib (22), while the first peripheral portion (15) of said second external sheet (20) has an end bent over said first longitudinal rib (22) in order to form a first gripping loop (23), and in that said second peripheral portion (16) of said second external sheet (20) has an end bent with respect to said second coupling edge (13b) so as to form a second longitudinal rib (25), while the second peripheral portion (16) of said first external sheet (19) has an end bent over said second longitudinal rib (25) in order to form a second gripping loop (26), and in that at least one of either said first coupling edge (13a) and said second coupling edge (13b) comprises a longitudinal seating (27) in which said first gripping loop (23) and said second gripping loop (26) are housed, in a coupled condition of said modular panels (13), characterized in that said first longitudinal rib (22) is formed on said first coupling edge (13a) in a substantially misaligned position with respect to the position where said second longitudinal rib (25) is formed on said second coupling edge (13b), so that, in a coupled condition of said modular panels (13), said first gripping loop (23) does not interfere with said second gripping loop (26) and so that said ribs (22, 25) and said loops (23, 26) form together a labyrinth seal in said seating (27).
Module as in claim 1, characterized in that said first coupling edge (13a) defines a male part of said connection joint (17), while said second coupling edge (13b) defines a female part of said connection joint (17).
Module as in claim 1, characterized in that said first coupling edge (13a) defines a female part of said connection joint (17), while said second coupling edge (13b) defines a male part of said connection joint (17).
Module as in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said longitudinal seating (27) is achieved on said female part of said connection joint (17).
Module as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first external sheet (19) and said second external sheet (20) comprise respective first inclined walls (31) made in correspondence with said first coupling edge (13a) so as to define respective first stiffening semi-ribs, and respective second inclined walls (32) made in correspondence with said second coupling edge (13b) so as to define second stiffening semi-ribs, so that in a coupled condition of said modular panels (13), said first stiffening semi-ribs and said second stiffening semi-ribs define respective lateral stiffening ribs (18) in correspondence with said connection joint (17).
Module as in claim 5, characterized in that at least one of either said first coupling edge (13a) and said second coupling edge (13b) is shaped so as to have respective lateral covering walls (29, 30) able to define, in the assembled condition of said modular panels (13), respective bottom walls of said stiffening ribs (18).