GB2280206A

GB2280206A - Acoustic enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2280206A
Application number: GB9309082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Harold George Ellison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-01
Filing date: 1993-05-01
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-01
Also published as: GB9309082D0; GB2280206B

Abstract

An acoustic enclosure comprises a framework defined by vertical and horizontal members (14). The enclosure (10) includes side and end walls respectively and a roof formed by flanged acoustic panels which are attached to the members (14) by strips (40) which can be covered by joint strips (44). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ACOUSTIC ENCLOSURES The present invention relates to acoustic enclosures. Such enclosures are commonly used to house, for example, heating and ventilating equipment, machinery and other noise generating sources.

The provision of acoustic enclosures enables noise generating sources to be located conveniently for the purpose of the equipment contained within the enclosure, but without causing disturbance due to noise to the local environment.

Acoustic enclosures in general comprise walls and roofs which include sound absorbent material, and include ventilating inlets and outlets.

A known form of construction comprises a framework to which inner and outer skins are attached in order to define the walls and roofs and sound absorbent e material is located between the inner and outer skins.

The present invention seeks to provide a construction for an acoustic enclosure comprising a framework in which the walls and roofs are provided by subassemblies of panels including sound absorbent material, the panels being secured to the framework.

A known form of ventilation for acoustic enclosures comprises a low level inlet in a wall of the enclosure and a high level outlet placed either in another wall of the enclosure or at one location in the roof of the enclosure. In this type of arrangement of a ventilation there tends to be a temperature gradient within the enclosure and the temperature may rise at locations within the enclosure to unacceptable levels.

The present invention seeks to provide a ventilation arrangement in which the high level outlet is evenly distributed in the enclosure.

According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided an acoustic enclosure comprising a framework to which pre-assembled panels including sound absorbent material are secured to the framework.

The panels can comprise a pair of flanges on opposed edges of the panels and the panels being attached to the framework by means of engagement in a slot provided on members of the framework.

The slot can be provided by a strip secured to the members of the framework, the panel engaging slots being defined between the strip and the members of the framework.

The strip can be secured to the framework by, for example, nails.

The strip can be enclosed by a panel joint cover.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an acoustic enclosure including a low level ventilating inlet in a wall of the enclosure and a high level outlet extending along the length of the enclosure.

The high level outlet can be provided in the ridge of the roof of an acoustic enclosure.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a view of one form of acoustic enclosure according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic section through one form of acoustic panel for use with the acoustic enclosure as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a detailed section of the panel in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a section showing the attachment of the panel shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to a member of the framework of the acoustic enclosure shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective partial view of the ridge of the roof of the acoustic enclosure shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a section on line A-A in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings an acoustic enclosure 10 comprises a framework 12 defined by vertical and horizontal members 14 which are secured together by welding or any other appropriate means, the framework being attached to a base 16.

The side and end walls 18 and 20 respectively and roof 22 are formed by acoustic panels 22 which are attached to the members 14.

A low level ventilation inlet 24 is provided in one end wall 18 and the roof 20 has a fully vented acoustic ridge 26 which will be described in more detail below.

The acoustic enclosure 10 in the example shown contains a boiler 28 having a fully attenuated insulated flue 30.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 each panel 22 comprises an enclosure 32 which is filled with sound absorbent material 34. The enclosure 32 has a perforated wall 32A, the inner surface of which is covered by a layer of glass fibre matting 32B.

Each panel 22 is provided with a pair of flanges 36 which comprise part of the enclosure 32.

The enclosure 32 is strengthened by the provision of stiffeners 38.

Referring in particular to Fig. 4 there is shown the arrangement for securing the panels 22 to the members 14 of the framework 12. A backing strip 40 which extends along the height of the members 14 is attached to the members 14 by means of nails driven through the backing strip and into the hollow members 14.

The nails are of the type manufactured and supplied by Hilti A.G. or similar.

The backing strip 40 and the member 14 define slots 42 into which the flanges 36 of the members 22 are located. Once a pair of adjacent panels 22 are located in adjacent slots 42 the backing strip is covered by a panel joint cover 44.

The backing strips 40 are secured in position on the hollow members 14 after the panels 22 are positioned in relation to the framework 12 so as to define the walls and roof of the acoustic enclosure. The provision of the cover 44 presents a neat finish to the assembly.

It will also be appreciated that the panels 22 can be pre-assembled ready for securing in position to the framework of the enclosure. Also if necessary the panels can be removed once the cover strip 44 has been taken from the backing strip 40.

Such an arrangement is in contrast to a common method of constructing the walls and roof in which the walls and roof are built up by using inner and outer skins attached to a framework and sound absorbent material being located between the skins. The assembly method of the present invention substantially reduces the time required to produce the walls and roof of the enclosure.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 which show in some detail the vented acoustic ridge 26 of the enclosure 10.

The ridge 10 comprises a framework 46 to which lower and upper roof panels (48, 50) are attached together with a section of WELD MESH (registered trade mark) material 52 all of which extend along the full length of the ridge are attached.

The lower roof panel 48 is perforated and is covered by a layer of glass fibre matting 54. The space between the upper roof panel 50 and the glass fibre matting is filled with sound absorbent material 56. Air leaving the acoustic enclosure 10 flows through two longitudinally extending openings 58 in the roof 20, through the openings in the WELDMESH sections 52 and out to atmosphere.

It will be appreciated that as the high level outlet extends throughout the length of the acoustic enclosure and is fully damped throughout its length, the distribution of outlet air will be substantially even, thereby reducing the possibility of any problematic hot spots within the acoustic enclosure.

Also the provision of a fully acoustic lined high level outlet results in an improved reduction of noise from the acoustic enclosure, relative to the provision of high level louvres mounted in the walls of the enclosure.

Claims

1. An acoustic enclosure comprising a framework to which pre assembled panels including sound absorbent material are secured to the framework.

2. An enclosure as claimed in claim 1 in which the panels comprise a pair of flanges on a opposed edges of the panels and the panels are attached to the framework by means of engagement in a slot provided on members of the framework.

3. An enclosure as claimed in claim 2 in which the slot is provided by a strip secured to the members of the framework, the panel engaging slots being defined between the strip and the members of the framework.

4. An enclosure as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the strip is secured to the framework by, for example, nails.

5. An enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3 or 4 in which the strip is enclosed by a panel joint cover.

6. An enclosure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a low level ventilating inlet in a wall of the enclosure and a high level outlet extending along the length of the enclosure.

7. An enclosure as claimed in claim 6 in which the high level outlet is provided in the ridge of the roof of the enclosure.

8. An acoustic enclosure constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.