GB2310445A

GB2310445A - Y-shaped soundproof wall

Info

Publication number: GB2310445A
Application number: GB9703639A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Shima; Toshiyuki Watanabe; Kimio Shigehara
Original assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Current assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Priority date: 1996-02-23
Filing date: 1997-02-21
Publication date: 1997-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-21
Also published as: GB9703639D0; JPH09228324A; GB2310445B

Abstract

A Y-shaped soundproof wall comprising a vertical straight main wall (1) rising upward from the ground, a first branch wall (3) provided on the top of the main wall (1) and tiltable toward a sound source, and a second branch wall (4) also provided on the top of the main wall (1) and tiltable away from the sound source. In the soundproof wall, the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls (3,4) are fixed to a mount frame (11) with hinges (5) in such a manner that they can be opened and closed, the hinges (5) of the first and second branch walls (3,4) in closed positions are fixed to the top end of the main wall (1), and each of the first and second branch walls (3,4) in opened or tilted position is held by coupling members (7,8) at the predetermined tilt angle.

Description

Soundproof Wall and Method of Installing Same The present invention relates to a soundproof wall to attenuate undesired sound or noise coming from roads and highways, railways, factories, etc., and more particularly to an improved soundproof wall structure and method of installing the soundproof wall.

Conventionally, to attenuate noises from roads and highways, railways, factories, etc., various'types of soundproof walls are prevalently used to block the noises from coming directly from such noise sources. This is because the soundproof structures of wall types do not cost much and work effectively as compared with various other soundproof modalities. Among the soundproof walls.

upright or vertical straight soundproof walls are used most widely because they show a high effect of noise control for their relatively low costs and are widely applicable for attenuation of noises from various sources. For a higher effect of sound attenuation, the vertical straight soundproof walls have to be taller. However, such taller ones are correspondingly more expensive(the taller the wall, the greater construction costs they need). In addition, the taller walls have many other disadvantages such as interception of sunlight, obstruction of view(shut-off of prospect), oppressive sensation or claustrophobia. ill ventilation, radio interference or jamning, turbulent flow, reduced wind resistance, etc.

For an improved sound attenuation, it has been proposed to use various other types of soundproof walls such as bent-top types of which the wall top portion is bent toward the sound source and curved-top types of which the wall top portion is curved toward the sound source, in case using a vertical straight soundproof wall only will not be a satisfactory solution to the noise-control problem. However, it has also been known that when these bent or curved top types of soundproof walls are used, the above-mentioned problems are more serious.

The recent drastic increase of the traffic and higher speed of the vehicles have resulted in serious environmental noise problem Since no other effective noise control solutions have been available, the above-mentioned bent-top and curved-top types of soundproof walls are used in addition to the vertical straight soundproof walls of 5 m. 7 m and 10 m in height. However, the abovementioned environmental problems remain unsolved.

The above conventional soundproof walls can only provide a sound attenuation improved for an increased wall height. Generally. at a place(about 20 meters) separate from the soundproof wall, an increase by 1 m in height of the soundproof wall only results in a sound attenuation of about 1 dB.

To attain a higher effect of sound attenuation without increasing the height of soundproof wall, a Y-shaped soundproof wall structure has been proposed which has branch walls opened upward. The sound attenuation by the Yshaped soundproof wall was evaluated by measuring the noise level at a place behind the soundproof wall in relation to the noise source. Also a vertical straight soundproof wall as tall as the Y-shaped soundproof wall was rather greater in effect of sound attenuation than the vertical straight soundproof wall.

The Y-shaped soundproof wall can attenuate sound effectively with the height thereof not increased. Because of the upward-open branch-wall structure mounted on a upright straight main wall. however, this soundproof wall is not easy to install. Further. in case of a Y-shaped soundproof wall structure having on-site mountable type upward-open branch walls. namely, if the branch walls are not previously mounted on the vertical straight main wall at a factory but are to be mounted at site. they need a wide space for storage and transport.

which leads to greater costs of the soundproof wall.

The present invention has an object to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing an improved Y-shaped soundproof wall structure not requesting a wide space for storage and transport but able to install with reduced cost, and an improved method of installing the soundproof wall.

The above object can be accomplished by providing a soundproof wall comprising. according to the present invention. a vertical straight main wall rising upward from the ground. a first branch wall provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable toward a sound source. and a second branch wall also provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable away from the sound source, the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls being fixed to a mount frame with hinges in such a manner that they can be opened and closed, the hinges of the first and second branch walls in closed position being fixed to the top end of the main wall. each of the first and second branch walls in opened position being held by coupling members at predetermined tilt angles.

Also the above object can be accomplished by providing a method of installing the soundproof wall composed of a vertical straight main wall rising upward from the ground. a first branch wall provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable toward a sound source, and a second branch wall also provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable away from the sound source. comprising the steps of erecting support columns made each of an H section at predetermined intervals on the ground and fixing wall members between the support columns to form the main wall. bridging the support columns by a mount frame extending over the top end of the top one of the wall members. fixing the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls to the mount frame with hinges. tilting the first and second branch walls to predetermined angles and holding, at the tilt angles. both the branch walls each with coupling members.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the ensuing description made, by way of example, of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the soundproof wall according to the present invention, showing the upper end of the wall structure; FIG. 2 is a side elevation, enlarged in scale, of the bottom end of branch walls. in closed position. of the soundproof wall; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the soundproof wall; FIG. 4 is a front view, from a sound source, of the soundproof wall; FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the soundproof wall, showing the installation of the branch walls at the bottom ends thereof toa mount frame. the branch walls being in closed position; FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the soundproof wall, showing the front one, in open position. of the branch walls that is to face a sound source;; FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the soundproof wall, showing the connection of the front one of the branch walls to support column by a coupling member and the installation of a further branch wall to the coupling member; FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the soundproof wall with both the front and rear branch walls being opened; and FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a variant of the soundproof in FIG. 1, in which the support column is modified.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the soundproof wall according to the present invention. comprising a main wall 1. support columns 2 forming the main wall 1.

first branch wall 3 tiltable toward a sound source and a second branch wall 4 tiltable away from the sound source. the first and second branch walls 3 and 4 being installed to the support columns The first and second branch walls 3 and 4 are fixed to a mount frame 11 with hinges 5 in such a manner that they can be opened and closed. The mount frame 11 is installed to the top end of the main wall 1. Coupling members 7 and 8 are provided to hold both the first and second branch walls 3 and 4 opened to predetermined tilt angles. The coupling members 7 and 8 are fixed at one end thereof to the first and second branch walls 3 and 4, respectively and at the other end to the mount frame 11. In the illustrated embodiment, safety stoppers 6 made of a wire rope are provided between the mount frame 11 and both the branch walls 3 and 4, respectively.The coupling members 7 and 8 have third and fourth branch walls 9 and 10 provided thereon. respectively.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation. enlarged in scale, of the bottom end of the first and second branch walls 3 and 4 in closed position. The hinge 5 are secured to the mount frame 11 extended between the support columns 2. The branch walls 3 and 4 are provided at the bottom end thereof each with an abutment 12 which is made of rubber and abut on the mount frame 11 when the branch walls 3 and 4 are opened.

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the assembled soundproof wall. As shown, the mount frame 11 is installed between the support columns 2, the hinges 5 at the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls 3 and 4 are fixed to the mount frame 11, and a cleat 13 is provided in the intermediate position between the support columns 2. Also, a sound insulation panel 14 is fixed with a joint 15 between the neighboring first branch walls 2, and another sound insulation panel 16 is fixed with a joint 16 between the neighboring second branch walls 4.

FIG. 4 is a front view from the sound source. As shown. wall members 18 are fixed between the neighboring support columns 2 made of H section to form the main wall 1. The first and second branch walls 3 and 4 are provided on the top of the main wall 1.

FIGS. 5 through 8 show the positions of the branch walls 3 and 4 ranging from their closed position to the installed position of the top of the main wall 1. In FIG. 5, the first and second branch walls 3 and 4 are in closed position and the third and fourth branch walls 9 and 10 are folded inside the first and second branch walls 3 and 4. In this position. the coupling members 7 and 8, sound insulation panels 14 and 16, and joints 15 and 17 are put inside the branch walls 3 and 4 for storage and transport of the soundproof wall. Thus.

the branch walls require no large space, which leads to reduced costs for storage and transport. In FIG. 6, the first branch wall 3 is opened toward the sound source and the coupling member 7 is installed between the support column 2 and branch wall 3. In this condition, the third branch wall 9 is taken from on the branch wall 3 and installed to the coupling member 7. FIG. 7 shows the branch wall 3 and third branch wall 9 fixed in place at the front side of the soundproof wall facing the sound source. FIG. 8 shows the second branch wall wall 4 is set opened in an opposite place to the sound source. The fourth branch wall 10 is taken from on the second branch wall 4 and installed to the coupling member 8. The second branch wall 4 and fourth branch wall 10 are provided in place at the rear side of the soundproof wall.

FIG. 9 shows a variant of the embodiment of the soundproof wall according to the present invention. in which the support column 2 is slightly tilted or curved toward the sound source.

The wall member 18 is a panel made of a combination of rock wool. grass wool or the like and iron sheet, aluminium sheet or the like. The branch walls 3 and 4 have attached thereon each a sound absorbing material(shown as crosshatched in FIG. 2.). The sound absorbing material may be a one selected from among formed fiber block. rock wool, grass wool, ceramic, foamed concrete, etc.

For fixing the sound absorbing material, bolt. pin adhesive. porous panel. wire mesh or the like is selectively used depending upon the nature of the sound absorbing material. A similar sound absorbing material may be used on the third and fourth branch walls 9 and 10. and the main wall 1.

A vertical straight soundproof wall comprising only the main wall 1 of 2.5 m in height and having the third and fourth branch walls 9 and 10 not provided thereon. a Y-shaped soundproof wall of 2.5 m in height and having two branch walls 3 and 4 provided thereon. and a soundproof wall being a Y-shaped soundproof wall structure having the third and fourth branch walls 9 and 10 additionally provided thereon, were prepared along a road for evaluation of the effect of sound attenuation of the soundproof walls. In this experiment. a speaker was placed in a position on a road 4.5 m off each of the soundproof walls to generate each of sounds of 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 '(Hz and 4 kHz in octave band. A microphone was placed behind the soundproof wall.It was positioned 20 m off the edge of the road and 1.2 m above the ground to measure the noise coming over each soundproof wall from the sound source. The Y-shaped soundproof wall showed sound attenuation by 1.3.4.4 and 4dB(for the octave-band sounds, respectively) larger than those by the vertical straight soundproof wall. The Y-shaped soundproof wall having further the third and fourth branch walls 9 and 10 thereon showed sound attenuation by 2.5.6.6 and 6 dB larger than those by the vertical straight soundproof wall The soundproof walls having the sound absorbing material used thereon provided higher effects of sound attenuation.

As having been described in the foregoing, since the soundproof wall according to the present invention comprise a vertical straight main wall rising upward from the ground. a first branch wall provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable toward a sound source. and a second branch wall also provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable toward a sound source, and a second branch wall also provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable away from the sound source; the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls being fixed to a mount frame with hinges in such a manner that they can be opened and closed: the hinges of the first and second branch walls in closed position being fixed to the top end of the main wall: and each of the first and second branch walls in opened or tilted position being held by coupling members at predetermined tilt angles. the branch walls can be closed before installed at site, which thus need no wide space for storage and transport and can be easily stored and transported. Therefore, the storage and transport do not cost much.

Also, the soundproof wall according to the present invention can be installed by following the steps of erecting support columns made each of an H section at predetermined intervals on the ground and fixing wall members between the support columns to form the main wall: bridging the support columns by a mount frame extending over the top end of the top one of the wall members: fixing the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls to the mount frame with hinges: tilting the first and second branch walls to predetermined angles: and holding, at the tilt angles. both the branch walls each with coupling members.

Therefore. the components of the soundproof wall according to the present invention need no wide space for storage and transport. and thus low costs can be attained for the storage and transport. Also the soundproof wall according to the present invention can be easily installed.

Claims

Claims:

1. A soundproof wall comprising a vertical straight main wall rising upward from the ground, a first branch wall provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable toward a sound source, and a second branch wall also provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable away from the sound source, the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls being fixed to a mount frame with hinges in such a manner that they can be opened and closed; the hinges of the first and second branch walls in closed position being fixed to the top end of the main wall; and each of the first and second branch walls in opened or tilted position being held by coupling members at predetermined tilt angles.

2. A soundproof wall as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third branch wall or walls installed at the base end thereof to either or both of the first and second branch walls.

3. A method of installing a soundproof wall composed of a vertical straight main wall rising upward from the ground, a first branch wall provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable toward a sound source, and a second branch wall also provided on the top of the main wall and tiltable away from the sound source, comprising the steps of: erecting support columns made each of an H section at predetermined intervals on the ground and fixing wall members between the support columns to form the main wall; bridging the support columns by a mount frame extending over the top end of the top one of the wall members; fixing the bottom ends of the first and second branch walls to the mount frame with hinges; tilting the first and second branch walls to predetermined angles; and holding, at the tilt angles, both the branch walls each with coupling members.

4. A soundproof wall substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

5. A method of installing a soundproof wall, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.