GB2399101A

GB2399101A - A sound barrier vacuum panel comprising domed outer walls

Info

Publication number: GB2399101A
Application number: GB0403872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Rickards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-04
Filing date: 2004-02-23
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-23
Also published as: GB0403872D0; GB2399101B; GB0304867D0

Abstract

A vacuum panel comprises domed outer walls spaced apart at their periphery by a lateral strip (10) and hermetically sealed. The space between the walls is evacuated to less than 100 Pa. The walls may comprise two convex walls (6, 7) or one concave (12, 16) and one convex wall (11, 15). In the second case there may be an additional spacer (17) located centrally between the two walls.

Description

A sound barrier vacuum panel That sound cannot travel through a perfect

vacuum is generally well known and the construction of a panel as shown in Figl, comprising upper I and lower panes 2 separated by a lateral strip 3 enclosing such a vacuum would appear to be an effective sound barrier. A perfect vacuum is unattainable the term vacuum and evacuated used herein refers to a gaseous pressure less than 100 Pa.

The lateral strip 3 must be sufficiently strong and therefore thick enough, to withstand the compression generated by atmospheric pressure acting on the outside of the evacuated panel and must also be wide enough to prevent the upper and lower panes from making contact as the atmospheric pressure flexes them inwardly towards each other.

Both these factors are exacerbated when the panels are made larger as the increased area causes an increase in the compression and requires an increase in the thickness of the lateral strip as well as an increase in its width demanded by the greater inward flexing of the upper and lower panes.

Practically all the sound transmitted by the panel passes through the lateral strip and consequently its thickness and width are main factors governing the efficiency of a vacuum panel as a sound barrier, transmission being principally dependent on the area of contact between the strip and the upper and lower panes.

Measurements show that the compression strength of the lateral strip is reduced by making it wider but increased by making it thicker. By making the lateral strip narrower and therefore thinner the area of contact it makes with the upper and lower plates is reduced and the sound transmitted through that contact area is reduced.

According to the present invention the upper and lower panes of the vacuum panel are sufficiently domed to withstand atmospheric pressure, as illustrated in Fig 2, thus permitting a much narrower 8 and consequently much thinner 91ateral strip 10 to provide a substantial reduction of the transmitted sound.

A variation of this invention is to have one pane 1 1 domed and the other 12 flexed inwardly, as illustrated in Fig 3. This arrangement still retains the benefit of a narrow 13 and much thinner 14 lateral strip and consequent reduction of the transmitted sound.

When the domed pane of a vacuum panel 15 is designed as to closely balance the atmospheric pressure acting on it, Fig 4, then any transient increase in that pressure, caused by an explosion or a thunder clap for instance, could make the domed shape 15 invert inwardly to make permanent contact with the other pane 16 and so allow sound to pass freely. To avoid this situation a projection 17, of sufficient height and strength as to prevent inversion during that transient high pressure, can be placed on either, or both, of the panes, shown here on the lower pane 16.

Claims

1. An evacuated panel comprising domed upper and lower panes, as described herein with reference to Fig. 2, separated by a lateral strip and hermetically enclosing a space evacuated to less than 100 Pa.

2. A panel as described in Claim 1 in which one of the panes is domed whilst the other is inwardly flexed as described herein with reference to Fig. 3.

3. A panel as described in Claim I or Claim 2 in which there is incorporated on the inside of either pane, or both, a projection of sufficient height and strength to prevent the domed pane from inverting inwardly during transient high pressure pulses.

3. A panel as described in Claim 2 in which there is incorporated on the inside of either pane, or both, a projection of sufficient height and strength to prevent the domed pane from inverting inwardly during transient high pressure pulses.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An evacuated panel comprising domed upper and lower panes, as described herein with reference to Fig. 25 separated frorr, each other by a lateral strip, indicated as item 10 of Fig. 2, placed perpendicularly to the edges of the upper and lower panes and hermetically enclosing a space evacuated to less than 100 Pa.

2. A panel as described in Claim 1 in which one ofthe panes is domed whilst the other is inwardly flexed as described herein with reference to Fig. 3.