GB2504811A - Sound insulating indoor partition including air trapping cells - Google Patents

Abstract

The preferred panel comprises an outer cover of steel 8, a membrane 6, a layer of rock-wool 4, a honeycomb board 2 with hexagonal cells , another layer of rock-wool and an inner cover of steel. The panel might also include aesthetic finish layers 14. The panels are used for acoustic insulation of walls 20f, ceilings 20f or the corners 20c between them. The panels may form part of a modular system or a whole partition.

Description

ndoor Fardtions and Partffioninc System The present invention relates to providing partitions within a room.

S A room may be considered as any endosed indoor space created by the was and ceihng of a buHding (aflowing for openings such as doors and windows). However, often the original, intrinsic or architecturafly defined rooms of a buUding do not provide sufficient degrees of partitioning within the building. In this case it may be desired to further dMde the room into smaller areas, Conventionally when it is desired to divide up an office or other room, this is done using flat, vertical partitions. For example these may be used to create tubicles" within an office. However, such partitions typically have limited sound insulating quaUties. is

According to one aspect of the present invention there may be provided at east a portion of a room partition comprising a sound insulating core, the sound insulating core comprising at least a first layer forming a layer of air-trapping cSs, In embodiments, the sound insulating core may further comprise a membrane of a substantially higher weight per unit area (in the plane of the partition) than the first layer. The membrane may have a substantially higher density than the first layer.

The membrane may be substantially thinner than the first layer.

In embodiments the layer of air-trapping cells may take the form a honeycomb. In embodiments the honeycomb may be a hexagonal honeycomb. In embodiments the first layer may comprise honeycomb board.

In embodiments the sound insulating core may comprise a second layer disposed between the first layer and the membrane, the second layer comprising a sound insulating material, In embodiments the first layer may be adjacent the second layer. In embodiments the membrane may be adjacent the second layer.

In embodiments the second layer may comprise a wool, In embodiments the second layer may comphse rock wooL In embodiments the sound insulating core may comprise a third layer, the first s layer being thsposed beeen the second and third layer, and the third layer comprising a soundInsulating materiaL In embodiments the first layer may be adjacent the third layer.

In embodiments the third layer may comprise a wooL In embodiments the third layer may comprise rock wooL In embodiments the room partition portion may comprise at east one cover layer disposed over one or both sides of the sound insulating core. In embodiments the cover layer may be disposed over the membrane and/or the third layer. In embodiments one such cover layer may be adjacent the membrane. In embodiments one such cover layer may be adjacent the third layer.

In embodiments the one or more cover layers may comprise steeL in embodiments the layers may comprise the following materials and thicknesses.

Outer cover layer: 07mm steel, Membrane: 3mm sound membrane, Second layer: 30mm 100 cubic KG insulation wool, First layer: 35mm honeycomb board, Third layer: 30mm 100 cubic KG insulation wool, and/or Inner cover layer: 0,7mm ste& In embodiments the portion may be a modular portion of a modular room partition system in embodiments the modular portions may be attachable to one another by means of a connecter formed at least partially from one or more edges of the cover layer.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a room-parfition having partiUon waHs in accordance with any of the above features, In embodiments the room partition may be formed of a modular porfion in accordance with any of the above features, or may comprise a on&piece unit s having a single continuous waD.

The room partiflon may be an endosed room partition. The room partition may comphse a ceiling other than the ceiling of the room in which it is to be instaDed.

The ceiling may comprise portions of room partiflon in accordance with any of the above features. The ceihng portions may be modules of a room partition system.

In embodiments the membrane is on the outer side of the enclosed room partition, relative to the first layer.

is According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular portion of a room partitioning system, the modular portion being a corner portion comprising a sound insulating layer that is continuous around the comer.

The corner portion may comprise a corner between two walls, The corner portion may comprise a corner beeen a waD and a ceihng. Accordingly at least one of the modular corner portions may comprise a wall and ceiling region.

In embodiments any of the above modular portions may comprise any of the soundproofing features above.

According to another aspect of the invention, there may be provided a kit of parts for forming a room partition, the kit comprising a plurality of modular portions in accordance with any of the above features.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of insulating against sound, comprising: providing at least a portion of a room partition compnsing at least a sound insulating core, trapping air in a layer of cells formed in a first layer of the sound insulating core, and using the air trapped in the ceDs to attenuate the passage of sound waves through said core.

In embodiments, the method may further comprise use of a membrane and/or second layer to diminish the sound in accordance with any of the above features.

s For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be put into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic &de cross section through a portion of room partition, Figure 2 is a schematic top-down cross-section through a modular room partition portion, Figure 3 is a schematic top-down cross-section through another modular portion of a room partition, Figure 4a is a schematic top-down cross-section through modular portions of a room partition system, Figure 4b is a schematic top-down cross-section through modular portions of another room partition system, Figure 4c is a schematic top-down cross-section through modular portions of another room partition system, Figure 5 is a schematic iustration of a room parUtion built from modular partifion portions, Figure 6 is an exploded schematic illustration of layers of a pordon of room partition, Figure 7 is another schematic illustration of a room partition built from modular partition portions, and Figure is a schematic illustraflon of a one-piece room paftUon unit.

In accordance with one exempla' embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 shows a cross section through a portion of partition wa (viewed side on, length s ways through the wafl). The portion comprises a sound-proofing core 10 encased by cover or casing layers 8a and Sb. The core comprises a layer of air-trapping cells 2, preferably sandwiched between two further sound-insulating ayers 4a and 4b, In particularly advantageous embodiments the sound-proof core 10 preferably also comprises another sound-proof layer in the fomi of a sound membrane 6. In

S LI

The layers are preferably adjacent one another (though the possibUity of other layers is not excluded).

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 (top-down cross-section), this structure can be used is to form both flat or straight panels 20f or curved panels 20f, eg. for forming corners.

Preferably the pan&s are modu ar in nature, Le. muftiple such panels share a compatible connector system.

The corner portion may be between two vertical vaHs, and/or between a vertical wail and a horizontal ceUing. In such cases the modular portion 20 thus comprises two wall portions and/or a waU portion and a ceiling portion (and the corner therebetween).

In the case where the partition sectbn turns a corner, the core is preferably conthiuous around the corner. It is one advantageous property of the sound-proof core disclosed herein that it is particularly suited to forming continuous corner sections, In the modular case. the corner modules preferably have this property.

A corner module or other portion may even comprise a corner between all three of two walls and a ceiling, with a continuous core 10 therebetween.

A layer in this description refers to a layer in the plane of the parUhon waU, In the case where the parbtion curves, the layer curves with the partition (Le. foUowng the tangential plane), S The layer of aft4rapping cells 2 preferably takes the form of a twodimen&onal pattern in the plane of the layer.

Referring to Figure 6, these ceUs may be defined by a pluraHty of slats 3 in a dftection perpendicular to the plane of the layer, and aft pockets 5 formed between the slats 3.

Preferably the layer of air-trapping ceUs 2 takes the form of a honeycomb comprising a pattern of tess&lating polygon cells hi the plane of the layer. Most preferably the ayer comprises a hexagonal honeycomb. The size of the cells is preferably of the order of tens of mm, for example in the range 10mm to 50mm across at the widest point in the plane of the layer. One example is about 30mm, e.g, in the hexagonal case 30mm between oppo&ng edges of a hexagonal cell.

The membrane $ preferably comprises a heavy density mineral materiaL In the case where such an arrangement is used to form an enclosed partition (a room within a room") the membrane is preferably situated further toward the outer side compared to the layer 2 of air-trapping cells. So in Figure 1, the layers labeHed (a) are preferably on the external side of the enclosed partition relative to the layers labelled (b), those behig towards the internal side of the enclosure.

The air gaps trapped in the honeycomb layer (or other such cells) are particularly effective in attenuating sound. In the preferred arrangement, the effect is improved by using layers of different weights (achieved by different density materials and/or different thicknesses). Pafficurly, the membrane S is a different weight (per unit area) to the honeycomb layer 2 (or other such layer or air-trapping cells). Hence the core 10 has an asymmetric weight or density profHe. Using materials of different weights has a greater tendency to confine or break up the sound travelling through the core 10.

The additional sound-proofing layers 4a and 4b may comprise a wool type material, most preferably rock wool. The cover or casing materials 8 may comprise steel.

In example embodiments the layers are preferably arranged in the order and with materials and thickness as follows.

Outer cover layer (Ba): 0.7mm steel Membrane (6): 3mm high density sound membrane Outer additional sound-insulating layer (4a): 30mm 100 cubIc KG insulation wool Honeycomb layer (2): 35mm lIghtweight honeycomb board Inner additional sound-Insulating layer (4b): 30mm 100 cubIc KG insulation wool Inner cover layer (8b): 0.7mm steel.

This gives a total thickness of about 100mm.

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c give another schematic illustration of some module partition portions (top-down cross-section) using the above sound-proofing core 10. In the modular system of figures 4a and 4b, each modular partition portion (i.e. each panel) comprises a male connector at one edge and a female connector at another edge. The connectors are preferably formed in the casing material 8. In Figure 4a the core runs through most of the modular portion 20 but stops shod of a male or female connector. In Figure 4b the core 10 runs some way into the protrusion of the male connector to improve sound insulation.

However, an even more preferred arrangement is shown in Figure 4c. Here, the casing material 8 does not encase joining edges of each modular partition portion (I.e. panel). Thus the layer structure of the sound-proof core 10 is exposed at the joining edges, and when these edges abut with one another the layers 2, 4, 6 abut with their respective counterpart in the adjoining panel. This improves sound proofing as the layers of the sound-proof core 10 run relatively uninterrupted between joins, whereas In examples such as Figures 4a and 4b where steel-to- steel join (or such like) would provide a path for sound to travel through -effectively a "weak-point" or "chink" in the sound-proofing. In Figure 4c the modular a porUons may instead connect by connectors 12 such as cUps, which may be formed at the edges of the casing layers 8.

The examps of Figures 4a-4c are not limiting. Other join proffles are ako s possible.

One or more optional finish ayers 14 may also be provided on the exterior of the casing layer(s) 8. These provide an aesthetic finish. However, they may also be chosen for further soundnsulating qualities.

As now discussed in r&ation to Figures 5 to 8, the above soundproot1ng technology is preferably used to create enclosures such as booths (or "pods") or a room within a room". Note that being an endosure does not exclude openings such as windows and doors, is Figures 5J show a room partition forming an enclosure 30, or room within a room'. The enclosed room partition 30 is formed of modular panels of the kind described by way of example above, both straight 20f and curved 20c, As shown in Figure 8, an alternative is a free standing "minkoom" 50, or "pod" (e.g. a booth).This may comprise a single continuous wafl having a single continuous soundproof core 0 running at! the way through it. In this sense the room or pod' may be considered a onepiece unit (allowing for fittings etc.).

In either case, whether a modular enclosure or unit freestanding pod, unlike a conventional cubical the room partition enclosure 30 or 50 preferably comprises utilities such as lighting, power, and/or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning).

The room partition enclosure 30 or 50 may comprise one or more windows or doors 22. The room partition enclosure 30 or 50 may comprises various fillings or furniture such as chairs 24, tables 28, carpet 46, lamp(s) or lighting 38, an air purifier 32, power points and/or computer access points such as USB points 58, a screen or monitor 48, etc. The enclosure 30 or 50 may also comprise facWUes such as video conferencing.

The foflowing is an example specWication.

Product name: Vspace High level concept: acoustic wall and ceiUng system Potential applications: Free-standing rooms within commercial interiors Vpod family ties: Vcube, V3, VS and existing Vspace Technology to be integrated: LighUng, power and HVAC USP: pre-finished quick assembly wall and ceffing system / composite panel with minimum dB rating 44dB Product concept: Vspace is a pre-finished partition/wall and ceiling system mainly for commercial interior envü-onments such as office, meeting room, video, or telepresence rooms. The wall/ceiling panel make-up is a composite made up of acoustic materials and steel facings with a simple fixing method for fast installation. The panels should be in modular sizes to allow flexibility.

Consideration to door sets, window sets, light fitting, power and HVAC will be required as these elements will form part of the system accessories, In addition to these accessories, a range of decorative and acoustic wall pan&s. shelving systems and general accessories will be available.

Preferred/specified materials: i) Steel/aluminium faced on both sides with pre-finished coating ii) Rockwool (or similar) internal structure with additional surface material or air-gap to achieve required acoustic requirements Geographical compliance and test certification requirements: UK & Europe, USA, India, APAC. Australasia.

Target dimensions: Modular panels approx. 100mm deep (h x w mm): SoUd wafl panS: 2450mm x 1200 straight 2450mm x 1000 straight 2450mm x 800 straight s 2450mm x 600 straight 2450mm x 3001300 (radius corner) 2450mm x 300mm corner Double glazed modues: iG 2450mm x 1000 strght 2450mm x 600 straight Distdbution methods: Road freight, afr freight, shipping freight.

is Riva products: demountable partitioning and office system screening.

Testing certification: CE/UL where appcable. Materials to class 0 or I to meet global fire requrements for commercial interiors.

It wUl be appreciated that the above embodiments have been described only by way of example. The present invention is not limited by the described embodiments. 1]. Ckims