JP5833907B2 - Audio insulator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an insulator used for speakers, amplifiers, CD players, analog players, and the like, which are audio devices.

  In the audio field, the pursuit of sounds that are as close as possible to the original sound has been made in the audio components such as amplifiers, speakers, CD players, and cables. After that, it shifted from the analog to digital era, and various innovative technologies were introduced, and it can be said that the component technology has advanced to the limit. However, it is known that these components are not reproducible in the installation environment of audio equipment (listening room floor rigidity, wall material, shape, etc.).

  In the case of an amplifier, a “beat” occurs due to the AC basic signal of the power transformer and its harmonic components. In the case of a CD player, the motor that rotates the disk is the vibration source. In the case of a speaker, the reaction force of the voice coil that drives the cone vibrates the speaker enclosure (box) body. This vibration is transmitted to the installation surface where the speakers are installed, and excites the complex natural vibration mode of the entire room including the installation surface.

  On the other hand, the disturbance vibration superimposed on the original sound in a complicated manner causes the speaker body to vibrate again. A hypothesis has been proposed that the intermodulation distortion (subharmonics) generated at this time deteriorates the sound quality of audio equipment. At the same time, it seems that there is no doubt that vibrations due to mutual interference between the audio equipment and the installation surface are also important factors that lower the quality of the reproduced sound.

  From such an idea, there is an audio insulator that improves the sound quality of the audio device by blocking the vibration caused by the mutual interference between the audio device and the installation surface. The sound quality of audio equipment has been improved, and it has come to be used as a tuning means to adjust to the listener's favorite sound. Although it is well known that the sound quality changes due to the application of insulators, the mechanism that brings about the effect is not well understood theoretically, and it has been developed empirically and through trial and error. Many. There are the following two types that have been used as insulators in the past.

  (1) Floating type insulator: This type of insulator is intended to block (shut out) vibration between the installation surface and the audio device, and uses a buffer having low rigidity. Examples of the buffer include those using rubber block materials, those using spring coils, air floating boards containing air, those using the repulsive force of magnetic force, and those suspended by wire (Patent Document 2). . Currently, it is not mainstream because it is expensive or inconvenient to handle.

  (2) Insulator made of hard material: Another type of insulator uses a hard material, and most of them are currently of this type. In recent years, in place of the above-described buffer body, a hard material intended to effectively absorb the vibration generated by the audio equipment and release it to the outside, such as wood, resin, metal, ceramics, etc., and these A composite type with a multi-layer structure is devised and commercialized. The composite type is disclosed in (Patent Document 1).

In the case of a hard insulator, it is used as a playback sound tuning means using a character of a high-quality acoustic material. For example,
1. Metallic materials Brass: Bright and brilliant sound Copper: Solid and powerful Silver: Good core and quick rise and fall of gold Gold: Plump and glossy
2. Wood-based material African ebony: Hard but not exciting sound (used for musical instruments)
Striped ebony: softer than African ebony Cherry: soft and pure

JP-A-10-246284 JP2011-27249

  Currently, in the case of mainstream hard material insulators, high-frequency vibrations generated by audio equipment can be effectively absorbed and released to the outside by selecting a high-quality acoustic material. However, vibrations at low frequencies (for example, several tens of Hz or less) cannot be attenuated.

  For example, the installation surface of a private house where a speaker is installed has a distributed vibration mode that normally has an eigenvalue of 20 to 100 Hz. As described above, when the vibration of the speaker is transmitted to the installation surface, the complex natural vibration mode of the entire room including the installation surface is excited. The deterioration of sound quality caused by the mutual interference between the low-frequency installation surface vibration and the vibration of the speaker body is basically unavoidable with a hard material insulator. In addition, the hard material insulator has poor vibration isolation performance, and the sound quality improvement effect is small.

  On the other hand, the floating type insulator can block between the audio and the installation surface. However, in the case of the rubber block insulator described above, the sound is animated due to the excessive vibration suppression action due to the viscoelasticity of the rubber. Since the high frequency component to be applied is attenuated, there is a drawback that the outline of the sound becomes ambiguous and the sound quality is turbid.

  In the case of the spring method, the natural vibration and the multiple harmonic vibrations (surging) generated by the spring stiffness and the mass of the load are generated over a wide frequency range, so how to avoid the influence of this vibration on the sound. Is a big issue. Other types are complicated in structure, require skill in handling, are expensive, and are not common.

  The first object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is to provide an inexpensive and easy-to-handle floating audio insulator that eliminates the disadvantages of conventional floating insulators. The second object is to provide a floating audio insulator that is inexpensive and easy to handle, taking advantage of a hard material insulator.

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Claim 1 is a case where the elastic cylindrical member (2) is used as a main member of an audio insulator .
A lower cup (1) made of a cylindrical metal with a bottom opening and installed on the installation surface (11),
An elastic cylindrical member (2) stored upright on the lower cup (1);
Insulator for audio composed of a cylindrical metal upper cup (3) having a top surface (3a) that covers the elastic cylindrical member (2) and supports the audio device (10) at the lower surface opening ( B )
The elastic cylindrical member (2) is integrated with the cylindrical elastic member main body (2h), the coil spring (5) embedded in the elastic member main body (2h), and the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member main body (2h). The lower elastic outer casing (2a) (2b) and the upper elastic outer casing that touches the inner peripheral surface of the upper cup (3) that protrude from (2c) and
The side wall (3b) of the upper cup (3) is characterized by extending downward from a portion in contact with the upper outer casing (2c).

The elastic cylindrical member (2), which is the main member, can be placed under the audio device (10) alone, and the audio device (10) and the installation surface (11) with low frequency vibration in the audible range (f> 20Hz). ), The audio device (10) is not subjected to vibration from the installation surface (11), and conversely, the vibration generated from the audio device (10) is applied to the installation surface (11). Propagation is prevented. The vibration transmitted from the audio device (10) to the elastic member body (2h) is suppressed by the viscoelasticity of the elastic member body (2h), but the vibration is integrated with the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member body (2h). It is also transmitted to the elastic outer casing (2c) protruding in a projecting manner, causing the elastic outer casing (2c) to vibrate and alleviating excessive vibration suppression due to the viscoelasticity. And, by the moderate damping of this elastic cylindrical member (2) and the reverberation effect due to the vibration of the lower extension part (S) of the side wall (3b) of the upper cup (3), a positive influence on the reproduced sound is realized. I can do it.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that a plurality of elastic cylindrical members (2) housed in the upper and lower cups (1), (3) are arranged in parallel. In addition to being able to support (10), most of the elastic outer casings (2a) to (2c) are free, so free vibration of this part is secured and better playback sound is achieved. Realize.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a concave groove (2d) is formed on the entire circumference of at least one of the front and back sides of the base portion (2e) of the upper outer casing (2c). For example, the amplitude of the thick outer peripheral tip portion (2s) of the upper outer casing (2c) can be increased, and the excessive vibration suppression of the elastic cylindrical member (2) can be further alleviated.

Since the present invention is a floating type insulator, vibration transmission between the audio device (10) and the installation surface (11) can be sufficiently and sufficiently blocked, and the sound reproduction characteristics of the audio device (10) can be obtained. can be pulled out without damaging the degree certain, yet to be able to suppress excessive vibration which is a defect of Inshure data of floating type, since only lay down the audio device (10), handling is also simple is there.

It is a top view of the insulator for audios which shows Embodiment 1 (reference example) of the present invention. It is front sectional drawing of the insulator for audio | voices which shows Embodiment 1 (reference example) of this invention. It is front sectional drawing of the insulator for audio | voices which shows other Embodiment 1 (reference example) of this invention. It is a fragmentary front sectional view of the insulator for audio which shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a fragmentary front sectional view of the insulator for audios which shows Embodiment 3 of the present invention. It is a top view of the positioning plate used for the upper cup of FIG. It is a bottom view of the positioning plate used for the lower cup of FIG.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1 and 2 show an audio insulator (A) according to Embodiment 1 (reference example) of the present invention, and an elastic cylindrical member (2) is used. The main material of the elastic cylindrical member (2) is a high damping elastomer (that is, low-rebound rubber, urethane rubber or foam rubber). (2b) and (2c) are projected in three steps. A concave groove (2d) is formed on the entire circumference of the base (2e), if necessary, on either the front or back of the upper outer casing (2c), in which case the base (2e) It is thinner than the outer peripheral tip (2s).

  On the other hand, the lower outer casing (2a) (2b) has no concave groove (2d) and is formed to have the same thickness as a whole. Although not shown, of course, the lower outer casing (2a) (2b) can also be provided with a concave groove (2d), and the number of outer casing stages can be changed, but at least one stage is required. It is necessary, and it is also possible to form the concave groove (2d) on the entire circumference of the base (2e) of any outer casing (2a) to (2c) as necessary. Concentric concave steps (2j) (2k) are formed on the upper and lower end surfaces of the elastic member main body (2h). The periphery of the concave step (2k) on the upper end surface is a thin ring-shaped edge (2L).

  The high-damping elastomer is a known damping material that has excellent vibration absorption and internal damping properties against impact, hardly repels even when subjected to external force, and absorbs vibration energy and converts it into thermal energy.

  A coil spring (5) is embedded in the cylindrical elastic member main body (2h) over almost the entire length. The embedded state may be such that the end winding portion of the coil spring (5) is exposed from the upper and lower end surfaces of the elastic member main body (2h), or may be embedded so as not to be exposed as shown in the figure. When exposed, vibration from the audio device (10) is transmitted to the lower surface side through the coil spring (5), but acts in the same way as a gold tube and is released into the air.

  The coil spring (5) has a variety of wire diameters from thin to thick, and the optimum one is selected according to the weight or tuning of the audio device (10). Also, many types of windings are prepared, and an appropriate number is selected.

Thus, at least 3 or 4 (or 1 or 2) insulators (A) (reference example) are arranged on the installation surface (11), and the audio device (10) is placed thereon. The bottom surface of the audio device (10) is placed while crushing the thin ring-shaped edge (2L) around the concave step (2k). Depending on the weight of the audio device (10), the bottom surface of the audio device (10) may not contact or contact the step surface of the concave step (2k) (in some cases, the end of the coil spring (5)). There is also a case. At the same time, the elastic member body (2h) and the coil spring (5) bend due to the weight of the audio device (10), and stop at a balanced place. Most of the weight of the audio device (10) is handled by the coil spring (5).

  When sound is emitted in this state, vibration is transmitted from the audio device (10) to the elastic cylindrical member (2), but a significant part of it is consumed and damped by the elastic member main body (2h), and the installation surface ( 11) is not transmitted. On the other hand, a part of the transmitted vibration is transmitted to the outer casings (2a) to (2c) to vibrate the outer casings (2a) to (2c). As a result, excessive vibration suppression by the elastic member body (2h) is alleviated, and the following effects are given to sound quality. If a groove (2d) is provided in the outer casing (2a) and the outer peripheral tip (2s) is thicker than the base (2e), the outer casing (2a) will vibrate more and further improve sound quality. .

(Qualitative numerical comparison experiment)
It was found that when the elastic cylindrical member (2) , which is a reference example as an insulator, is applied to a speaker, the acoustic effect is slightly different depending on the mass of the speaker and the viscoelasticity of the insulator. The applied speaker is an established model for monitors. Insulators were placed at the four corners of the bottom of the speaker to support the speaker. As a comparative example, it was compared with a case where an insulator was not used. Below, 5 listeners who participated in the trial listening test scored out of 10 points.
A: When the insulator is not used B: When the insulator of the reference example is used
Evaluation item A B
High resolution 5.0 7.0
Depth 5.0 5.5
Atmosphere 5.0 5.0
Mid range 7.0 7.5
Natural 7.0 7.0
Transparency 5.0 8.0
Reality 5.0 8.0
Impact 5.0 6.0
Rhythm 6.0 7.0
Focus 6.0 7.0
Three-dimensional effect 5.0 7.0
Transient 7.0 8.0
Low frequency resonance 5.0 8.0
Dynamics 6.0 7.0
Overall music 5.0 7.0

Here, some contents of the above evaluation items are shown below.
1. A sense of depth or depth (spatiality): A magnificent orchestra space in the background of the speaker leaves the speaker and expands deeply.
2. Resolution (sense of focus): The presence of each instrument can be seen so that it can be seen visually, and the focus of the sound stage is clearly determined.
3. Transparency (S / N ratio): Multi-layered instrument sounds are separated without turbidity. High frequency is delicate and distortion is small.
4. Low-frequency power (dumping): The low-frequency band is tightened, and the low-frequency sound of the orchestra string and the bass sound of the jazz are clearly localized.
5. Transient: Transient response characteristics. “Transient is good” means that the original signal has no extra components, does not linger, and can quickly follow changes in the signal. Good sound.

(Experimental result)
Although it is qualitative, the elastic cylindrical member (2) , which is a reference example, is mostly made of a highly damped elastomer with a damping effect, so it shows a considerable improvement compared to the case where no insulator is used. It was.

FIG. 3 is another example of Embodiment 1 (Reference Example) , which is an example in which corrugated irregularities are provided on the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the elastic member body (2h). By providing the unevenness, the elastic member main body (2h) is easily bent greatly, and the blocking effect between the audio device (10) and the installation surface (11) is enhanced.

Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is a case where one example of the elastic cylindrical member (2) which is the audio insulator (A) of the first embodiment (reference example) is used as its main member. The lower cup (1), the elastic cylindrical member (2), an upper cup (3), and elastic sheets (5a) and (5b) provided as necessary.

The lower cup (1) is a sheet metal press-molded product having an upper surface opening and a bottomed cylindrical shape. As the metal used,
Steel (Inherent acoustic impedance: Ns / m3 is 3.90 × 107)
Aluminum (Inherent acoustic impedance: Ns / m3 is 1.44 × 107)
Brass (inherent acoustic impedance: Ns / m3 is 3.37 × 107). Incidentally, if ρ is the density of the medium and c is the speed of sound, the above-mentioned specific acoustic impedance is z = ρc.

  Similarly to the lower cup (1), the upper cup (3) is a sheet metal press-molded product, and has a cylindrical shape having a lower surface opening and a top surface (3a). The same material is used. The inner diameter of the upper cup (3) is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lower cup (1), so that the lower cup (1) can enter the upper cup (3) with a gap (t). The upper and lower cups (1) and (3) are preferably made of brass having good characteristics as an acoustic material frequently used for brass instruments.

  The elastic cylindrical member (2) is fitted to the lower cup (1) to have self-supporting property, and in order to ensure flexibility when a load is applied, the lower part of the elastic member body (2h) A plurality of lower outer casings (2a) (2b) are provided. Although it is 2 in this embodiment, it goes without saying that it may be 3 or more. In addition, an upper outer casing (2c) is provided on the upper portion of the elastic member main body (2h). Although it is 1 in this embodiment, it goes without saying that it may be 2 or more.

  The upper outer cage (2c) is larger in diameter than the lower outer cage (2a) (2b), and the outer cages (2a) to (2c) are fitted into the upper cup (3) and the lower cup (1), respectively. The size of the upper cup (3) and the lower cup (1) is such that they can be brought into contact with each other or lightly press-fitted. The formation position of the lower outer casing (2b) of the upper stage is formed to coincide with the height of the side wall (1b) of the lower cup (1). On the other hand, the upper outer casing (2c) penetrates deeply into the upper cup (3), from the contact area between the upper outer casing (2c) and the upper cup (3) to the open end of the upper cup (3). Is free. The distance is indicated by (S).

  A concave groove (2d) is formed on the entire circumference of the base (2e) as necessary on either or both sides of the upper outer casing (2c), in which case the base (2e) Is thinner than the outer peripheral tip (2s). On the other hand, the lower outer casing (2a) (2b) has no concave groove (2d) and is formed to have the same thickness as a whole.

The elastic sheet (5a) (5b) for absorbing vibration is attached to the installation surface (11) of the upper and lower cups (1) and (3) and the top surface (3a) in contact with the audio device (10). The material used is a high-damping elastomer (that is, urethane rubber, foam rubber, or other low-resilience rubber), as with the elastic cylindrical member (2). Its size is smaller than the ceiling area or installation area of the upper and lower cups (1) and (3), and is circular and thin. By providing the elastic sheet (5a) (5b), the installation surface (11) and the bottom surface (1a) of the lower cup (1), the audio device (10) and the top surface (3a) of the upper cup (3) are directly Without contact, mutual interference can be prevented in the direct contact between the two, and the quality of the reproduced sound is not lowered.

  Thus, the elastic cylindrical member (2) is accommodated in the lower cup (1), and the upper cup (3) is placed thereon. As described above, the outer casings (2a) to (2c) are respectively stored in contact with or lightly press-fitted to the inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower cups (1) and (3). Since both the upper and lower ends of the elastic cylindrical member (2) are stored in contact with or pressed into the upper and lower cups (1) and (3), the axial centers of both cups (1) and (3) are aligned. And keep it self-reliant.

In this embodiment (reference example), the audio insulators in this state are arranged at least at four positions on the installation surface (11), and the audio device (10) is mounted thereon. Resilient cylindrical member (2) is bent in accordance with the weight of the audio device (10), such that the lower portion of the upper cup (3) on top of the lower cup (1) as shown in Figure 4 overlap each other with a gap (t) Fit into.

  Next, the acoustic effect of Embodiment 2 is demonstrated. When sound is emitted from the audio device (10) and the vibration is transmitted to the upper cup (3) via the upper elastic sheet (5b), most of the sound is left as it is from the top surface (3a) of the upper cup (3). (3b) The vibration transmitted through the upper cup (3) causes the free part (S) extending downward from the contact area with the upper outer casing (2c) of the elastic cylindrical member (2) to vibrate and escape into the air, thereby releasing the material. The reverberation sound (wind chime effect) using the character that has is generated. In other words, taking advantage of the `` hard material insulator effect '' of the upper cup (3), the refreshing timbre of the wind chime, in other words, the clear and deep timbre played by the wind chime, and the lingering sound resonate well into the distance, The effect brought about by a high-quality acoustic material was used as the reverberation effect by the tone that thinly reverberates each time the wind blows, that is, the vibration system of the wind chimes.

Unlike the first embodiment (reference example) , the reverberant sound functions to further add realism and depth to the reproduced sound. This reverberant sound varies greatly depending on the length of the extended portion (S) of the side wall (3b), the diameter, material, thickness, surface pattern, etc. of the upper cup (3). As described above, brass is often used as a material for brass instruments as described above, and as a processing method, sound incident from the top surface (3a) of the upper cup (3) It is preferable to make it an integral part of the press work so that it can penetrate into the side wall (3b).

On the other hand, the remaining vibration input to the upper cup (3) is transmitted to the elastic cylindrical member (2). The function of the remaining vibration in the elastic cylindrical member (2) is basically the same as that of the first embodiment (reference example) . The upper collar (2c) is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the upper cup (3). Since they are in contact with each other, free vibrations are restrained, and the vibration control action is strengthened accordingly.

  The elastic sheets (5a) and (5b) block the direct contact between the hard upper and lower cups (1) and (3), the audio device (10), and the installation surface (11). It works to eliminate the generation of vibration (mutual interference) due to

  The lower cup (1) is in contact with the lower outer casing (2b) up to the opening, and most of the vibration transmitted from the upper part into the elastic cylindrical member (2) is the elastic cylindrical member (2 ) Is absorbed and attenuated by the time it reaches the bottom, so that the function of assisting the self-supporting of the elastic cylindrical member (2) is central.

  Next, Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, four elastic cylindrical members (2) are arranged in parallel in one upper / lower cup (1) (3). These elastic cylindrical members (2) are fitted into upper and lower circular positioning plates (7) and (8) and are accommodated in the upper and lower cups (1) and (3). The upper positioning plate (8) is formed with round holes (8a) of equal size so that the upper end protrusions of the elastic cylindrical member (2) can be fitted. The lower positioning plate (7) has partially cut-out round holes (7a) of equal size so that the lowermost outer casing (2a) of the elastic cylindrical member (2) can be fitted therein.

  The lower positioning plate (7) is fitted into the bottom of the lower cup (1), and the lowermost outer casing (2a) of the elastic cylindrical member (2) is fitted into the partially cut-out round hole (7a). The upper end protruding portion of the elastic cylindrical member (2) is inserted into the round hole (8a) of the upper positioning plate (8) from the top, and finally the upper cup (3) is placed over the upper positioning plate (8).

Part of the outer casings (2a) to (2c) of the elastic cylindrical member (2) is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the side pieces of the upper and lower cups (1) and (3), but most of the outer casings (2a) to (2c) remain free. As a result, not only can the heavy audio device (10) be supported, but also the synergistic effect of the wind chime effect of the upper cup (3) of Embodiment 1 and the vibration damping effect of the outer casings (2a) to (2c). Can be obtained.

( B ): Audio insulator, (S): Lower extension, (1): Lower cup, (1b): Side wall, (2): Elastic tubular member, (2a) (2b) (2c): (2d): groove, (2e): base, (2h): elastic member body, (2s) outer peripheral tip: (3): upper cup, (3b): side wall, (5a) ( 5b): Elastic sheet, (10): Audio equipment, (11): Installation surface, (5): Coil spring

Claims (3)

  A bottom cup made of metal with a bottomed cylindrical shape, installed on the installation surface,
  An elastic cylindrical member stood and stored in the lower cup;
  An insulator for audio composed of a cylindrical metal upper cup that has a top surface that supports an audio device with a lower surface opening, which is placed on an elastic cylindrical member,
  The elastic cylindrical member protrudes integrally on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical elastic member main body, the coil spring embedded in the elastic member main body, and the elastic member main body. A lower elastic outer casing in contact with and an upper elastic outer casing in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the upper cup,
  An audio insulator, wherein a side wall of the upper cup extends downward from a portion in contact with the upper outer casing.   The audio insulator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of elastic cylindrical members housed in the upper and lower cups are arranged in parallel.   The audio insulator according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a groove is formed on the entire circumference of at least one of the front and back sides of the base of the outer casing.

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