US-12623769-B2 - Transmission loss panel for aircraft cabin noise and thermal treatment

Abstract

A vehicle panel includes two sidewalls and a resonator disposed between them on one of the cell walls. The resonator includes a network of cells, each cell defines an internal space to absorb and dissipate noise and vibrations within a specific frequency range. Certain cells or subsets of cells may be interconnected to define a larger internal cell space. An airgap between the resonator and one of the sidewalls may be partially or completely filled with dampening material to absorb high frequency noise. The dampening material may also provide thermal insulation.

Inventors

• Julian Winkler
• Brian E. St. Rock
• Maxime Dempah
• Thomas Martz
• Matthew R. Pearson

Assignees

• B/E AEROSPACE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240118

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A panel resonator comprising: a plurality of regularly spaced cells, the plurality of regularly spaced cells formed in a single sheet layer comprising a thermoformed material, each cell defining an internal space, the plurality of regularly spaced cells configured to at least partially define an airgap between a first sidewall of a panel and the resonator, wherein the regularly spaced cells are configured to be disposed on and mechanically attached to an internal surface of a second sidewall of the panel such that the single sheet layer is disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
2. 2 . The panel resonator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the regularly spaced cells defines an opening to allow air movement from the internal space.
3. 3 . The panel resonator of claim 2 , wherein: the opening comprises a hole having a first diameter; at least one of the regularly spaced cells defines a hole having a second diameter different from the first diameter; and the first diameter and the second diameter are tuned for specific, different frequency ranges.
4. 4 . The panel resonator of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the regularly spaced cells are in fluid communication with each other via a duct formed in the single sheet layer.
5. 5 . The panel resonator of claim 4 , wherein one of the at least two regularly spaced cells defines an opening to allow air movement from the internal space.
6. 6 . The panel resonator of claim 1 , further comprising a membrane layer configured to surround top portion of each of the regularly spaced cells to define a second internal space.
7. 7 . An aircraft panel comprising: a first sidewall; a second sidewall; and a resonator disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall, the resonator comprising a plurality of regularly spaced cells, the resonator comprising a single sheet layer formed into the plurality of cells, each cell defining an internal space, wherein: the resonator is disposed on the second sidewall and at least partially define an airgap between the first sidewall and the resonator and the single sheet layer comprises a thermoformed material.
8. 8 . The aircraft panel of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the regularly spaced cells defines an opening to allow air movement from the internal space.
9. 9 . The aircraft panel of claim 8 , wherein: the opening comprises a hole having a first diameter; at least one of the regularly spaced cells defines a hole having a second diameter different from the first diameter; and the first diameter and the second diameter are tuned for specific, different frequency ranges.
10. 10 . The aircraft panel of claim 7 , wherein at least two of the regularly spaced cells are in fluid communication with each other.
11. 11 . The aircraft panel of claim 7 , further comprising a filler material at least partially filling the airgap.
12. 12 . The aircraft panel of claim 11 , wherein the filler material is configured to a frequency range of vibrations.
13. 13 . The aircraft panel of claim 7 , wherein the filler material is configured as a thermal insulator.
14. 14 . A mobile platform comprising: a plurality of panels, each comprising: a first sidewall; a second sidewall; and a resonator disposed between the first sidewall and second sidewall, the resonator comprising a plurality of regularly spaced cells, the plurality of regularly spaced cells formed in a single sheet layer comprising a thermoformed material, each cell defining an internal space, wherein: the resonator is disposed on the second sidewall and at least partially defines an airgap between the first sidewall and the resonator.
15. 15 . The mobile platform of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the regularly spaced cells defines an opening to allow air movement from the internal space.
16. 16 . The mobile platform of claim 15 , wherein: the opening comprises a hole having a first diameter; at least one of the regularly spaced cells defines a hole having a second diameter different from the first diameter; and the first diameter and the second diameter are tuned for specific, different frequency ranges.
17. 17 . The mobile platform of claim 14 , wherein at least two of the regularly spaced cells are in fluid communication with each other.
18. 18 . The mobile platform of claim 14 , further comprising a filler material at least partially filling the airgap, configured to a frequency range of vibrations.
19. 19 . The mobile platform of claim 18 , wherein the filler material is configured as a thermal insulator.
20. 20 . The mobile platform of claim 14 , wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, and resonator are curved to conform to a portion of the mobile platform.

Description

PRIORITY The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional App. No. 63/444,008 (filed Feb. 8, 2023), which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Vehicle interiors suffer from noise transmission and a lack of thermal insulation. Such noise may be external (engine noise and the like) or internal (noise from passengers and galley or lavatory equipment). Noise impacts the comfort and health of personnel in commercial aircraft, business jets, military jets, helicopters, urban air-mobility concepts, submarines, aircraft carriers, etc. Modern turboprop engines cause low-frequency noise transmission into the cabin. In many instances there is insufficient paneling to reduce the noise level inside the cabin. Some applications require dual thermal and acoustic/vibration reduction. It would be advantageous to have multifunctional panel solution to reduce noise in a variety of applications, and provide thermal insulation. SUMMARY In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to an aircraft panel with two sidewalls and a resonator disposed between them on one of the cell walls. The resonator includes a network of cells, each cell defines an internal space to absorb and dissipate noise and vibrations within a specific frequency range. In a further aspect, certain cells or subsets of cells may be interconnected to define a larger internal cell space. In a further aspect, an airgap between the resonator and one of the sidewalls may be partially or completely filled with dampening material to absorb high frequency noise. The dampening material may also provide thermal insulation. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and should not restrict the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The numerous advantages of the embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: FIG. 1 shows a partial side view of a panel according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 2A shows a partial side view of a panel; FIG. 2B shows a partial side view of a panel according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 3A shows a partial perspective view of a resonator according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 3B shows a partial perspective view of a resonator according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 3C shows perspective views of resonator cells according to exemplary embodiments; FIG. 4A shows a partial top view of a resonator according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 4B shows a partial perspective view of a resonator according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 4C shows a partial bottom view of a resonator according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a resonator cell according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 5B shows a side cross-sectional view of a resonator cell according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6A shows a top view of resonator cells according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6B shows a top view of resonator cells according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6C shows a top view of resonator cells according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a resonator according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 8A shows a partial side view of a panel according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 8B shows a partial side view of a panel according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 8C shows a partial side view of a panel according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 9 shows graphs of frequency response in resonator panels according to exemplary embodiments; DETAILED DESCRIPTION Before explaining various embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the