# US 10,119,469 B2 · Method and apparatus for modularized inlet silencer baffles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,469 B2 - Document ID: US10119469B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/267,001 - Filed: 2016-09-15 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-15 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin; Hua Zhang; Bradly Aaron Kippel; Naveen Ghattadhahalli Parmeshwar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119469B2 ## CPC - F02C 7/045: having provisions for noise suppression - F04D 29/663: {Sound attenuation} - G10K 11/161: {in systems with fluid flow (G10K11/162 takes precedence; gas flow silencers or exhaust apparatus for machines or engines in general or for internal combustion engine F01N, noise absorbers in pipes or pipe systems F16L55/02; noise absorption in air conditioning and ventilation F24F13/24; silencing exhaust or propulsion jets in aircraft B64D33/06)} - F05D 2240/40: Use of a multiplicity of similar components - F05D 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position - F05D 2260/36: by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking - F05D 2260/96: Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A system includes a conduit having a fluid flow path and a silencer baffle disposed in a fluid conduit along the fluid flow path, where the silencer baffle has at least two of the plurality of baffle sections are coupled together via mating interlock structures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a conduit having a fluid flow path along an axis; a silencer baffle comprising a plurality of baffle sections along the axis, wherein the silencer baffle is disposed in a fluid conduit along the fluid flow path, wherein the silencer baffle comprises at least two of the plurality of baffle sections that are coupled together via mating interlock structures configured to engage in a first direction crosswise to the axis, wherein each pair of the mating interlock structures comprises a diverging male joint portion disposed in a diverging female joint portion to form a lockable coupling, wherein the lockable coupling is configured to block movement of the at least two baffle sections in a second direction crosswise to the axis, and wherein the plurality of baffle sections and the mating interlock structures are disposed in a common row along the axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a machine coupled to the conduit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the machine comprises a turbine engine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle comprises a leading edge section and a trailing edge section, wherein the mating interlock structures are disposed between and removably couple the leading edge section and the trailing edge section in the common row along the axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle comprises one or more intermediate sections disposed between the leading and trailing edge sections, wherein the mating interlock structures are disposed between and removably couple the one or more intermediate sections, the leading edge section, and the trailing edge section in the common row along the axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle comprises a contoured exterior surface between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the silencer baffle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the contoured exterior surface defines an airfoil shaped perimeter of the silencer baffle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the mating interlock structures comprise mating rail structures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the mating rail structures comprise a dovetail joint having a male dovetail joint portion disposed in a female dovetail joint portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the diverging male portion generally diverges from a first male portion to a second male portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising one or more support rods extending through the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more support rods extends through a column of sections of the silencer baffle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle comprises a sound absorption material disposed in a shell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle comprises a rod support passage configured to receive a support rod. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the silencer baffle has an exterior surface having a pattern of recesses, openings, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the pattern comprises hex shapes, octagonal shapes, circular shapes, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of silencer baffles disposed in the fluid conduit along the fluid flow path, wherein each of the plurality of silencer baffles has the plurality of baffle sections coupled together via the mating interlock structures. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a first baffle section of a silencer baffle configured to mount in a fluid conduit along a fluid flow path, wherein the first baffle section is configured to lockably couple together with a second baffle section of the silencer baffle via mating interlock structures configured to engage in a direction crosswise to the fluid flow path, wherein the mating interlock structures comprise a male joint portion disposed in a female joint portion, and wherein the plurality of baffle sections and the mating interlock structures are disposed in a common row. ### Claim 20 A system, comprising: a first plurality of baffle sections of a silencer baffle configured to mount in a fluid conduit along a fluid flow path, wherein the first plurality of baffle sections are configured to couple together with a second plurality of baffle sections of the silencer baffle; and a first support rod configured to extend through a first support rod passage through a first baffle section and a second baffle section in the first plurality of baffle sections in a first direction crosswise to the fluid flow path, wherein the first baffle section and the second baffle section of the first plurality of baffle sections contact each other in the first direction and a second support rod configured to extend through a second support rod passage through a first baffle section and a second baffle section in the second plurality of baffle sections in the first direction crosswise to the fluid flow path, wherein the first baffle section and the second baffle section of the second plurality of baffle sections contact each other in the first direction.