Flexible acoustic honeycomb
AssigneeHexcel Corporation
InventorsLisa D. Bowen, Jessica Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Acoustic structures in which acoustic septa are located in the cells of a honeycomb for reducing the noise generated from a source The honeycomb used to form the acoustic structure has walls that contain convex and concave contours which make the honeycomb flexible. The acoustic septa are formed by inserting planar acoustic inserts into the honeycomb cells to form a septum cap which is friction-locked within the cell and then permanently bonded in place. The planar acoustic septum is configured to match the unique shape of the cell contours to provide desired friction-locking when inserted into the cells and desired acoustic properties after being permanently bonded in place.
Claims22
An acoustic structure in which acoustic septa are located in the cells of a honeycomb for reducing the noise generated from a source, said acoustic structure comprising:
- A) a honeycomb comprising a first edge to be located closest to said source and a second edge, said honeycomb comprising a cell having a left side and a right side, said cell being defined by a lower wall that extends between said first and second edges and an upper wall that also extends between said first and second edges, said lower wall comprising a lower left end portion, a lower right end portion and a convex portion located between said lower left and lower right end portions, said upper wall comprising an upper left end portion, an upper right end portion and a concave portion located between said upper left and upper right end portions, wherein said lower left end portion and said upper left end portion are connected to form a left junction along the left side of said cell and said lower right end portion and said upper right end portion are connected to form a right junction along the right side of said cell;
- B) an acoustic septum comprising:
- a) a planar acoustic portion extending transverse to said upper and lower walls, said planar acoustic portion having a top side located nearest to said first edge, a bottom side located nearest to said second edge, a right boundary, a left boundary, a lower boundary and an upper boundary;
- b) a right tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said right boundary;
- c) a left tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said left boundary;
- d) a lower tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said lower boundary;
- e) an upper tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said upper boundary;
- and
- C) an adhesive that bonds said right tab, left tab, lower tab and upper tab to said honeycomb wherein said right tab is bonded to said lower right portion and said upper right portion, said left tab is bonded to said lower left portion and said upper left portion, said lower tab is bonded to said convex portion and said upper tab is bonded to said concave portion.
A method for making an acoustic structure in which acoustic septa are located in the cells of a honeycomb for reducing the noise generated from a source, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) providing a flexible honeycomb comprising a first edge to be located closest to said source and a second edge, said flexible honeycomb comprising a cell having a left side and a right side, said cell being defined by a lower wall that extends between said first and second edges and an upper wall that also extends between said first and second edges, said lower wall comprising a lower left end portion, a lower right end portion and a convex portion located between said lower left and lower right end portions, said upper wall comprising an upper left end portion, an upper right end portion and a concave portion located between said upper left and upper right end portions, wherein said lower left end portion and said upper left end portion are connected to form a left junction along the left side of said cell and said lower right end portion and said upper right end portion are connected to form a right junction along the right side of said cell;
- B) providing a planar acoustic septum insert comprising:
- a) a planar acoustic portion having a right boundary, a left boundary, a lower boundary and an upper boundary;
- b) a right tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said right boundary;
- c) a left tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said left boundary;
- d) a lower tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said lower boundary;
- e) an upper tab portion protruding from said acoustic portion at said upper boundary;
- C) inserting said planar acoustic septum insert into said cell to form an acoustic septum wherein said planar acoustic portion extends transverse to said upper and lower walls, said planar acoustic portion having a top side located nearest to said first edge, a bottom side located nearest to said second edge;
- and
- D) bonding said right tab, left tab, lower tab and upper tab to said honeycomb wherein said right tab is bonded to said lower right portion and said upper right portion, said left tab is bonded to said lower left portion and said upper left portion, said lower tab is bonded to said convex portion and said upper tab is bonded to said concave portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.