Panel and joint system and transparent acoustic barriers employing same
AssigneeThe Fanwall Corporation
InventorWilliam H. Pickett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Panels have tensioning formations at their edges that are engaged upon support members via resilient compressive loadbearing elements. In the constructions shown the tensioning formations comprise integral, semicylindrical edge portions of the panels and the load-bearing elements comprise mating resilient rods inserted into the semicylindrical formations. The panels are relatively thin extrusions of transparent polycarbonate resin forming an acoustical barrier structure. Thermal expansion and contraction is accommodated by mutual action of the panels and the resilient load-bearing elements. A transparent acoustical barrier wall along a highway and a noise barrier canopy over a rapid transit line are shown.
Claims16
An outdoor panel system suitable for use as an acoustic barrier along rights of way and bridges, comprising:
- a supporting frame which includes a pair of widely spaced-apart posts having a first coefficient of thermal expansion affecting the spacing between posts,
- an extended panel of generally rigid material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially greater than that of said frame,
- said panel sized to span the distance between said posts, the margins of said panel subject to movement relative to the posts, back and forth in the direction of extent of the panel, due to thermal expansion and contraction,
- face portions of said panel exposed to variable wind loadings that tend to produce bowing of said panel with corresponding tendency to draw the edges of the panel toward each other,
- and a joint means between the panel and the posts, capable of secure retention of the panel despite extreme variations in temperature and wind loading relative to normal values, while permitting the panel to be of economical thickness,
- said joint means including, at each edge of the panel corresponding to a post, a load transfer formation of rigid material joined to and extending along the edge of the panel, and protruding to the side of the panel,
- a corresponding opposed post surface disposed inwardly along said panel and spaced normally from said load transfer formation,
- and a corresponding elastomeric, resilient loadbearing element disposed between said panel transfer formation and said post surface,
- said elastomeric and resilient load bearing element having an uncompressed thickness substantially greater than the normal space between said panel load bearing formation and said post surface, whereby at normal condition said elastomeric element is disposed under compression and transfers stress between said post surface and said panel load bearing formation, placing the panel under tension,
- said elastomeric load bearing element thereby serving as a spring element, enabling said panel edges to draw toward each other with further compression of said elastomeric element and enabling said panel edges to move apart with attendant expansion of said elastomeric element, while in each case maintaining continued pressure contact between said elastomeric element and said load bearing formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.