Sound barrier with oblique surfaces
OwnerEdward P. McNairinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sound barrier partition (22) having multiple faces (30) covering a vertical wall (24) of the partition (22) that fronts a highway. The faces (30) on each partition (22) are of sufficient size and shape to effectively reflect most of the frequencies of sound generated by highway traffic and heard by the human ear. Sound barriers are usually installed on both sides of a highway. The faces (30) are positioned obliquely so that a ray (R) of sound will strike face (30) at a high angle of incidence and be reflected at a higher angle above the horizontal. When sound rays travel a substantial distance above the top edge of the corresponding barrier on the opposite side of the highway, the amount of audible sound that is diffracted and refracted towards inhabited areas adjacent to the highway is reduced.
Claims14
A sound barrier installed alongside a highway, said highway having a road surface, said barrier comprised of at least one partition and a means for supporting said partition, said partition being comprised of:
- (a) at least one generally vertical imperforate wall;
- (b) a plurality of wedge shaped protrusions, said wedge shaped protrusions, at least in part, covering a side of said wall, said side fronting said road surface;
- (c) each said wedge shaped protrusion having at least one face inclined to a vertical;
- (d) a plurality of said faces positioned so that a normal from each said face forms an angle above a horizontal, said faces being in the path of sound rays originating from said surface.
A sound barrier installed alongside a highway, said highway having a road surface, said barrier being comprised of a partition and a means for supporting said partition, said partition being comprised of:
- (a) a plurality of blocks, each said block being comprised of a generally vertical imperforate wall section having tongues on two sides and grooves on sides opposite said tongues, said blocks being assembled in a contiguous manner by said tongues and grooves, said wall sections comprising a generally vertical, imperforate wall;
- (b) at least some of said blocks being comprised of at least one wedge shaped protrusion, each said wedge shaped protrusion being located on a side of said wall that fronts said road surface;
- (c) each said wedge shaped protrusion having at least one face inclined to a vertical;
- (d) a plurality of said faces being in the path of sound rays originating from said surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.