Abstract: A device and a method for reducing or muffling sound from kitchen appliances such as coffee grinders. The sound reducing or muffling device can be left on the appliance even when not in use, providing a decoration to the kitchen in a style appropriate to it's surroundings. Using the muffling device, a person can enjoy fresh-ground coffee at any time with the assurance that the sound from the coffee grinder is well insulated. The device is particularly easy to deploy and use, requires no moving parts, and is flexible enough to work with the majority of coffee grinder products currently on the market. Other embodiments can be used with other forms of kitchen appliances.

Abstract: A cover assembly is provided, such as a camshaft cover or valve cover, for an internal combustion engine. The cover assembly includes a cover member with a contoured surface. An acoustic barrier member is generally coextensive with the cover member and at least partially approximates the contoured surface. An elastic member is mounted with respect to the acoustic barrier member and spans at least a portion of the acoustic barrier member. A plate member is mounted with respect to the elastic member and is operable to retain the elastic member and the acoustic barrier member with respect to the cover member. The plate member spans substantially the entirety of the elastic member.

Abstract: A noise absorbing structure of an instrument panel of a vehicle includes a first noise absorbing panel, provided in the instrument panel disposed in front of a driver seat of the vehicle, a second noise absorbing panel, provided in the instrument panel disposed in front of a front passenger seat of the vehicle, and a third noise absorbing panel, provided in the instrument panel that is disposed in front of a moisture removing ventilation port.

Abstract: A noise reduction shroud is provided for use with utility engines that have attached blower housings. The shroud comprises a one-piece shell positioned above and around the blower housing located on the engine to define a space between the shroud and the engine, wherein the shell is adapted such that air entering the blower housing must first flow from a bottom side of the engine up through the space between the shroud and the engine. In another embodiment, the invention is a lawnmower or other lawn and garden equipment, comprising such a noise reduction shroud.

Abstract: Systems and methods for absorbing acoustic noise generated by computer cabinet cooling fans are described herein. In one embodiment, an acoustic absorber for use with a fan carried by a computer cabinet in a room includes a first acoustic panel spaced apart from a second acoustic panel. The first acoustic panel is configured to be positioned proximate to an outlet of the fan and at least approximately parallel to a flow of cooling air discharging from the outlet. The second acoustic panel is also configured to be positioned proximate to the outlet of the fan and at least approximately parallel to the flow of cooling air discharging from the outlet. The first and second acoustic panels together form an opening configured to direct the flow of cooling air away from the fan outlet and into the surrounding room. In a further embodiment, the opening formed by the first and second acoustic panels can be configured to extend at least approximately 360 degrees around the fan.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing acoustic, wind or other background noise that may interfere with sensing of a seismic signal is provided. More specifically, a shield is provided to enclose a geophone and thereby protect it from harmful noise. The shield may comprise a rigid shell, a structural damping material, an acoustically absorptive material, and a compliant seal for coupling the shield to the ground or reference surface.

Abstract: A low noise method and apparatus with the apparatus including a hood for mounting over an exhaust outlet duct to capture a fluid stream and then redirect the fluid stream to a fluid outlet in the hood through the use of smoothly curving duct that maintains the fluid flowing therethrough in a laminar flow condition with the inlet and outlet positioned such that there is no line of sight between the exhaust outlet duct and the fluid outlet duct in the hood.

Abstract: A shroud and method capable of attenuating undesirable environmental noise from reaching a microphone. The shroud is a cover including a closed end, an open end substantially opposite of the closed end, and an intermediate portion that extends away from the closed end toward the open end. The intermediate portion includes a back side with a mouth opening that faces a user's mouth. The intermediate portion further includes a front side that is substantially opposite of the back side, with the front side being impermeable to airflow. Preferably, the shroud mounts over a windsock that mounts over the microphone. A flexible fastener may be secured to a portion of the open end so that the shroud more snugly mounts around the microphone. As such, the shroud shields a microphone from harsh environmental conditions such as wind and rain.

Abstract: An insulating jacket for refrigeration system component comprising a closed cell insulation layer comprising an inner and outer surface, an open cell foam layer comprising an inner and outer surface, the inner surface in contact with the outer surface of the closed cell insulation layer, and a sound barrier layer comprising an inner surface in contact with the outer surface of the open cell foam layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method to significantly reduce noise associated with air-moving devices such as an axial flow fan using a fan shroud and barrel combination with built in silencers such as Helmholtz resonators. The invention can be applied to a variety of applications such as a thermal management system for a fuel cell powered vehicle. The resonator can be a hollow cavity in networks attached to an outer or inner barrel or shroud and tuned to reduce noise at predetermined noise frequency ranges within the airflow. The invention can also attach stator members on the inner surface of the outer barrel to further reduce noise. Additional sound absorbing material, such as steel wool, can be disposed within the resonator cavity.

Abstract: A speaker box is covered with a buffer material exclusive of a portion where an acoustic output is derived from a speaker unit. The speaker box covered with the buffer material is attached to the surface of a wall member such as an interior member of a vehicle body or a side plate outside the vehicle body in a manner the speaker box is pressed by a holding member, which is a part of the interior member or designed member, and secured by bolts. Even when the surface of the speaker box is vibrated, the buffer material prevents an acoustic output due to the vibration from being generated so that no unnecessary acoustic signal is generated.

Abstract: A device and a method for reducing or muffling sound from kitchen appliances such as coffee grinders. The sound reducing or muffling device can be left on the appliance even when not in use, providing a decoration to the kitchen in a style appropriate to it's surroundings. Using the muffling device, a person can enjoy fresh-ground coffee at anytime with the assurance that the sound from the coffee grinder is well insulated. The device is particularly easy to deploy and use, requires no moving parts, and is flexible enough to work with the majority of coffee grinder products currently on the market. Other embodiments can be used with other forms of kitchen appliances.

Abstract: An acoustic barrier systems that reduces the amount of noise entering the passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a secondary acoustic attenuator that extends from a primary acoustic barrier to a vehicle component case to envelop space around a conduit passing from the engine compartment to the component case. In one embodiment, the secondary acoustic attenuator extends from the primary acoustic barrier to the component case, with the secondary acoustic attenuator enveloping space around the conduit between the vehicle component case and the primary acoustic barrier.

Abstract: An engine cover has a cover body having a through hole penetrating both sides of the cover body in an area opposed to a resonant space in which resonant sounds are generated. An opening of the through hole is covered with the sound absorbing member layer. Because a part of the resonant space is open, resonant sounds generated in the resonance space are decreased.

Abstract: An engine cover mounted to an internal combustion engine of an automobile etc. includes a rigid cover body made of a resin or metal and covering an engine, a foamed member fixed to an inner face of the cover body and including at least a part spaced from the engine, and a plurality of corrugations formed on the part of the foamed member spaced from the engine.

Abstract: An acoustic barrier systems that reduces the amount of noise entering the passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a secondary acoustic attenuator that extends from a primary acoustic barrier to a vehicle component case to envelop space around a conduit passing from the engine compartment to the component case. In one embodiment, the secondary acoustic attenuator extends from the primary acoustic barrier to the component case, with the secondary acoustic attenuator enveloping space around the conduit between the vehicle component case and the primary acoustic barrier.

Abstract: An acoustic blanket is disclosed for an industrial machine including a plurality of flexible panels, wherein each panel includes at least one layer of a fiber glass material, an outer casing of a chemically resistant material and an attachment for connecting the panel to an adjacent panel, and the plurality of flexible panels are each assigned a position in said blanket corresponding to a location on the industrial machine.

Abstract: An insulator dash (20) installed on the interior side surface side of a dash panel (10), comprising a single sound absorbing layer (21) formed of a fiber assembly or a laminated assembly having light and soft skin layers (22,23,26,27,28) laminated on the surface of sound absorbing layer (21), wherein, since the reflected noise reflected from the inner surface of an instrument panel (40) is taken again from the front surface side into the sound absorbing layer (21) for sound absorption in addition to the sound absorbing and shielding performance of the insulator dash (20), the sound absorbing performance in the instrument panel (40) can be increased, whereby the weight can be reduced and a rise of sound pressure in the instrument panel (40) can be abolishing a conventional sound shielding layer so as to increase a silentness in a cabin.

Abstract: An air introduction system (10) includes an active noise control system (22) having an environmentally protected microphone (24). A microphone support structure (26) defines a louvered cage (38) over a microphone reception cavity (40). The microphone (24) is mounted to a circuit board (42) which fits within the microphone reception cavity (40). A cover (42) fits into the cavity (40) to encase the microphone (24) therein. An open cell foam (60) surround the microphone (24) and a waterproof material (58) encases the foam (60). The waterproof material (58) includes an excess of material such that waterproof material provides for internal air expansion and contraction. By locating the foam (60) between the microphone (24) and the waterproof material (58) improved transmission of acoustic waves is provided which thereby maintains microphone sensitivity.

Abstract: An engine cover mounted to an internal combustion engine of an automobile etc. includes a rigid cover body made of a resin or metal and covering an engine, a foamed member fixed to an inner face of the cover body and including at least a part spaced from the engine, and a plurality of corrugations formed on the part of the foamed member spaced from the engine.

Abstract: A device for reducing the noise emissions of a machine for printing flat material, wherein flat material is transportable across an impression cylinder, comprising at least one muffling element disposed across a portion of a transport path of the flat material extending along the impression cylinder, directly behind or downline from a nip, as viewed in the direction of the transport path, and at a spaced distance from the impression cylinder; and a machine including the device.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method to significantly reduce noise associated with air-moving devices such as an axial flow fan using a fan shroud and barrel combination with built in silencers such as Helmholtz resonators. The invention can be applied to a variety of applications such as a thermal management system for a fuel cell powered vehicle. The resonator can be a hollow cavity in networks attached to an outer or inner barrel or shroud and tuned to reduce noise at predetermined noise frequency ranges within the airflow. The invention can also attach stator members on the inner surface of the outer barrel to further reduce noise. Additional sound absorbing material, such as steel wool, can be disposed within the resonator cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sound absorber (A), especially for motor vehicles, comprising a layer (4) of absorption material, such as open-pored or optionally closed-pored foamed material or a wood fibre composite, and a top layer (5). The aim of the invention is to produce an absorber in such a way that said absorber is easy to produce and assemble and functions well. According to the invention, the top layer (5) for leading through a loom of cables (8) or the like is provided with a tubular recess (40) for leading through a loom of cables. Said recess (40) is provided with groove-like undercuts (42) on the outside.

Abstract: An acoustic shielding article which includes a shaped thermoplastic element that has a metal inlay element fixedly attached thereto, is described. More particularly, the acoustic shielding article (1) includes: (a) a shaped thermoplastic element (3) having a surface (11) that faces a source of sound (14); and (b) a metal inlay element (2) having substantially opposed first (17) and second (20) surfaces, at least one of which is fixedly joined to the shaped thermoplastic element. The shaped thermoplastic element is formed by means of molding thermoplastic material onto at least one of the first and second surfaces of the metal inlay element, thereby fixedly joining the metal inlay element to the shaped thermoplastic element.

Abstract: Compounds of the invention include 14-mehtyl epothilone derivatives. More generally, preferred compounds of the invention are those that can be produced by altering the epothilone PKS genes as described herein and optionally by action of epothilone modification enzymes and/or by chemically modifying the resulting epothilones produces when those genes are expressed.

Abstract: An improved heat shield offers both a thermal insulation and reduced noise transmission for vehicular engine components, including exhaust manifolds, for example. The structure has three layers: an outer structural metal layer, a center insulation layer to isolate heat and dampen noise, and an inner metal layer directly adjacent the shielded component for reflecting heat back to the shielded component. As disclosed, the heat shield includes at least one bolt aperture for attachment of the shield to a shielded component, such as an exhaust manifold in the described embodiment. The aperture is circumferentially bordered by at least one non-planar undulation defining a protuberance. The protuberance is spaced circumferentially about the aperture. As the bolted connection of the heat shield to the manifold is a major source of vibration transmittal from the manifold into the shield, the protuberance is effective to dampen the vibration, and hence noise associated with the vibration.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for testing a jet aircraft engine at a time when an actual wind direction differs from a prevailing wind direction. The method is conducted in a ground runup enclosure (GRE), typically comprising a rear wall, a pair of side walls attached to the rear walls and an open front side opposite the rear wall, the front side facing in a prevailing wind direction. The method comprises moving the aircraft into the GRE, aligning the aircraft so that the air inlet of its engine faces the actual wind direction, and running the engine up to full power to test its condition. The method of the present invention permits the GRE to be used under a variety of unfavourable wind conditions, thereby improving its usability.

Abstract: An improved heat shield offers both a thermal insulation and reduced noise transmission for vehicular engine components, including exhaust manifolds, for example. The structure has three layers: an outer structural metal layer, a center insulation layer to isolate heat and dampen noise, and an inner metal layer directly adjacent the shielded component for reflecting heat back to the shielded component. As disclosed, the heat shield includes at least one bolt aperture for attachment of the shield to a shielded component, such as an exhaust manifold in the described embodiment. The aperture is circumferentially bordered by at least one non-planar undulation defining a protuberance. The protuberance is spaced circumferentially about the aperture. As the bolted connection of the heat shield to the manifold is a major source of vibration transmittal from the manifold into the shield, the protuberance is effective to dampen the vibration, and hence noise associated with the vibration.

Abstract: A shroud and method capable of attenuating undesirable environmental noise from reaching a microphone. The shroud is a cover including a closed end, an open end substantially opposite of the closed end, and an intermediate portion that extends away from the closed end toward the open end. The intermediate portion includes a back side with a mouth opening that faces a user's mouth. The intermediate portion further includes a front side that is substantially opposite of the back side, with the front side being impermeable to airflow. Preferably, the shroud mounts over a windsock that mounts over the microphone. A flexible fastener may be secured to a portion of the open end so that the shroud more snugly mounts around the microphone. As such, the shroud shields a microphone from harsh environmental conditions such as wind and rain.

Abstract: A device and a method for reducing or muffling sound from kitchen appliances such as coffee grinders. The sound reducing or muffling device can be left on the appliance even when not in use, providing a decoration to the kitchen in a style appropriate to it's surroundings. Using the muffling device, a person can enjoy fresh-ground coffee at any time with the assurance that the sound from the coffee grinder is well insulated. The device is particularly easy to deploy and use, requires no moving parts, and is flexible enough to work with the majority of coffee grinder products currently on the market. Other embodiments can be used with other forms of kitchen appliances.

Abstract: A soundproof cover includes a sealing layer, a sound insulation layer, and a vibration inhibition layer. The sound insulation layer has a peripheral portion, is to be disposed so as to contact at least the peripheral portion with a noise source, and exhibits elasticity. The sound insulation layer is formed as a hard plate shape, has an installation portion to be fastened to the noise source, and is disposed so as to cover the sealing layer. The vibration inhibition layer is disposed on at least a part of an interface between the sealing layer and the sound insulation layer so as to adhere to the sound insulation layer, and inhibits the sound insulation layer from vibrating.

Abstract: A lid adapted to be mounted on the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine by attachment screws includes a cap and a carrier element adapted to be attached to the cylinder head by the attachment screws. To achieve an improved sound decoupling, the cap and the carrier element are connected to an elastomer component, with the connection between the cap and the carrier element being, at least in part, exclusively constructed by the elastomer component, and with a space being provided between the cap and the carrier element. The carrier element possesses a substantially straight section arranged to extending preferably at a right angle to the attachment surface of the cylinder head, the substantially straight section of the carrier element, a portion of the elastomer component adjacent the cap, and a portion of the cap adjacent the carrier element extend in a straight line.

Abstract: A personal care apparatus (1) with a housing (2) and with apparatus parts (6) for treating body parts of a person, which apparatus parts (6) are provided in a head region (5) of the personal care apparatus (1), is fitted in its head region (5) with a noise protection cap (9) which is designed with a closed circumference and which has a cap edge (12) which can be placed on the skin of a person during operation of the personal care apparatus (1) in order to fulfill a noise protection function.

Abstract: A cable reel comprises a cable enclosure having a rubbing face, and a flat cable provided on the rubbing face. A noise-absorbing material is then fixed, without using adhesives, on the rubbing face on which the flat cable moves. The noise-absorbing material is prepared integrally by superposing a highly-slidable noise-absorbing sheet on a support plate, and is formed into a torus shape. The cable enclosure has an outer circular wall and an inner circular wall. The outer circular wall and/or the inner circular wall includes a plurality of holding tabs which are integrally provided in the circumferential direction with substantially a same distance and at a position corresponding to where the noise-absorbing material is mounted. The holding tabs hold the external circular rim and/or the internal circular rim of a highly-slidable noise-absorbing sheet, whereby the noise-absorbing material is immobilized.

Abstract: A method of muffling the noise of successive components and a corresponding noise absorber is provided. An air cushion is placed between the two components which are spaced away from one another at least in regions. The sound transmission and/or vibration transmission from one component into the other component is reduced by the air cushion. For this purpose, the air cushion is placed at least indirectly on at least one surface respectively of each of the components.

Abstract: A device for reducing the noise emissions of a machine for printing flat material, wherein flat material is transportable across an impression cylinder, comprising at least one muffling element disposed across a portion of a transport path of the flat material extending along the impression cylinder, directly behind or downline from a nip, as viewed in the direction of the transport path, and at a spaced distance from the impression cylinder; and a machine including the device.

Abstract: In an arrangement of a collecting receptacle integrated into a production machine in the tobacco-processing industry for collecting tobacco products sorted out from the production machine during a production process, the collecting receptacle is removable from the production machine and is comprised of two parts.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump-motor having an end shield which deadens the sound generated by the pump-motor do thereby result in a quieter unit. The present invention provides a conventional hydraulic pump-motor having an electric motor coupled to a pumping mechanism wherein the motor includes an improved sound attenuating end shield design. Through the use of acoustically deadening materials such as cast iron and polypropylene plastic, the end plates of the present invention deaden the sounds stemming from the vibration of the pump-motor. In addition, the present invention provides an end shield design which allows the stator to be secured to the motor housing and the air gap between the rotor and the stator to be precisely measured prior to the installation of the end shield. The present invention therefore results in not only a quieter pump-motor but also a pump-motor with higher machining tolerances, improved efficiency, and lower production and maintenance costs.

Abstract: A device for damping the sound emission from oscillatory components of a fluid container of a hydraulic system, primarily in a motor vehicle. At least one vibration damping mass is coupled to the wall of a component subject to sound damping. The mass is adapted to the vibration to be damped by selection of material, shape, and/or position on the wall. For example, the mass is a rib fastened to the wall or a strip adhered to the wall. In an alternate embodiment, the container has an inner and an outer wall with a gap between them. The gap is either evacuated, filled with a sound absorbing material or ribs on the wall extend in the gap or inside the inner wall.

Abstract: A sound deflector comprising of a curved deflecting surface, with the deflector being connected to the back of a boat. The sound deflector deflects the sounds emitting from the outboard of a boat away from the passengers in the cockpit. The deflector is composed of sound deflecting material and encompasses the engine over the waterline.

Abstract: A motor mount is described for preventing the transmission of noisy vibration of the motor on vehicle body parts on which the motor is mounted by its motor housing. The motor housing is held by a carrier part that surrounds it. The carrier part is surrounded at a radial distance by a mounting part at least in some areas. The mounting part is connected to the carrier part by an elastic sound-absorbing intermediate layer that is subjected substantially to tensile stresses.

Abstract: A sound absorber for motor vehicles is constructed in the form of a double-wall, flat resonant body (1) with a perforated front wall (3) facing the noise source and a substantially unperforated rear wall (4). The sound absorber is constructed as a combined plate/perforated resonator and is able to absorb both high and lower frequencies.

Abstract: An acoustic noise reduction apparatus for an office automation device is provided on a surface of an outer shield of the office automation device and has a hole therethrough. The body member of the apparatus defines an internal volume which covers the hole. A control member is operatively connected with the body member and divides the body member into a hollow portion, a duct portion, and a silencer portion. The hollow portion and the duct portion form a Helmholtz resonator within the body member.

Abstract: Synthetic sponge or other resilient material is joined to the top of a room air-conditioner to absorb the physical impact of rain and dripping water to inhibit the creation of the noise that would otherwise occur. Additionally, a buffer formed with angular surfaces, to absorb and deflect the full impact of rain and dripping water to inhibit the creation of noise that would otherwise occur.

Abstract: A device for temporarily muffling and screening of audible generation from an associated smoke detector is provided to include a housing of a soft resilient polymeric foam material, having a cavity to receive a smoke detector in complementary relationship thereto.

Abstract: A muffler for an air-cooling system used for channeling air for cooling an electric motor comprises a housing mounted on the electric motor and formed with an air inlet; and an air outlet and an air passage extending between and connecting the inlet and the outlet. Air from outside the housing employed to cool the motor enters through the inlet, flows through the passage and exits through the outlet. Noise having a spectrum of frequencies including a relatively low main discrete frequency, which corresponds to a relatively long wave-length, and a plurality of higher frequencies is generated in the cooling air during operation of the motor and its cooling system. A baffle is positioned within the housing adjacent to the outlet to interrupt lines of sight from the air passage to the outside of the housing. The housing and the baffle are made of a metal or plastic and have sufficient mass to attenuate the higher frequencies of the noise spectrum to a substantial degree.

Abstract: A sound absorbing pipe comprising a circumferential wall, open portions disposed at regular intervals in the circumferential wall having a predetermined area ratio and sound absorbing material disposed in a hollow formed in an interior portion of the pipe.

Abstract: An improved fan, for mounting adjacent an opening in a mounting plate, includes blades rotatable about an axis and within a cylindrical housing. The fan blades move air through the opening in the mounting plate. A cylindrical, open-cell foam collar encircles the fan housing. The collar is sized so that the collar extends a substantial distance upstream past the edge of the collar. The foam collar reduces the acoustic noise from the fan by damping the housing vibration and also by acting as a barrier to muffle sound waves in the air. In addition, the foam collar straightens out the air flow prior to entering the fan blades making it more laminar and less turbulent to increase the efficiency of the fan.

Abstract: The sound produced by the movement of the teeth of an idling circular saw or band saw blade in air is substantially reduced by exposing the blade to a radiation impedance which is effectively imaginary, thereby subjecting a preselected portion of such sound to propagation cut-off. Propagation cut-off is achieved by providing a cover including a pair of closely spaced parallel acoustically hard-wall plates positionable on both sides of the blade. Preferably the plates are spaced apart by a distance less than 21 millimeters, and extend beyond the tips of the teeth by a distance several times the space between the plates. Portions of the plates may be moveable to expose the teeth during the cutting operation.

Abstract: A flexible, adhesively attachable, self-sealing, thermal and acoustical insulating shield has a needled, flexible, fibrous batt having an insulating layer of insulating fibers disposed between opposite binding layers of binding fibers. Binding fibers of each binding layer are needledly disposed through the insulating layer and an opposite binding layer to provide tufts of binding fibers protruding from the opposite binding layer so a to form a tufted upper surface and a tufted lower surface of the batt. A flexible adhesive is disposed and adhered substantially over the upper surface and, preferably, over lower surface of the batt such that the tufts on the upper and lower surfaces are secured to the surfaces by the adhesive. A flexible, protective foil is adjacent to, and preferably permanently adhered by the adhesive to, the lower surface of the batt.