Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a conical shaped acoustic structure. A sheet of acoustical material is cut to form individual pieces using a cutter system. Each individual piece in the individual pieces has a flat pattern for the conical shaped acoustic structure. An individual piece is positioned around a mandrel with a conical shape using an actuator system. Two edges of the individual piece are positioned for joining. The two edges of the individual piece positioned around the mandrel are joined to form the conical shaped acoustic structure.

Abstract: A composite acoustic liner has a septumized cellular core. Septa are installed in the core as the individual core cells are being formed. Individual tools are used to both form the cells of the core and index the septa within the cells. The septa and the cellular core are cocured.

Abstract: A composite acoustic liner has a septumized cellular core. Septa are installed in the core as the individual core cells are being formed. Individual tools are used to both form the cells of the core and index the septa within the cells. The septa and the cellular core are cocured.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating acoustic panels. One embodiment is a method comprising acquiring a core of acoustic cells, and fabricating a facesheet covering the core by: dispensing a base layer of material atop the acoustic cells while leaving openings into each of the acoustic cells, covering the openings by applying a liner of porous material atop the base layer, dispensing a cap layer of material atop liner while leaving gaps in the cap layer over the acoustic cells, and fusing the cap layer to the liner by directly radiating laser energy onto locations where the cap layer has been dispensed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for acoustic paneling. One embodiment is a method for fabricating an acoustic panel. The method includes receiving a sheet of thermoplastic paper, stamping/conforming the sheet into rows that each comprise a three dimensional shape, and transforming the sheet into a multi-celled core. Transforming the sheet includes identifying fold lines separating the rows, folding the sheet at the fold lines in a pleat fold, thereby uniting upper surfaces of adjacent rows and uniting lower surfaces of adjacent rows; and compressing the rows of the folded sheet together in the presence of heat, causing adjacent rows to fuse together into cells. The method further includes applying a backing sheet to the core, and applying a facesheet to a surface of the core that includes openings which direct a portion of airflow across the facesheet into the cells, resulting in acoustic control.

Abstract: A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.

Abstract: A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.

Abstract: A sound-attenuating composite structure may comprise a honeycomb core assembly having a plurality of honeycomb cells defined by sidewalls, wherein the honeycomb core assembly is sandwiched between an inner impervious skin and a perforated outer skin. The sound-attenuating composite structure may further comprise a ceramic foam insert received in each of the honeycomb cells at a predetermined insertion depth to form an obstruction therein. Each of the ceramic foam inserts may have a predetermined thickness defined between substantially flat top and bottom surfaces. The sound-attenuating composite structure may have predetermined acoustic performance characteristic that are controlled, at least in part, by the predetermined thickness and the predetermined insertion depth.

Abstract: A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attenuating sound. Air, through which acoustic waves are traveling, is received within a core comprised of a plurality of cells. The sound created by the acoustic waves is attenuated using a set of channels through a number of cell interfaces between cells of the plurality of cells by allowing the air to flow between the cells of the plurality of cells through the set of channels.

Abstract: An example method for manufacturing a multicellular structure for acoustic damping is described that includes applying a porogen material to a solid support, inserting a multicellular frame into the solid support and through the porogen material so as to fill cells of the multicellular frame with the porogen material, fusing the porogen material, removing the multicellular frame from the solid support, and the multicellular frame contains a suspended fused porogen network attached to walls of the cells of the multicellular frame. The method also includes applying a solution to the suspended fused porogen network in the cells of the multicellular frame to percolate the suspended fused porogen network, curing the solution, and removing the suspended fused porogen network from the multicellular frame resulting in porous septum membranes of the cured solution in cells of the multicellular frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attenuating sound. Air, through which acoustic waves are traveling, is received within a core comprised of a plurality of cells. The sound created by the acoustic waves is attenuated using a set of channels through a number of cell interfaces between cells of the plurality of cells by allowing the air to flow between the cells of the plurality of cells through the set of channels.

Abstract: A composite acoustic liner has a septumized cellular core. Septa are installed in the core as the individual core cells are being formed. Individual tools are used to both form the cells of the core and index the septa within the cells. The septa and the cellular core are cocured.

Abstract: A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.

Abstract: An acoustic panel for sound attenuation employs a septumized cellular core sandwiched between a backsheet and a linear acoustic facesheet. The linear acoustic facesheet employs a linear material layer that impedes acoustic waves entering the core substantially linearly over a wide range of frequencies and sound of pressure levels.

Abstract: An integrated noise attenuator and kick panel are provided for attenuating noise emanating from an appliance such as a dishwasher, washer, dryer, or refrigerator. The kick panel includes an elongated panel member having side flaps which are biased laterally against cabinets or other structures disposed on each side of the appliance. The elongated panel member is also provided with a textured noise attenuating surface on the back thereof which, along with the side flaps, attenuates and absorbs the sound and vibration emanating from the appliance.

Abstract: A hybrid mounting system is provided for mounting components together with a gasket there between. The mounting system provides soft or hard mount bolt locations, depending on application, at areas identified as high frequency path or problem areas while hard or soft mount bolt connections, depending on application, are utilized at areas identified as non problem or path areas. The hybrid mounting system can be utilized in applications involving industrial machinery, automotive applications and other applications where two components are mounted together with a gasket there between.

Abstract: A tuned vibration absorber is disclosed that includes a base, a spring mounted to the base, and a mass mounted to the spring. The absorber is particularly, advantageous when mounted to a specific vehicle component via a mounting bolt that is already employed to mount that particular component. For example, a tuned vibration absorber may be mounted to a cam cover bolt on a cam cover in order to absorb undesirable vibrations at a particular frequency.

Abstract: An integrated noise attenuator and kick panel are provided for attenuating noise emanating from an appliance such as a dishwasher, washer, dryer, or refrigerator. The kick panel includes an elongated panel member having side flaps which are biased laterally against cabinets or other structures disposed on each side of the appliance. The elongated panel member is also provided with a textured noise attenuating surface on the back thereof which, along with the side flaps, attenuates and absorbs the sound and vibration emanating from the appliance.

Abstract: A gasket for use in sealing a first component to a second component includes a first portion having a first shape factor. The first portion is adapted to seal the first component to the second component. A second portion has a second shape factor, the second portion is adapted to minimize vibration transmission between the first and second components. The first shape factor is designed to maximize sealability of the first portion and the second shape factor is designed to minimize vibration transmission of the second portion.