Sheet Metal Panel Shape for Low Sound Radiation
A shape for sheet metal stampings is provided that will minimize the radiation of sound from the panel, to thereby reduce or eliminate the need to add supplemental acoustical absorbing or barrier materials. The sheet metal panel shape includes a crown portion, a peripheral flange that extends around the boundary of the crown portion, a flat portion that truncates the crown, and a bead pattern that is formed in at least the flat portion of the panel, whereby the crown and the flat and the bead pattern cooperate to define a panel shape that has low sound radiation. The bead pattern can also extend part way or more into the crown portion.
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The present invention relates to the shaping of a sheet metal panel to minimize noise emission and more particularly provides a sheet metal panel having a combination of a flange, a crown, a flat and a bead to reduce sound radiation while it is exposed to vibration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is well known to construct a motor vehicle body by welding together a number of sheet metal panels. When the vehicle is driven, these sheet metal panels are subjected to vibrational energy from the engine and from the highway surface. This vibrational energy is transmitted into sound radiations as the panels vibrate. The vibration of panels in this way is especially critical in the large flat panels used in the vehicle floor, including the luggage compartment and in the foot wells. Because the radiated sound is objectionable, it is well known to install acoustic materials that will dampen the vibration and thereby reduce the emission of sound from the body panels.
It would be desirable to provide new and improved sheet metal panel shapes that would reduce or eliminate the transmission of sound and minimize the need for the installation of acoustic dampening materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA shape for sheet metal stampings is provided that will minimize the radiation of sound from the panel, to thereby reduce or eliminate the need to add supplemental acoustical absorbing or barrier materials. The sheet metal panel shape includes a crown portion, a peripheral flange that extends around the boundary of the crown portion, a flat portion that truncates the crown, and a bead pattern that is formed in at least the flat portion of the panel, whereby the crown and the flat and the bead pattern cooperate to define a panel shape that has low sound radiation. The bead pattern can also extend part way or more into the crown portion.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to
As best seen in
As seen in the drawings the bead pattern 18 of
Referring now to
The shelf 808 is similar to the shelf 806 and includes the elements of a peripheral flange 862, a crown 864, a flat 866, and bead pattern 868. It will be understood that for this shelf 808 the relationship between the flange, the crown and the flat, as well as the shape of the bead pattern can be according to any of the embodiments of
In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the invention provides a new and improved shape for sheet metal stampings that will minimize the radiation of sound radiation from the panel, thereby minimizing the need to add supplemental acoustical materials.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations thereof are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A sheet metal panel comprising: whereby the crown, and the flat, and the bead pattern, cooperate to define a panel shape that has low sound radiation.
- a crown portion;
- a peripheral flange that extends around the boundary of the crown portion;
- a flat portion that truncates the crown;
- and a bead pattern formed in at least the flat portion of the panel;
2. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern rising from the flat portion in a direction that adds to the height of the crown.
3. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern rising from the flat portion in a direction opposite to the direction that would add to the height of the crown so that overall height of the panel is not increased by the presence of the bead pattern.
4. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern being a ladder shape with a central spine and a plurality of lateral rungs that extend transverse to the spine.
5. The sheet metal panel of claim 4 further comprising the spine residing in the flat portion and not the crown.
6. The sheet metal panel of claim 4 further comprising the spine extending across the entire flat portion and at least part way into the crown.
7. The sheet metal panel of claim 4 further comprising the lateral rungs residing in only the flat portion and not the crown.
8. The sheet metal panel of claim 4 further comprising the lateral rungs extending across the entire flat portion and at least part way into the crown.
9. The sheet metal panel of claim 4 further comprising the spine extending across the entire flat portion and the entire crown portion to the peripheral flange.
10. The sheet metal panel of claim 4 further comprising the lateral rungs extending across the entire flat portion and the entire crown portion to the peripheral flange.
11. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern being at least one or more rectangular shaped depressions that are provided in at least the flat portion.
12. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern being at least one or more rectangular shaped depressions that are provided in at least the flat portion and extend at least part way into the crown.
13. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern being a plurality of rectangular shaped depressions that are provided in at least the flat portion.
14. The sheet metal panel of claim 1 further comprising the bead pattern being a plurality of rectangular shaped depressions that are provided in at least the flat portion and extend at least part way into the crown.
15. A sheet metal panel comprising:
- a crown portion that is bounded by a peripheral flange;
- a flat portion that truncates the crown;
- and a ladder shaped bead pattern that rises from the flat portion of the panel and extends at least part way into the crown.
16. The sheet metal panel of claim 15 further comprising the bead pattern being a ladder shape with a central spine and a plurality of lateral rungs that extend transverse to the spine.
17. The sheet metal panel of claim 16 further comprising the bead pattern rising from the flat portion in a direction that adds to the height of the crown.
18. The sheet metal panel of claim 16 further comprising the bead pattern rising from the flat portion in a direction opposite to the direction that would add to the height of the crown so that overall height of the panel is not increased by the presence of the bead pattern.
19. A sheet metal panel comprising:
- a crown portion that is bounded by a peripheral flange;
- a flat portion that truncates the crown;
- and a ladder shaped bead pattern having a central spine and a plurality of lateral rungs that rise from the flat portion of the panel and extend at least part way into the crown.
20. The sheet metal panel of claim 19 further comprising the bead pattern rising from the flat portion in a direction that either adds to the height of the crown or rise in a direction opposite to the direction that would add to the height of the crown so that overall height of the panel is not increased by the presence of the bead pattern.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 30, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 30, 2010
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. (Detroit, MI)
Inventors: Chong Wang (Novi, MI), Scott M. Reilly (Davisburg, MI), Timothy J. Roggenkamp (Brighton, MI)
Application Number: 12/413,664
International Classification: B21C 37/02 (20060101);