MODULAR PANEL FOR ACOUSTIC SCREENS

Abstract

 Modular panel for acoustic screens, intended to isolate and protect an inhabited area from ambient noise that occurs in an adjoining area, for example, roads, railways, or airports; the panel comprising two plates arranged in parallel and a filling of noise absorbent material arranged between the two plates; at least one plate having a plurality of perforations (10) for access of the noise to the interior of the panel (1); each of the plates (1a 1b) comprising a rectangular surface (11) which affects the entire length of the panel (1) and extensions (12a, 12b) on its longitudinal edges that form longitudinal guides for the sliding assembly of closing profiles (2a, 2b) of the top and bottom ends of the panel (1).

Description

Object of the invention

[0001] The object of the present invention is a modular panel for acoustic screens comprising: two plates arranged in parallel, forming two outer faces of the panel, and a filling of noise absorbent material arranged between the two plates; at least one plate, forming the face of the panel exposed to the noise, having a plurality of perforations for access of the noise to the interior of the panel.

[0002] This panel has a few constructive features aimed at facilitating its assembly without the intervention of screws, rivets or other joining elements that require the use of tools for their placement.

[0003] The features of this panel also make it easily transportable, optimising the ability for transportation.

State of the art

[0004] Currently, acoustic screens, which are used to absorb ambient noise and to minimise the spread thereof from an area in which such noises are produced, for example, roads, motorways, railways, urban and inter-urban roads, airports, etc. to adjoining inhabited areas, usually residential areas, are known.

[0005] These acoustic screens can be made up of different materials, being known, for example, vegetation acoustic screens composed of vegetation of different heights, those formed with recycled material and those which have a greater relation to the object of this invention, which consist of two plates that configure the outer faces of the panel and a block or filling of insulating material arranged between said plates.

[0006] It is also known that, in this type of panels, the plate forming the face of the panel exposed to noise has a plurality of perforations, usually performed by punching, through which the noise accesses to the interior of the panel to be cushioned by the acoustic absorbent material, while the plate forming the face of the panel oriented to the area to be protected from noise is a continuous plate, i.e., without perforations.

[0007] Generally, the acoustic insulation material is a synthetic material, for example, rockwool, which acts as a noise absorber.

[0008] In acoustic screens, these panels are arranged vertically, for example, between consecutive pairs of posts in "H" section; it being necessary, however, to establish a join between the two side plates to close the panel at least at the top and at the bottom and so that it remains stable in the assembled position.

[0009] One technique used to fasten the side plates to each other in an assembled position and to retain the absorbent material therebetween is to use top and bottom closing profiles, which are fastened to the side plates by fastening elements such as screws or rivets. This fastening technique, besides being slow and laborious, requires the use of said fastening elements, which as a whole increases the manufacturing cost of the acoustic panel.

[0010] As background of the present invention may be mentioned the European patent EP 0 529 177, comprising an insulating material placed between two metal layers, with a top and a bottom closing element fastened to the metal layers or plates by screws.

[0011] This type of panel can be delivered assembled from the workshop, but in this case they require a lot of space for transport, which increases the cost of this service.

Description of the invention.

[0012] The acoustic panel, object of this invention, is of the type of panel comprising side plates arranged in parallel forming two outer faces of the panel, closing profiles for the top and bottom ends of the panel and a filling of noise absorbent material arranged between said plates, the plate forming the face exposed to noise having a plurality of perforations for access of the noise to the interior of the panel, which is absorbed by the block of absorbent material, the sound waves also being blocked by the continuous plate without perforations which forms the other wall of the panel, this panel having constructive features aimed at resolving the problems described above.

[0013] The modular panel, object of the invention, being intended for the formation of acoustic screens, has some constructive features aimed at facilitating the assembly of the panel without resorting to the use of screws, rivets or other similar elements for fastening the side plates to each other or to the top and bottom closing profiles.

[0014] Another objective of the invention is to make the constituent elements thereof easily transportable, allowing their stacking to save available space and the transportation of as many parts as possible within the same volume.

[0015] To that end and according to the invention, each of the side plates comprises a rectangular surface which affects the entire length of the panel and, at its longitudinal edges, symmetrical extensions relative to a longitudinal median plane perpendicular to the corresponding plate, said extensions forming longitudinal guides for the sliding assembly in a close-fitting manner with the possibility of displacement only in the longitudinal direction of the closing profiles of the top and bottom ends.

[0016] Each of said top and bottom closing profiles has a cross section of general configuration in "U" defined by a flat web and flanges of similar section to the extensions of the side plates; so that, in an assembled position of the modular panel, the top and bottom closing profiles externally embrace the extensions of the plates corresponding to a same top or bottom end of the panel.

[0017] With the features mentioned above, once the two side plates and the filling of absorbent material therebetween are suitably positioned, all that is necessary is to assemble the top and bottom profiles as a slide, these profiles embracing the extensions corresponding to the top end and the bottom end of the side plates so that the panel is stably assembled in minimum time without the use of screws, rivets or other additional fastening elements.

[0018] In this invention, it is provided that the extensions of the side plates protrude from the rectangular surface of the panel, each of said extensions having at least one first oblique segment and one second segment parallel to the rectangular surface of the corresponding plate, this geometry allowing that the side plates can be stacked, nested on one another, optimising the space needed for storage and transport.

[0019] The flat configuration of the webs of the top and bottom closing profiles allows the correct emplacement of the panels in the case that the noise barrier to be built has more than one level, thus allowing the arrangement of one panel on another to form a noise barrier, since the top and bottom closing profiles coincide and give the panel a flat shape at the top and bottom ends.

[0020] This also allows that, during construction of a noise barrier, between vertically stacked panels an adhesive joint, for example of neoprene, to seal said joining area can be arranged.

Description of the figures.

[0021] In order to complement the description that is being carried out and with the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present description is accompanied by a set of drawings wherein, by way of a non-limiting example, the following has been represented:

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the modular panel for acoustic screens, according to the invention, seen from the smooth side, the plate without perforations, intended to be placed on the side of the area to be protected from noise.
• Figure 2 shows a similar view to the above of the modular panel, seen from the opposite side, the perforated plate intended to be exposed to the noise source during the sliding assembly of the top closing profile.
• Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the modular panel profile of the previous figures.
• Figure 4 shows several side plates disassembled and stacked in a transport position.

Preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the modular panel for acoustic screens comprises two side plates (1a, 1b), the plate (1a) being provided with a plurality of perforations (10) while the plate (1b) is continuous and without perforations.

[0023] Between the side plates (1a, 1b) is arranged a filling (3) of noise absorbent material, the modular panel being closed at the top and bottom ends by respective profiles (2a, 2b) assembled in the longitudinal direction as a slide.

[0024] The side plates (1a, 1b) having identical profiles, each one of them provided with a rectangular surface (11) and extensions (12a, 12b) defined on the longitudinal edges of said plates. Said extensions (12a, 12b) form longitudinal guides for the sliding assembly in a close-fitting manner with possibility of movement only in the longitudinal direction of the closing profiles (2a, 2b) of the top and bottom ends of the panel.

[0025] The aforementioned extensions (12a, 12b) protrude from the rectangular surface (11) to the exterior of the panel (1), said extensions having a first oblique segment (13) and a second segment (14) parallel to the rectangular surface (11) of the corresponding plate.

[0026] Meanwhile, the top and bottom closing profiles (2a, 2b) have a cross section in the form of a "U" with a flat web (21) and flanges (22).

[0027] Each of the flanges (22) comprises two end segments (23, 24) mutually parallel and perpendicular to the web of the corresponding profile, and an oblique intermediate segment (25), which in the assembly position of the panel is disposed parallel and externally on the first oblique segment of the corresponding extension (12a, 12b) of the plates (1a, 1b).

[0028] With this configuration, and as shown schematically in Figure 2, the assembly of the closing profiles (2a, 2b) is performed as a slide embracing with its flanges (22) the extensions (12a, 12b) of the corresponding top or bottom end of the side plates (1a, 1b).

[0029] The configuration of the side plates (1a, 1b) and the profiles (2a, 2b) ensures that, once performed the sliding assembly of said profiles, the panel is assembled in a stable manner without using screws, rivets or other external fastening means.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the configuration of the side plates (1a, 1b) allows their stacking so that they fit one on the other, minimising the space necessary for transportation.

[0031] Once the nature of the invention as well as an example of preferred embodiment have been sufficiently described, it is stated for all pertinent purposes that the materials, form, size and arrangement of the elements described are susceptible to changes, provided these do not involve an alteration of the essential features of the invention that are claimed subsequently.

Claims

1. A modular panel for acoustic screens comprising: two plates (1a, 1b) arranged parallel forming two outer faces of the panel (1); closing profiles (2a, 2b) for the top and bottom ends of the panel (1); and a filling (3) of noise absorbent material arranged between both plates (1a, 1b); at least one plate (1a) forming a face exposed to noise, having a plurality of perforations (10) for access of the noise to the interior of the panel (1); characterised in that each of the plates (1a 1b) has a rectangular surface (11) which affects the entire length of the panel (1) and, on its longitudinal edges, extensions (12a, 12b) symmetrical relative to a longitudinal median plane perpendicular to the corresponding plate (1a, 1b), said extensions (12a, 12b) forming longitudinal guides for the sliding assembly in a close-fitting manner and with possibility of movement only in the longitudinal direction of the closing profiles (2a, 2b) of the top and bottom ends of the panel (1); each one of said profiles (2a, 2b) having a cross section of general configuration in "U" having a flat web (21) and flanges (22) of similar section to the extensions (12a, 12b) of the plates; said closing profiles (2a, 2b) externally embracing the extensions (12a, 12b) of the plates (1a, 1b) corresponding to the same top or bottom end of the panel (1).

2. The panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the extensions (12a, 12b) of the plates protrude from the rectangular surface (11) to the exterior of the panel (1); each of said extensions (12a, 12b) having at least: - a first oblique segment (13) and a second segment (14) parallel to the rectangular surface of the corresponding plate (1a, 1b).

3. The panel according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that each of the flanges (22) of the closing profiles (2a, 2b) comprises two end segments (23, 24) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the web of the corresponding profile, and an oblique intermediate segment (25) which is arranged parallel and externally on the first oblique segment (13) of the corresponding extension (12a, 12b) of the plates (1a,1b).

Drawing