Abstract:
A sound attenuating device including a sound insulating structure and a windband. The sound insulating structure is constructed and arranged to receive vented air from an exhaust vent. The windband is affixed to the sound insulating structure and is constructed and arranged to prevent water from entering the sound insulating structure. The windband also provides a structure for attenuating sound.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to fields such as industrial ventilation systems and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a sound attenuating device that is attached to the exterior venting system of a structure and is constructed to prevent water from entering the venting system. 
     Traditionally, exhaust air carrying sound pollution has been damped by a sound silencer mounted to the end of an exhaust vent. This silencer contains sound insulation and reduces the overall amount of sound pollution exiting the exhaust vent. The sound silencer is typically cylindrical in shape and has sound insulating material therein. A damper is sometimes utilized on the silencer to allow the exhaust to escape when needed. The damper is then closed while the exhaust vent is not in use to protect the exhaust vent and silencer from the natural elements, such as rain water. A windband, typically only comprised of a sheet of material, such as sheet metal, formed into a cylindrical shape, may also be utilized on the silencer to help keep wind on the exterior of the structure from pulling the damper open or inhibiting the damper from closing. Traditionally, these three elements have not been specifically designed to be used together and, therefore, they are typically modified and bolted together. Furthermore, such structures may not adequately remove sound pollution existing within the exhaust, and therefore, the damping of the sound pollution may be improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a unitary sound attenuating device that comprises a sound insulating structure and a windband. The sound insulating structure is constructed and arranged to receive vented air from an exhaust vent attached to a structure. The windband provides a structure for attenuating sound. The windband also provides a structure for diverting water away from said sound insulating structure and, thereby, prevents water from entering the exhaust vent. 
     In one embodiment, the sound insulating structure has an exterior wall with the interior surface of the wall having sound insulation thereon. The sound insulation may be housed in a compartment comprised of at least an interior wall and the exterior wall. The interior wall may have a plurality of apertures therethrough to allow sound to pass through the wall. 
     The sound insulating structure may also have a sound attenuating structure positioned within the interior space defined within the interior surface of the exterior wall. The sound attenuating structure may also have an apertured outer surface and sound insulation positioned within the sound attenuating structure. 
     In one embodiment, the windband is defined by an exterior wall with sound insulation on its interior surface. The insulation may be housed in a compartment formed by the exterior wall and at least an interior wall. One embodiment of the device provides a windband that is capable of diverting water by utilizing a drain aperture either in the exterior wall of the windband or in the bottom surface of the windband. The windband may also utilize a bulb seal and/or a damper to divert water from the sound attenuating structure. The sound attenuating structure may have an interior cavity formed therein with the cavity in exhaust communication with the exhaust vent and having an output orifice. The seal may be placed around the edge of the output orifice. In a preferred embodiment, a damper having two opposing lid portions is constructed and arranged to cover the output orifice of the sound attenuating structure. The lid portions may have overhanging edges that hang over the edge portion of the sound insulating structure adjacent to the output orifice. 
     The aforementioned benefits and other benefits including specific features of the invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevated top side perspective view of a device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is side cut-away view of the embodiment of the present invention taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a side partial cut-away view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the internal configuration of this embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention showing the device  10  being mounted to the periphery of an exhaust vent (not shown) of a structure  12 . The exhaust vent may be the terminus of an exhaust duct, the outlet of an exhaust fan or any other known structure with the attachment being accomplished by any means known in the art. One such means, is as shown—bolting the device  10  to the structure  12 . The device  10  generally comprises two portions, namely, the sound insulating structural portion  14  and the windband portion  16 . The sound insulating portion  14  is constructed and arranged to minimize the sound emanating from the structure  14 . The windband  16  is constructed and arranged to minimize the affect of the outside elements on the sound insulating structure  14  as well as the exhaust vent of the structure  12  and is designed to further reduce sound pollution exiting the exhaust vent. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the interior makeup of this embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the device  10  has exterior walls  18  and  20  forming the exterior of both the sound insulating structure  14  and the windband  16 . The interior surfaces of these walls  18  and  20  each preferably have sound insulation  22  positioned thereon. The insulation  22  is preferably water and air permeable and is preferably resistant to degradation by natural elements, such as water. Any suitable sound insulating material may be utilized. For example, glass or mineral wool fiber-type insulation are suitable for use with the present invention. 
     As illustrated, the insulation  22  in either or both the sound insulation structure  14  and the windband  16  may be housed within a compartment formed by the interior surface of the exterior wall  18  or  20  and an interior wall  24  or  26 , respectively. Each compartment may also be comprised of a top surface  54  or  56  and bottom surface  58  or  60  in both the sound insulation structure  14  and the windband  16 . The interior wall  24  or  26  has a plurality of apertures  62  thereon for the access of exhaust to the insulation  22 . Since the windband  16  is exposed to the elements, the bottom surface  58  of the compartment within the windband  16  also has a plurality of apertures  62  for the passing of water therethrough. 
     As shown, the sound insulating structure  14  may comprise single or multiple cavities  64  therein that are in communication with a structure&#39;s exhaust vent for passage of exhaust from the vent to the exterior of the sound insulating structure  14 . This cavity  64  has an input orifice  66  affixed to the exhaust vent and an output orifice  68  for the exhausting of exhaust. 
     The interior cavity  64  may have any interior configuration known in the art. One example is shown, wherein the interior cavity of the sound insulating structure  14  has a circular cylindrical shape and has a sound attenuating structure  28  positioned therein. The sound attenuating structure  28  shown is comprised of an outer surface  30  having a plurality of apertures thereon. The outer surface  30  defines an interior space and preferably has sound insulation  22  positioned therein. The sound attenuating structure  28  may be held in position by any means known in the art. For example, as shown, the structure is held in position be a plurality of vanes  32  attached between the outer surface  30  and the interior wall  26  of the sound insulating structure  14 . 
     The output orifice may have a damper  34  arranged to cover the entirety of the orifice. In this way, natural elements can be prevented from entering the device  10  when the device is not in use. Any suitable damper may be utilized. For example, the device illustrated utilizes two opposing lid portions  36  that are mounted over the center of the orifice and that swing upwardly when the amount of exhaust acts to force them upward, the upward or open position being shown in phantom in FIG.  2 . The lid portions  36  may have overhanging edges  38  that hang over the edge of the orifice to aid in keeping the elements out of the sound insulating structure  14 . 
     A seal  40  positioned around the edge of the orifice may also be employed to aid in keeping undesirable material out of the structure. Furthermore, the lids  36  may have upwardly bent interior edges  42  that act in concert with a drain channel  44  mounted across the orifice to drain water away from the orifice, and onto the bottom surface  50  of the windband  16 , when the lid portions  36  of the damper  34  are partially open. A damper stop structure  46  may also be employed to keep the lids  36  of the damper  34  from overextending. As shown, the damper stop  46  is provided by a plate having a pair of resilient bumpers  48  mounted thereon. 
     In the embodiment shown in the figures, the windband  16  comprises a bottom surface  50  wherein water would pool and fill the windband  16  or enter the sound insulating structure  14  if proper drainage is not provided. Drainage apertures are preferably provided at or near the bottom surface  50  of the windband. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the exhaust vent has a first radius R 1  that is equal to or smaller than the sound insulation structure  14  having a second radius R 2 . The windband  16  has a third radius R 3  that is larger than the first and second radii R 1  and R 2 . With this construction, drainage may be accomplished by placing the drainage apertures in the bottom surface  50  between the second and third radii R 2  and R 3 . In this embodiment, the water then drains down either on or in proximity to the exterior surface  20  of the sound insulation structure  14 . The lid portions  36  of the damper  34  preferably has a fourth radius R 4  that is between that of the first radius R 1  and the third radius R 3 , thereby allowing it to completely cover the output orifice of the sound insulating structure  14 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates how this embodiment of the present invention effectuates the drainage of water from the device  10 . A drop of water  52  is shown entering the interior of the windband  16 . The water droplet  52  contacts the damper  34  and continues down the lid portion  36  and over the overhanging edge  38  of the lid  36 . The droplet  52  then falls off the overhanging edge  38  and onto the bottom surface  50  of the windband  16 . The droplet  52  then drains through an aperture formed in the bottom surface  50  and exits the device  10 , falling along the outside of the sound insulating structure  14 . 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted in the illustrative and not limiting sense.