SOUND-PROOFING SCREEN FOR ERECTING ALONG A TRAFFIC ROAD OR THE LIKE

Abstract: A vegetation-faced traffic noise barrier comprises a support structure consisting of spaced vertical posts (1) anchored to the ground and spaced beams (3) extending horizontally between the posts. Sound-absorbing panels (9) are mounted between said posts and beams, and at least on the traffic-facing side of the barrier the support structure carries, spaced therefrom, a netting (6) for supporting growing plants (7); said netting may slope out from the top of the barrier. The sound-absorbing panels (9) consist of sound-absorbing plates (10) wrapped in accoustically open film and sandwiched between a supporting netting and an impervious corrugated backing sheet.

Description: The invention relates to a soundproofing wall for erecting along a traffic road or the like, said wall comprising a support construction consisting of vertical posts being regularly spaced along the wall and being connected to the ground and a number of beams extending horizontally between said posts, said posts and beams serving to support sound absorbing plates, the one vertical surface of each of said plates being supported by a closed panel and the other vertical surface, directed to the source of sound, being supported by a more or less open construction. Such a soundproofing wall is known by NL-A-8 601 015. In case of this known wall the sound absorbing plates at the same time serve as the material in which plants are growing. To that end the surface of the plates, directed to the source of sound are covered by perforated plates through the openings of which the plants extend outwardly. A disadvantage of this is, that the sound absorbing qualities of the plates will be influenced by the presence of the roots of the plants and the necessary water in said plates. Further the plates can hardly be protected against atmospheric influences. It does not make any difference when in stead of said perforated plate a netting is used as known by AT-B-385 067 and WO-A-8 401 791. In both these cases the netting only serves to confine the material in which the plants are growing. Another type of a sound-proofing screen is known by the European patent 0,128,245. In case of this known screen use is made of plants of willows or the like, which are planted close to one another in the soil so as to form a closed wall after some time. The height of such a wall and the sound-absorbing capacity of it are limited. The object of the invention is to remove these disadvantages and to that end a wall according to the invention is characterized in that at the side of the wall directed to the source of sound, a netting is present which is positioned at a distance from the plane of the support construction and is serving to support growing plants. By this the sound absorbing qualities of the sound absorbing plates are not influenced by the presence of plants. Primarily the plants serve to hide the support construction with the sound absorbing plates from view and futher the plants take care for a "labyrinth working" so that refelection of sound is highly prevented. To protect the sound absorbing plates against atmospheric influences these preferably will be wrapped in an acoustic open foil. Because the sound-absorbing plates as such will have less strength they will be supported by netting at the side of the sound source and by corrugated panels at the other side. When both sides of the wall have to be sound-absorbing the corrigated panels will have to be positioned between two sound absorbing plates, while in the other case the corrugated panels are forming an outside of the wall. In this case the corrugated panels can be made of fiber cement, eternite, zinked steel or the like. In case of the wall according to the invention it can be favourable when the netting is closer to the plane of the support construction at the upper side than at the lower side. In connection with the available space this, however, will not always be possible. In particular the netting will have a mesh opening size of 100 to 200 mm, so that it gives a sufficient support for the plants at the one side and that it is as less as possible disturbing the sound-absorbing of the wall at the other side. Now the invention is described by referring to an embodiment shown in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a sound-proofing screen according to the present invention in which various parts are left out and the screen is shown from the side of the sound source; Fig. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the other side of the screen of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 schematically shows a vertical cross section over a sound-proofing screen according to the Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 shows a horizontal cross section over a part of the screen according to the Figs. 1-3. The sound-proofing screen shown in the drawing comprises the posts 1 which by means of a concrete base 2 and adjusting means not further described, are connected to the ground. The beams 3 are extending between the posts 1. Brackets 4 are extending from the posts and serve to support the wooden lathes 5 to which the netting 6 is fixed, which serves to support the vegetation 7. As in particular appears from Fig. 4 corrugated panels 8 and sound-absorbing plates 9 are mounted between the posts 1 and the beams 3. The sound absorbing plates 9 e.g. consist of plates of rockwool 10 with around it a wrapping 11 of an acoustic open foil. The sound-absorbing plates 9 are supported by means of netting 12 at the side opposite to the corrigated panel 8. As in particular appears from Fig. 4 the corrigated panels 8 and the sound absorbing plates 9 are supported by means of two angle profiles 13 and 14 which near the posts 1 are fixed by means of wedges 15. Fig. 4 shows a cross section over a sound-proofing screen which serves to absorb the sound coming from a source which is only present at one side of the screen, to wit the side of the netting 12. When the wall has to be suitable to absorb the sound of two sources, present at both sides of the screen, a sound absorbing plate 9 will also be present at the other side of the corrugated panel 8 with the netting 12 against it. All these possibilities, however, will be obvious for the expert and need no further elucidation. Also it will be obvious that only a possible embodiment of a sound-proofing screen according to the invention is shown in the drawing and is described above and that many modifications can be applied without leaving the inventive concept as defined in the claims.

Claims: 1. Sound proofing wall for erecting along a traffic road or the like, said wall comprising a support construction consisting of vertical posts (1) being regularly spaced along the wall and being connected to the ground and a number of beams (3) extending horizontally between said posts, said posts (1) and beams (3) serving to support sound absorbing plates (9), the one vertical surface of each of said plates being supported by a closed panel and the other vertical surface, directed to the source of sound, being supported by a more or less open construction, characterized in that at the side of the wall directed to the source of sound, a netting (6) is present which is positioned at a distance from the plane of the support construction (1,3) and is serving to support growing plants. 2. Sound-proofing screen according to claim 2, characterized in that the sound-absorbing plates (9) are wrapped in an acoustic open foil (11). 3. Sound-proofing screen according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sound-absorbing plates (9) are supported by netting (12) at the side of the sound source and by corrugated panels (8) at the other side. 4. Sound-proofing screen according to claim 3, characterized in that the corrugated panels (8) are made of fiber cement, eternite, zinked steel or the like. 5. Sound-proofing screen according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in the netting (6) is positioned closer to the plane of the support construction (1,3) at the upper side than at the lower side. 6. Sound-proofing screen according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the netting (6) has a mesh opening size of 100 to 200 mm.

Inventors: DE WINTER, MAARTEN, PRINS, FREDERIK DANIEL GIJSBERT
Applicants: BEHEERMAATSCHAPPIJ OP DE KAAI B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E01F8
IPC codes: E01F8