NOISE BARRIER

Abstract: In this publication is described a noise barrier, especially to be used outdoors by roadways. The construction has been disposed in that way that inside a part (2) which is grating-like "in the same way as a bush" and which constitutes the outward appearance is a sound-insulating, quite light plane (1), supported either by the part or a separate frame and mainly hanging and carpet-like, whereupon the part screens the plane from view (for example in a similar way as a sparse latticework of a suspended ceiling). The grating is made in that way that neither accuracy nor an immobile foundation is needed in the mounting of the noise barrier in order to make its outward appearance acceptable. If the grating is made for example spiral and the plane folded or rolled up, the construction can be arranged in a small room for transport and unrolled when it is mounted. The noise barrier can also function as a crash wall.

Description: Noise barrier The noise barrier is used mostly by the side of roadways to reduce traffic noise and air pollution Noise reduction in itself by building noise barriers is not a difficult problem in noise pollution technology There are different fence-like solutions and noise reduction embankments in use Because a part of the sound bends over the barrier, it is no use building it very sound-insulating, about 20 dB is enough For example a tight carpet weighing about 5 - 10 kg reaches this level Present solutions are heavier than necessary, more expensive and often unsatisfying in appearance Embank¬ ments with vegetation are considered visually more natural, but they take often too much space and require expensive foundation reinforcement on a bad ground The advantage of the invention is a construction which as light and airy is suited for its role and does not require either accuracy or immobile foundations when it is mounted. The construction does not get dirty as easily as present fences and it is easy to manage. The construction can also function as a crash wall. The basic idea of the invention is to divide the noise barrier into a carpet-like, quite light, mainly hanging noise reduction plane and a grating-like part which covers the plane and constitutes the visual appearance The plane can be supported by the grating-like part or a separate frame As it is screened from view neither accuracy nor immobile foundations are necessary when it is mounted It can be a tight, weatherproof carpet weighing about 5 - 10 kg/m 2 , covered with stone chips or camouflaged The lower end of the carpet bends partly over the ground or it can be 200 mm off the ground and the noise reduction still remains The visual idea of the grating-like part can be compared to a sparse latticework of a suspended ceiling when you look at it perpendicularly you can see pack discharges and things like that behind it but when you look at it diagonally it forms a ceiling surface The other basis for the appearance of the grating part is that it is "hedge-like Just like a hedge is visually acceptable as "inaccurate' , the grating part is also made such that neither accuracy nor immobile foundations are necessary when it is mounted. It can stand on the ground without foundations. On its basal part lying against the ground can be put soil as a weight When the grating part is made for example spiral and the noise reduction plane folded or rolled up, the construction can be arranged in a small room for transport and unrolled when it is mounted. The mounting can be done with a mobile crane from a roadway In the following text are described two typical embodiments by means of the attached drawings 1 : the actual noise reduction plane (1 ) is inside a spiral grating frame (2) The ma¬ terial of the grating can be for example wood, metal or plastic The transversely flat form increases the capability of the grating to screen the plane from view The upper edge of the grating is round whereupon inaccuracy in mounting and movements caused by the frost heaving action of the soil do not make its appearance worse There is soil as a weight on the basal part of the grating part The lower edge of the hanging noise reduction carpet can bend against the ground or hang a bit off the ground. The carpet is a better noise barrier than a stiff sheet of the same weight The design of the grating in the figures is only one alternative of principle There is reason to improve the design under 1 1 real conditions, likewise the appearance of the noise reduction carpet For example it can be characterized by stone chips which increase the weight of the carpet or camouflaged in the army way The con¬ struction works well with vegetation the introduction of which makes the appearance even better. 2: the noise reduction plane (1 ) is supported by a triangular frame and the covering grating (2) lies apart from it The bars of the grating in the figure are slender willow trunks or things like that, hit into the soil in an upright position, which are green in the summer and whose densely planted trunks form a covering grating also in the winter. For example, the bars could as well be dead, round trees in a slightly oblique position, coupled together hoπsontally, leaning against the triangular frame The whole does not require accuracy.

Claims: Claims 1. A noise barrier, especially out to the side of roadways, whose construction com¬ prises a separate sound-insulating plane and a grating-like part which surrounds and covers it, dominates the appearance of the noise barrier and can also support the insulation plane, characterized by that the sound-insulating plane is carpet¬ like (1 ) and the grating-like parts (2) rest on the ground directly without a separate foundation 2. A noise barrier according to claim 1 , characterized by that the grating has been shaped "bush-like" or in another way so that neither accuracy nor an im¬ mobile foundation is necessary when it is mounted in order to make its appearance acceptable, and by that the sound-insulating plane, screened from view with the grating, does not require accuracy because its lower edge is elastic whereupon it can bend against the ground or hang a bit off the ground 3. A noise barner according to claim 1 , characterized by that the grating-like part has been made for example spiral or rolled up and the sound-insulating plane folded or as rolled up whereupon the construction can be arranged in a small room for transport and unrolled when it is mounted, for example directly from a roadway 4 A noise barrier according to claim 1 . characterized by that the grating-like part consists of a line of living willow trunks or things like that hit like a grating into the soil in front of the sound-insulating plane, supported by a separate frame, so that the grating is green in the summer 5. A noise barrier according to claim 1 , characterized by that the grating-like part consists of a louvre carpet which has been mounted in front of the insulating plane supported by the separate frame, and which leans diagonally against the plane 6. A noise barrier according to claim 1 characterized by that the cross-sectional surface of the grating frame, for example, looks like a triangle with round angles and an apex pointing upwards, and by that the construction has been placed on the bank, close by the roadway with a removable weight on its basal part whereupon the height of the noise barrier can be arranged as low as possible and whereupon it can also function as a crash wall and a roadside marking when it is dark and there is snow on the ground, and whereupon it is laid aside for a while for the main¬ tenance of the road or of the noise barrier itself. 7. A noise barrier according to claim 1 , characterized by that the elastic, carpet¬ like noise reduction plane has been placed as one metre high close by the road¬ way, integrated into the visually dominating crash barrier so that it bends and lets snow go under it when the roadway is ploughed, and by that it is easy to clean it of paint spray and by that in the making of both of them has been used waste rubber or something like that whereupon the whole reinforced with horisontal cables is a crash wall as safe as possible. 8. A noise barrier according to claim 1 , characterized by that the grating-like screen of the sound-insulating plane consists of evergreen vegetation on both sides. 9. A noise barrier according to claim 1 , characterized by that the noise barrier is removable and intended for temporary use, for example around a noisy working machine or for a noise barrier to street races whereupon the quite tight supporting framework improves enough the visual appearance and a separate grating screen is unnecessary.

Inventors: HELPINEN HARTO, HELPINEN, HARTO
Applicants: HELPINEN HARTO, HELPINEN HARTO ARKKITEHTUUR KY, ARKKITEHTUURITOIMISTO HARTO HELPINEN KY, HELPINEN, HARTO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E01F8
IPC codes: E01F8, E01F15