Patent Description:
In the related art, in buildings, residents, and the like, a ventilation duct, such as an air conditioning duct to which a fan is attached, has been widely used for indoor air conditioning, ventilation, and/or air blowing, but noise reduction and miniaturization are strongly desired due to demand for indoor comfort, quietness, and the like.

Specifically, noise predominant at a specific frequency determined by the number of blades and a rotation speed of the fan has become a major problem of fan noise.

Although a normal porous sound absorber can also be used in the duct, the porous sound absorber only lowers sound as a whole, and it is difficult to change a relative relationship in which the noise is loud only at the specific frequency. It is known that the predominant specific frequency sound is easy to be heard in the field of psychoacoustics, and a method of significantly lowering only specific sound is required, which is difficult for the normal porous sound absorber.

In addition, in a case where the porous sound absorber is configured by a fiber-based sound absorber or a deteriorating material, the fibers or peeled pieces are carried by the wind of the fan and fly as dust, having an effect on a device, or being discharged to the environment, which is not preferable.

In addition, demand for the miniaturization and weight reduction of the device is high, and muffling with a lower weight and a smaller size to the extent possible is required. In particular, since the length of the duct is extremely small in many cases, size reduction in a duct flow passage direction is also required for a muffling structure.

For example, <CIT> discloses a muffling device that effectively suppresses noise of a cooling fan used in a device having the cooling fan and a cooling duct, for example, a projection-type display device, such as a liquid crystal projector device.

The muffling device disclosed in <CIT> has, in the cooling duct, a resonance-type muffler configured by a reflecting plate that is formed, at a position facing an intake surface of the cooling fan, substantially parallel to the intake surface and reflects sound from the cooling fan, an air chamber that is provided on an opposite side to the cooling fan with the reflecting plate interposed therebetween, and a through hole that is provided in the reflecting plate and communicates with the air chamber. In the muffling device, the intake surface of the cooling fan and a flow passage direction of the cooling duct are at a right angle, and the intake surface of the cooling fan and the reflecting plate of the resonance-type muffler, for example, a sound absorption surface of a Helmholtz resonator, a plate surface of a plate-shaped sound absorber, or a membrane surface of a membrane-shaped sound absorber face each other. In the muffling device, since the fan and the duct are at a right angle, only a frequency, which is equal to or higher than a cutoff frequency of the duct and at which a higher-order mode of sound can be generated, is emitted from the fan and flows in a direction of the duct. That is, as the diameter of the duct decreases, the cutoff frequency determined by the diameter of the duct increases, and sound at the frequency or less does not become traveling waves in the flow passage direction of the duct, is confined between the fan and a facing resonance surface, and is absorbed. The muffling device disclosed in <CIT> can provide a silent duct that is small in size, is low-cost, and has a high a muffling effect.

<CIT> discloses a duct that is provided in a vehicle and causes air to be sent from an air conditioning device to a vehicle interior to flow therein, the duct being capable of absorbing sound at a relatively low frequency, such as engine sound and road noise.

The duct disclosed in <CIT> is connected to a plurality of sound absorbing structures each comprising a housing that has an open hollow region, first and second holes that are provided in the housing, and a membrane-shaped or plate-shaped vibrating body that closes an opening portion of the hollow region, so that the hollow regions communicate with each other via the first and second holes. The sound absorption of the duct corresponds to a mechanism that has a hole provided in a space of the hollow region between the housing and a membrane surface and absorbs sound causing resonance with a membrane by adjusting the length of the membrane surface in a width (horizontal) direction to λ/<NUM>.

In the duct disclosed in <CIT>, each sound absorbing structure having a simple configuration performs sound absorption by converting sound waves into vibration and consuming sound wave energy as mechanical energy. In addition, the sound absorbing structure is suitable for absorbing, for example, low-frequency sound that comes from an engine room and the like and infiltrates into the vehicle interior or comes from the air conditioning device and infiltrates into the vehicle interior.

<CIT> describes that low-frequency duct noise is relatively difficult to deal with by passive methods such as porous duct lining. Reactive methods like expansion chamber are rather bulky, while compact resonators are to narrow-banded. <CIT> shows that a suitably stretched thin membrane backed by a slender cavity can achieve a satisfactory performance from low to medium frequencies over an octave band.

And <NPL> discloses that the attenuation of ducted fan noise remains a technical challenge in the low frequency range as traditional duct lining becomes ineffective, and proposes a reactive method to suppress the sound radiation from an axial-flow fan. The method is particularly effective in the low frequency region and covers a broad band. Its effect is derived from two mechanisms. One is the reduction in the confining effects of duct walls when the duct radius is increased; the other is the acoustic interference between the direct radiation from the fan and reflections by the duct junctions. This interference is always destructive for axial dipoles when the frequency approaches zero. This performance differs from normal passive control methods, which become totally ineffective toward zero frequency. An approximate plane-wave theory explains the essential physics of the method, and its quantitative prediction is found to agree well with a full numerical simulation using a spectral method of Chebyshev collocation. The latter is validated by experiment using an axial-flow fan in a duct of finite length. Broadband noise reduction is achieved while the flow speed is kept unchanged. Practical difficulties of implementation for a fan with high pressure increase are discussed.

However, muffling of noise having a specific frequency described above with the use of a resonance structure can be examined. As the resonance structure, for example, a Helmholtz resonance structure disclosed in <CIT> or an air column resonance structure can be examined, but the characteristic of the structures is that the structures have an opening portion. In a case where the resonating bodies are disposed in a system that causes wind to flow, such as a fan, there is a problem that wind noise is generated in the opening portion. For example, the air column resonance structure is a structure that causes cavity noise in aerodynamic noise, generating new noise. In addition, a Helmholtz resonating body also has a structure where wind noise generated at the opening portion strongly generates specific sound due to an effect of the resonating body so that in a case where air is blown into the mouth of a PET bottle, the bottle is rung with specific sound. Due to these, the resonance structure having the opening portion is difficult to be applied to the system that causes wind to flow, such as the fan.

For this reason, the present inventor has examined muffling of specific frequency sound caused by blades of the fan with the use of a membrane-type resonance structure as disclosed in <CIT>. Since the membrane-type resonance structure does not need an opening portion, the membrane-type resonance structure does not become a generation source of new wind noise in response to wind, unlike the Helmholtz resonance structure and the air column resonance structure. In this state, fan specific noise can be muffled by a resonance phenomenon.

However, in the muffling device disclosed in <CIT>, even in a case where the membrane-shaped sound absorber is provided to face the intake surface of the fan, the cooling duct is an intake duct, and noise on an intake side of the fan can be muffled, there is a problem that noise transmitted from the fan to a downstream side of the duct along with an air flow, such as wind, cannot be muffled.

Even in a case where the membrane-shaped sound absorber of the muffling device disclosed in <CIT> is disposed on the downstream side of the fan, the wind of the fan hits perpendicularly to the resonating body due to the configuration, and the tension of the membrane changes as a high wind pressure is applied to the membrane surface. Thus, there is a problem that the membrane practically becomes hard and the membrane is regarded as not actually functioning as a membrane vibration sound absorbing structure. Further, in this case, since a fan wind direction and a duct direction are disposed perpendicularly to each other, there is a problem that it is necessary to further increase fan air volume to cause high wind to flow, and accordingly a wind pressure applied to the membrane increases.

In addition, there is a problem that also wind noise attributable to the through hole described in <CIT> is extremely close to the fan.

In addition, the muffling device disclosed in <CIT> has a problem of not being able to be applied to a system that causes the flow of high air volume since the diameter of the duct needs to be decreased.

In the sound absorbing structures of the duct disclosed in <CIT>, a rear surface of the membrane is opened and does not comprise a rear surface closed space for resonance, so that there is a problem that a large muffling effect cannot be obtained.

In addition, in the sound absorbing structures, the vibrating body such as the membrane vibrates due to a sound pressure difference between the hollow region and the vehicle interior, the sound pressure of sound in a predetermined frequency band, which is generated in the vehicle interior, is reduced, and the predetermined frequency band is set based on the resonant frequency of a spring mass system configured by a mass component of the vibrating body and a spring component of the hollow region. For this reason, there is a problem that the size of the membrane needs to be increased. In <CIT>, since a frequency at which the sound pressure of wind exhaust sound of the blower is particularly high is determined by the specifications of the air conditioning device and the like, the wavelength of sound generated by the driving of the blower included in the air conditioning device is determined, and a length W of the membrane in the width direction corresponding thereto may be set. Since sound at a relatively low frequency including rotating sound of the blower, such as the fan, has a particularly high sound pressure at <NUM>, the length of the membrane in the width direction is set to <NUM>, which is a length <NUM>/<NUM> of the wavelength of this sound. For example, since the wavelength of sound at <NUM> is approximately <NUM>, it is necessary to set the size of the membrane to approximately <NUM> in order to muffle the sound at <NUM>. As described above, since the size of wavelength/<NUM> is necessary even in a case where the membrane is used, miniaturization is difficult.

In addition, a configuration where wind flows from a small hole in a side wall is adopted. There is also a problem that as the wind passes through the hole, wind noise is generated, λ/<NUM> resonance occurs in response to the wind noise, and wind noise at a specific frequency is amplified.

In addition, a configuration where small hole portions are formed at intervals in a duct flow passage is adopted since the length of λ/<NUM> is used. Thus, it is difficult to increase air volume and a vortex is also generated at a portion where a duct diameter changes sharply. Thus, the configuration is a structure which is not suitable for causing higher air volume to flow. In addition, there is also a problem that the duct becomes large even in a case of having low air volume.

In addition, since <CIT> only discloses a configuration where the sound absorbing structures are disposed in a far-field of the fan and uses a membrane structure having a length in the width direction of λ/<NUM>, there is also a problem that it is difficult to obtain a position optimizing effect even in a case of being disposed nearby the fan.

An object of the present invention is to provide an acoustic system in which wind does not directly hit a membrane surface perpendicularly by eliminating the problems of the related art and disposing a small membrane-type resonance structure in a flow passage horizontal direction and wind noise can be eliminated since there is no through hole or no hole.

In order to achieve the object, the present inventor has examined that muffling of specific frequency sound caused by blades of a fan with the use of the membrane-type resonance structure, and has discovered the following points.

Since the membrane-type resonance structure does not need an opening portion, the membrane-type resonance structure does not become a generation source of new wind noise in response to wind. In this state, fan specific noise can be muffled by a resonance phenomenon. These are advantages of the membrane-type resonance structure in a case of being compared to other resonance structures.

Further, by matching the membrane surface with another duct surface, it is possible to obtain a muffling structure without unevenness on a duct wall. Since the unevenness on the wall is a generation source of aerodynamic noise caused by wind, it is desirable not to have the unevenness.

In addition, it is also a problem that a wind pressure has an effect on a sound absorbing material in a case where wind flows inside the duct. However, by creating the membrane surface on the duct wall, a direction in which wind flows and a vertical direction of the membrane are almost in a relationship of forming a right angle. Thus, the effect of the wind pressure is barely received, and the sound absorbing material functions even in a case where air volume changes.

As described above, by applying the membrane-type resonance structure to the fan duct, various problems can be solved and muffling can be performed for specific frequency noise of the fan.

The invention provides an acoustic system according to independent claim <NUM>.

In the acoustic system, as the small membrane-type resonance structure is disposed in a flow passage horizontal direction, wind does not directly hit the membrane surface perpendicularly. Since the acoustic system does not have a through hole or a hole, wind noise can be eliminated.

In addition, in the present invention, since a small sound absorption structure can be realized, there is a great advantage that fan noise can be muffled with a small size.

In addition, in the present invention, the weight of the duct can be reduced by replacing the duct with the membrane surface.

An acoustic system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below based on suitable embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Although the description of configuring elements described below is based on a representative embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.

In addition, in the present specification, a numerical range represented by using "to" means a range including numerical values before and after "to" as a lower limit value and an upper limit value.

In addition, in the present specification, "orthogonal" and "parallel" include a range of errors allowed in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. For example, "orthogonal" and "parallel" mean that an error is within ±<NUM>° with respect to orthogonal or parallel in a strict sense, and an error with respect to orthogonal or parallel in a strict sense is preferably <NUM>° or less, more preferably <NUM>° or less, and even more preferably <NUM>° or less.

In the present specification, the "same" includes a range of an error generally allowed in the technical field. In addition, in the present specification, when the term "entire", "all" or "full scale" is used, a range of an error generally allowed in the technical field is included, for example, a case of <NUM>% or more, <NUM>% or more, or <NUM>% or more is included in addition to a case of <NUM>%.

A configuration of the acoustic system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the acoustic system according to the embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic cross sectional view showing the concept of the acoustic system shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic view showing the concept of the acoustic system shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a partially broken perspective view of an example of a propeller fan used in the acoustic system shown in <FIG>.

Although the fan is shown facing the front with respect to a duct such that an air flow of the fan blows out from the front in <FIG>, it is evident that <FIG> is a schematic view showing a position where the fan is provided and the air flow of the fan is parallel to the duct as shown in <FIG>. Although the fan of the acoustic system is shown in the same manner as in <FIG> in the following as well, the direction of the air flow from the fan is to be understood as parallel to the duct.

As shown in <FIG>, an acoustic system <NUM> has a quadrangular tubular duct <NUM>, a fan <NUM> that is a sound source, and a membrane-type resonating body <NUM>. The membrane-type resonating body <NUM> has a membrane-shaped member <NUM> and a frame <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the duct <NUM> is a tubular member that has a through-hole 12a having a quadrangular cross section and has an open end 12b at one end portion on a downstream side. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an end portion of the duct <NUM> on an upstream side where the fan <NUM>, which is a sound source, is disposed may be an open end 12c, or may be closed.

In addition, the duct <NUM> is provided with an opening 12e for attaching the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, in a part of a wall 12d thereof.

The duct has a function of causing wind generated by the fan <NUM>, a gas, a fluid such as an air flow, heat of a fluid, or the like to flow therein. In addition, the duct <NUM> also propagates sound generated by the fan <NUM> simultaneously.

The duct <NUM> is a duct, for example, a ventilation port where the fan <NUM> is provided, an air conditioning duct, or the like. The duct <NUM> is not particularly limited insofar as the fan <NUM> is provided, and may be a ventilation port, an air conditioning duct, or the like of a building, a house, an automobile, a train, an airplane, or the like, a duct or the like for electronic devices, such as a desktop personal computer (PC), a projector, and a server (computer server or the like), and a cooling fan particularly used in electronic devices, and a general duct and a general vent hole used for home appliances such as a ventilation fan, a dryer, a vacuum cleaner, a fan, a blower, and a dishwasher and various types of devices such as electrical devices.

In addition, a cross sectional shape of the through-hole 12a of the duct <NUM> is not limited to a quadrangular shape, and may be various shapes such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygonal shape including a triangular shape.

In addition, although the through-hole 12a of the duct <NUM> shown in <FIG> has the same dimension in a length direction, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cross sectional shape of the through-hole 12a may be reduced, or may be enlarged. That is, an inner wall surface of the through-hole 12a of the duct <NUM> may be inclined, or a step may be attached as in an acoustic system 10B shown in <FIG>.

For example, although there are many cases where a dryer and a vacuum cleaner have a structure in which a portion of a motor fan is large and the vicinity of an opening portion is more narrowed down, the structure can be regarded as a duct to which a step is attached as shown in <FIG>.

In addition, the length of the duct <NUM> is not particularly limited insofar as the fan <NUM>, which is a sound source, can be disposed inside the duct <NUM> on the upstream side or at an outer peripheral portion of the duct <NUM> on the upstream side, or the duct may have a sufficient length up to the open end 12b on the downstream side as shown in <FIG>. That is, a casing and a tubular body connected thereto may configure the duct <NUM>. In addition, as in an acoustic system 10C shown in <FIG>, the duct <NUM> may be a tubular body configuring a casing <NUM> of the fan <NUM>. In addition, similarly, as in <FIG>, the casing <NUM> of the fan <NUM> may configure the duct <NUM>.

That is, the duct <NUM> is preferably a casing surrounding at least a part of the sound source. That is, the sound source is the fan <NUM>, and the duct <NUM> is the fan casing <NUM> surrounding the fan, which is the sound source. From a viewpoint of making the entire structure small, it is preferable that the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and the frame <NUM> (the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>) are attached to the fan casing <NUM>.

In a case where the cross sectional shape of the through-hole 12a of the duct <NUM> is circular, the diameter of the through-hole 12a (the inner diameter of the duct <NUM>) is measured with the resolution of <NUM>. In a case where the cross sectional shape of the duct is not circular, it is preferable to convert the area to a diameter as an area equivalent to a circle to acquire the inner diameter. In a case of having a fine structure such as unevenness of less than <NUM>, it is preferable to average the fine structure.

The material for the duct <NUM> is not particularly limited, but is preferably a metal or a resin. Examples of the metal include metals, such as aluminum, copper, tin, stainless steel (SUS), iron, steel, titanium, magnesium, tungsten, chromium, hot-dip galvanized steel, aluminum-zinc alloy plated steel sheet (galvalume steel sheet (registered trademark)), vinyl chloride coated steel, and various types of alloy materials. Examples of the resin include resin materials such as acryl, polycarbonate, polypropylene, vinyl chloride, urethane, urethane foam (a lightweight duct can be formed by using foam), a polyvinyl chloride resin (PVC), and synthetic resins thereof.

The fan <NUM> is an internal sound source that generates a fluid (wind and/or an air flow including heat) flowing in the duct <NUM> and is disposed inside the duct <NUM> on the upstream side or at the outer peripheral portion of the duct <NUM> communicating with the inside of the duct <NUM> on the upstream side.

As the internal sound source, the fan <NUM> is a sound source that generates specific frequency sound of which a sound pressure at least one specific frequency is maximum, that is, predominant sound. The predominant sound is defined as narrow band sound, and a peak sound pressure thereof is <NUM> dB or more higher than sound outside the band. This is because the sound can be sufficiently detected in a case where there is a difference of <NUM> dB.

The fan <NUM> is not particularly limited insofar as a fan generates a fluid flowing in the duct <NUM>, is an internal sound source, and can be disposed inside the duct <NUM> on the upstream side or at the outer peripheral portion thereof. A known fan in the related art can be used. Examples of the fan <NUM> include a propeller fan, an axial-flow fan, a blower fan, a sirocco fan, a cross flow fan, a mixed flow fan, a radial fan, a turbo fan, an air foil fan, and a plug fan.

For example, as a propeller fan or an axial-flow fan, which is used as the fan <NUM>, has a plurality of blades and the plurality of blades rotate at a predetermined rotation speed, an air flow flowing in the duct <NUM> is generated, and predominant sound at a specific frequency, which is generated depending on the number and rotation speed of the blades configuring the fan <NUM> and is emitted from the fan <NUM> to the outside, is generated. In a normal fan with symmetrically disposed blades, rotation of <NUM>/(the number of blades) results in the same disposition as the original disposition. That is, there is periodicity attributable to symmetry with respect to the rotation of <NUM>/(the number of blades). At this time, the fundamental frequency (Hz) of predominant sound is determined by the number of blades × rotation speed (rps). At the fundamental frequency and an integral multiple frequency thereof, predominant sound is generated.

Such a propeller fan is shown in <FIG>. A propeller fan <NUM> shown in <FIG> has the casing <NUM> that has a circular through-hole 24a and a fan main body <NUM> that consists of a propeller <NUM> having a plurality of blades attached to an outer periphery of a circular hub <NUM> at the center at equal intervals, that is, five blades in <FIG>, in the casing <NUM>. The propeller fan <NUM> sucks a gas from the right in the drawing as shown by an arrow in the drawing, generates an air flow blown from the left, and generates predominant sound. The predominant sound is sound at a specific frequency depending on five, which is the number of blades of the propeller <NUM>, and the rotation speed of the propeller <NUM>.

In a case where, for example, a blower fan, a sirocco fan, or a cross flow fan is used as the fan <NUM>, as in acoustic systems 10D and 10E shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fan <NUM> may be attached to the outer peripheral portion of the duct <NUM>, an outlet of the fan <NUM> may be provided in the outer peripheral portion of the duct <NUM>, and wind may be blown into the duct <NUM> perpendicularly to a direction in which a fluid flows in the duct <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the fan <NUM> may be attached to an outer peripheral portion of the duct <NUM> on the other end portion side, and the other end portion of the duct <NUM> may be a closed end portion 12f.

In the present invention, the fan <NUM> that is disposed in the duct <NUM> and generates noise is the most important sound source. In addition, a case where although a fan is attached to a ventilation fan, a range hood, or the like, there is a fan and wind or the like flows, that is, a case where the fan is not a sound source but sound coming in from the outside is a sound source, and the like are given as examples. In addition, in addition, there is unevenness or a duct side wall opening portion at a flow passage to which the fan is attached, and wind noise generated therein itself is also a sound source.

Therefore, in the present invention, an internal sound source that is disposed inside the duct <NUM> or at the outer peripheral portion of the duct <NUM>, which communicates with the inside of the duct <NUM>, an external sound source that is at a distance within a wavelength at a frequency of acoustic resonance on the outside from the end portion of the duct <NUM>, and the like are described as sound sources.

The membrane-type resonating body <NUM> has the membrane-shaped member <NUM> that is configured as a part of a wall of the duct <NUM> and vibrates in response to sound and the frame <NUM> that configures a rear surface closed space 20a of the membrane-shaped member <NUM>.

The membrane-type resonating body <NUM> causes acoustic resonance by a structure including the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and the rear surface closed space 20a of the frame <NUM> on a rear surface thereof, and suppresses sound that is transmitted from the fan <NUM>, which is a sound source, into the duct <NUM> and is radiated from the end portion of the duct <NUM> on the downstream side. The structure including the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and the rear surface closed space 20a thereof is preferably a membrane-type resonance structure (membrane-type sound absorbing structure) in which a resonant frequency is determined by the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and the rear surface closed space 20a. That is, the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> exhibits a muffling function with the use of the membrane vibration of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and selectively muffles sound at a specific frequency (frequency band).

Although the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> is attached to one wall 12d of the duct <NUM> having a quadrangular cross section in the examples shown in <FIG>, the present invention is not limited thereto, as in the acoustic system 10A shown in <FIG>, the membrane-type resonating bodies may be attached to two upper and lower walls 12d in the drawing, or may be attached to all of four walls 12d. Also in a case where the duct <NUM> has a cylindrical shape, the outer periphery may be divided into several portions, and the membrane-type resonating bodies may be attached to some of the divided portions preferably symmetrically, or may be attached to the entire periphery.

In addition, it is preferable that the membrane-type resonance structure is a structure in which a sound absorption coefficient of higher-order vibration is higher than a sound absorption coefficient of fundamental vibration.

The peak frequency of the sound absorption coefficient becomes high by making the thickness of the rear surface closed space small. At this time, in a case where the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is particularly thin (more accurately, hardness is low), not only the peak frequency becomes high continuously when the thickness of the rear surface closed space is made small but also a new sound absorption peak appears further on a high frequency side. Consequently, in a case where a rear surface distance is made small, the sound absorption coefficient of a high frequency side peak becomes gradually higher than the sound absorption coefficient of a low frequency side peak. That is, in a case where a frequency at which a sound absorption coefficient is maximum is shown with respect to a rear surface distance, there is a discontinuous leap. This characteristic shows that a vibration mode in which a sound absorption coefficient is maximum shifts from a fundamental vibration mode to a higher-order vibration mode or a higher mode of the higher-order vibration mode. That is, in a case where the higher-order vibration mode is a state where excitation occurs easily due to the particularly thin membrane, by making the thickness of the rear surface space small, effects of sound absorption caused not only by the fundamental vibration mode but also by the higher-order vibration mode appear greatly. Accordingly, a sound absorption coefficient which is high in a high frequency range is not attributable to the fundamental vibration mode, but is caused by resonance in the higher-order vibration mode.

The membrane-shaped member <NUM> of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> is configured as a part of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>, and vibrates in response to sound. At this time, a membrane surface of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably parallel to a direction in which a fluid flows in the duct <NUM>, but may be inclined insofar as the membrane surface forms less than <NUM>° with respect to the direction in which the fluid flows. This inclination angle is more preferably less than <NUM>°, even more preferably less than <NUM>°, and most preferably less than <NUM>°.

In addition, on a rear surface side (a frame <NUM> side) of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, the rear surface closed space 20a surrounded by the frame <NUM> and the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is formed by the frame <NUM>. The rear surface closed space 20a is a closed space.

The membrane-shaped member <NUM> is a thin membrane-shaped or foil-shaped member, and is attached to the opening 12e provided in a part of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM> directly or after being fixed to an opening end 20c of the frame <NUM>.

In addition, the membrane-shaped member <NUM> may be formed to vibrate as a part of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM> is made thin. By doing so, it is not necessary to use an adhesive or the like in order to fix the membrane-shaped member <NUM> to the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>. In addition, since the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is made of the same material as the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>, the same durability and the like as the duct are guaranteed.

As shown in <FIG>, in a case of a condition of being fixed to the opening end 20c of the frame <NUM>, it is preferable to fix the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, which is manufactured by fixing a peripheral edge portion (edge portion) of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> to the opening end 20c of an opening portion 20b of the frame <NUM>, to the opening 12e of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM> so that the membrane-shaped member <NUM> covers the opening portion 20b of the frame <NUM>. That is, the peripheral edge portion of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably a fixed end. In this case, the entire peripheral edge portion of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> may be fixed to the opening end 20c of the frame <NUM>, or only a part thereof may be fixed. In this manner, the peripheral edge portion is supported by the frame <NUM> so as to be able to vibrate, and the frame <NUM> is fixed to the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a case where the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is directly attached to the opening 12e of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>, the peripheral edge portion of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> may also be fixed to an end surface of the opening 12e, or the peripheral edge portion of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> may be fixed to a portion of the wall 12d of a peripheral edge portion of the opening 12e. In this case, the entire peripheral edge portion (edge portion) of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> may be fixed to the end surface of the opening 12e or a portion of the wall 12d of the peripheral edge portion of the opening 12e, or only a part thereof may be fixed. In this manner, the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is supported by the opening 12e of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM> so as to be able to vibrate.

As shown in <FIG>, it is preferable that a weight <NUM> is attached to a rear surface of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> on a rear surface closed space 20a side particularly in a case of a resonating body responding to low frequency sound. That is, the membrane-shaped member preferably has a mass distribution. By attaching the weight <NUM>, the membrane-shaped member has the mass distribution. Consequently, the vibration mode can be changed, and the resonant frequency of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> can be changed and adjusted, becoming likely to respond to the low frequency side in particular. The weight <NUM> may be attached to a surface side of the membrane-shaped member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, as the weight <NUM> is attached to an opposite side (the rear surface closed space 20a side) to the inside of the duct <NUM>, there is no unevenness caused by the weight on a duct <NUM> side, and the membrane-shaped member <NUM> with the weight <NUM> can be used without generating new wind noise.

A material for the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is not particularly limited, and can be selected depending on the acoustic unit <NUM>, a muffling environment thereof, and the like, insofar as, in a case of being made into a membrane-shaped material or a foil-shaped material, the material has strength suitable for applying to a muffling target object described above, is resistant to a muffling environment of the acoustic unit <NUM>, and is possible to membrane-vibrate in order for the membrane-shaped member <NUM> to perform muffling by absorbing or reflecting the energy of sound waves. Examples of the material for the membrane-shaped member <NUM> include a resin material that can be made into a membrane shape, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethylpentene (PMP), cycloolefin polymer (COP), zeonoa, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyarylate (PAR), aramid, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethersulfon (PES), nylon, PEs (polyester), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), diacetyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose derivative, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyetherimide (PEI), polyrotaxane (slide ring material and the like), and polyimide, various types of metal materials, such as aluminum, titanium, nickel, permalloy, <NUM> alloy, coval, nichrome, copper, beryllium, phosphorus bronze, brass, nickel silver, tin, zinc, iron, tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, zirconium, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, steel, tungsten, lead, and iridium, other materials that are made into a fibrous membrane such as paper and cellulose, types of rubber including natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, EPDM, silicone rubber, and a crosslinked structure thereof, a non-woven fabric, a film containing nano-sized fiber, a porous material such as thinly processed urethane and synthlate, a carbon material processed into a thin membrane structure, and a material or a structure that can form a thin structure, such as a fiber reinforced plastic material, including carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).

In the examples shown in <FIG>, the frame <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, in which the rectangular opening portion 20b is formed in one surface and a rectangular bottom surface facing the opening portion 20b and four side surfaces are closed. That is, the frame <NUM> has a bottomed rectangular parallelepiped shape with one open surface.

Alternatively, it is also preferable to provide a small through-hole (opening portion) in the four side surfaces other than the opening portion of the frame <NUM>, or a rear surface plate. Even in a case where a hole sufficiently smaller than a side surface size is formed, the hole can be treated as a substantially closed space for an acoustic phenomenon. On the other hand, by ventilating inside and outside the frame <NUM>, a difference between inside and outside pressures caused by a change in the atmospheric pressure, a change in a temperature, and the like can be eliminated. In a case where the difference between inside and outside pressures occurs, tension is applied to the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, causing a change in the characteristic. Thus, it is desirable that the difference between inside and outside pressures is small. In addition, dew condensation caused by humidity can also be prevented. Since there is a possibility of becoming a generation source of wind noise in a case where there is a through-hole in the membrane surface disposed on a duct flow passage side, by having a through-hole in another surface, durability and robustness with respect to a pressure, a temperature, and the like can be increased while preventing wind noise.

As shown in <FIG>, it is preferable that the frame <NUM> has the rear surface closed space 20a formed on the rear surface of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> as the peripheral edge portion of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is attached to the opening end 20c of the opening portion 20b so that the opening portion 20b is covered, and supports the membrane-shaped member <NUM> so as to be able to vibrate.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, it is preferable that the frame <NUM> has the rear surface closed space 20a formed on the rear surface of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> by being attached to cover the opening 12e of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>, to which the peripheral edge portion of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is attached, and supports the membrane-shaped member <NUM> so as to be able to vibrate.

In addition, the shapes of the frame <NUM> and the opening portion 20b thereof are planar shapes and rectangles in the examples shown in <FIG>, respectively, but are not particularly limited in the present invention, and may be, for example, polygonal shapes including quadrangles, such as a rectangular shape, a rhombus, and a parallelogram, triangles, such as a regular triangle, an isosceles triangle, and a right triangle, and regular polygons, such as a regular pentagon and a regular hexagon, circles, ellipses, or the like, or may be irregular shapes. In addition, the shapes of the frame <NUM> and the opening portion 20b thereof are both rectangular shapes in the examples shown in <FIG>, but are not particularly limited in the present invention. The shapes may be the same or may be different from each other.

The sizes of such a frame <NUM> and such an opening portion 20b are not particularly limited, and may be set depending on a ventilation port, an air conditioning duct, or the like of a building, a house, an automobile, a train, and an airplane, or the like where the duct <NUM>, which is a muffling target object applied in order to muffle the acoustic system <NUM> of the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the fan <NUM> described above is provided, a duct for electronic devices, such as a desktop personal computer, a projector, and a server (computer server or the like), and a cooling fan particularly used in electronic devices, a general duct, a general vent hole, or the like used for various types of devices including home appliances, such as a ventilation fan, a dryer, a vacuum cleaner, a fan, a blower, and a dishwasher, and electrical devices.

In addition, the sizes of the frame <NUM> and the opening portion 20b thereof are sizes in plain view. In a case of a circle or a regular polygonal shape such as a square, a distance between facing sides passing through a center thereof, or a circle equivalent diameter can be defined. In a case of a polygonal shape, an ellipse, or an irregular shape, a circle equivalent diameter can be defined. In the present invention, a circle equivalent diameter and a radius are a diameter and a radius when converted into circles having the same area, respectively.

A material for the frame <NUM> is not particularly limited, and can be selected depending on a muffling target object and a muffling environment thereof insofar as the material can support the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, has strength suitable for applying to the acoustic unit <NUM> described above, and is resistant to the muffling environment of the acoustic unit <NUM>. Examples of the material for the frame <NUM> include a metal material, a resin material, a reinforced plastic material, and a carbon fiber. Examples of the metal material include aluminum, titanium, magnesium, tungsten, iron, steel, chromium, chromium molybdenum, nichrome molybdenum, copper, and alloys thereof. In addition, examples of the resin material include an acrylic resin, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyamideid, polyarylate, polyetherimide, polyacetal, polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyimide, an ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer synthetic resin), polypropylene, and triacetyl cellulose. In addition, examples of the reinforced plastic material include carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP). In addition, examples of types of rubber include natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), silicone rubber, and a crosslinked structure thereof. A structure containing air, that is, a foam material, a hollow material, a porous material, or the like can also be used as a frame material. In order to prevent ventilation between cells in a case where a large number of membrane-type soundproof structures are used, the frame can be formed by using, for example, a closed-cell foam material or the like. For example, various materials, such as closed-cell polyurethane, closed-cell polystyrene, closed-cell polypropylene, closed-cell polyethylene, and closed-cell rubber sponge, can be selected.

In addition, the plurality of types of materials for the frame <NUM> may be used in combination.

It is preferable that the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> is attachable and detachable to and from the wall 12d around the opening 12e of the duct <NUM> and is mountable on the duct <NUM> later.

In addition, it is preferable that a structure hooked on the opening 12e of the wall 12d of the duct <NUM> is attached to the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>. By doing so, the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> can be attached to the wall 12d, for example, simply by pushing.

In addition, by replacing a rear surface portion of the frame <NUM> of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, a muffling frequency can be customized.

In addition, by using a material for the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and the frame <NUM> as the main component of a duct material, effects of strain on heat and/or humidity can be decreased.

In addition, the membrane surface of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> may have unevenness, that is, a recess, and/or a protrusion on the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>, as in acoustic systems 10F and <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Herein, the unevenness (the recess and/or the protrusion) of the membrane surface of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> on the wall 12d of the duct <NUM> is preferably <NUM> or less, more preferably <NUM> or less, and even more preferably <NUM> or less. In this manner, wind noise can be prevented from being generated.

Herein, as a result of examining a mechanism by which the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of the acoustic system <NUM> is excited in the higher-order vibration mode, the present inventor has found out the following.

With the Young's modulus of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> denoted by E (Pa), the thickness denoted by t (m), the thickness (rear surface distance) of the rear surface closed space 20a denoted by d (m), the circle equivalent diameter of a region where the membrane-shaped member <NUM> vibrates, that is, the diameter of the opening portion 20b of the frame <NUM>, which is the full length of a circle in a case where the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is fixed to the frame <NUM>, denoted by Φ (m), the hardness E × t<NUM> (Pa × m<NUM>) of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably <NUM> × d-<NUM> × Φ<NUM> or less. Further, in a case where the hardness is expressed as a × d-<NUM> × Φ<NUM> with the use of a coefficient a, the coefficient a is <NUM> or less, <NUM> or less, <NUM> or less, <NUM> or less, <NUM> or less, <NUM> or less, and <NUM> or less, which means that the lower the coefficient a, the more preferable.

In addition, it has been found out that the hardness E × t<NUM> (Pa × m<NUM>) of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> or more, is more preferably <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> or more, is even more preferably <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> or more, is still even more preferably <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> or more, is particularly preferably <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> or more, and is most preferably <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> or more.

By setting the hardness of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> within the range, the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of the acoustic system <NUM> can be suitably excited in the higher-order vibration mode.

The Young's modulus of the membrane-shaped member can be measured with the use of a dynamic measurement method using vibration, such as a free resonance natural vibration method, or a static measurement method, such as a tensile test and a compression test. In addition, physical property values such as a manufacturer's test table may be used.

Thickness measurement can be performed through various types of general measurement methods, such as a caliper, a profilometer, a laser microscope, and an optical microscope. In addition, physical property values such as a manufacturer's test table may be used.

Also the rear surface space thickness can be measured in the same manner as the thickness measurement. In addition, in a case where the rear surface distance of the frame is used as the rear surface space thickness, the thickness of the frame may be measured as it is.

Regarding the vibration of the membrane, there are fundamental vibration and higher-order vibration, and the higher-order vibration naturally has the order. As the order increases, the mode of membrane vibration gradually becomes closer to energy, and finally becomes indistinguishable. At this time, the springiness of the membrane does not actually affect resonance, and only the mass of the membrane (and the size of the rear surface distance) contributes to the resonance.

Sound absorption occurs also in this case, but absorption tends to be low. Accordingly, fundamental vibration and clear higher-order vibration (up to approximately 10th order) are desirable for a membrane-type sound absorber with high absorption.

In addition, in the present invention, by disposing the membrane-type resonance structures in a plurality of ducts, a larger muffling effect can be obtained. As for the disposition of the membrane-type resonance structures, a plurality of membrane-type resonance structures may be disposed in a duct cross section, or the membrane-type resonance structures may be disposed in a plurality of rows in a duct flow passage direction.

In addition, in a case where a wavelength determined by a frequency at which the sound pressure of sound generated by a sound source consists of the fan <NUM> is maximum is denoted by λ and an integer which is <NUM> or more is denoted by m, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably positioned at a distance which is larger than (m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM>) and is smaller than (m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM>) from the position of the sound source (the fan <NUM>). Further, the center is more preferably positioned at a distance which is larger than (m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM>) and is smaller than (m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM>), and is even more preferably at a distance which is larger than (m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM>) and is smaller than (m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM>).

In addition, in a case where a wavelength determined by a frequency at which the sound pressure of sound generated by the sound source (the fan <NUM>) is maximum is denoted by λ, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably positioned at a distance which is less than λ/<NUM> from the position of the sound source (the fan <NUM>). In addition, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is more preferably positioned at a distance less than λ/<NUM>, and is even more preferably positioned at a distance less than λ/<NUM>. In this case, the integer m = <NUM> is satisfied.

By doing so, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> can be shifted away from the position at a distance of (2n + <NUM>) × λ/<NUM> (n is an integer of <NUM> or more), at which muffling is difficult, from the position of the sound source (the fan <NUM>), and can be brought closer to the position of m × λ/<NUM> (m is an integer of <NUM> or more), which is excellent in muffling.

The center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> can be determined by the centroid position of the membrane-shaped member (membrane) <NUM>. This is because vibration occurs around the centroid position.

In a case of sound generated from a vibrating body, such as a speaker, the measurement method of the position of the sound source can be determined by a vibrating surface position thereof. In a case of flowing noise as in the fan <NUM>, the measurement method can be determined by the center position of the fan <NUM> (the center position of the blades).

The mechanism can be considered as follows. In a case where the membrane-shaped member is substantially parallel to the flow passage, for example, the membrane-shaped member is disposed as in <FIG>, an interface has a high local speed and a small sound pressure. In a case where reflection occurs due to resonance, the interface is where a free end reflects the local speed and a fixed end reflects the pressure. At a position separated therefrom by (2n + <NUM>) × λ/<NUM>, the sound pressure is maximum. In a case where an external sound pressure at the sound source position is large, the amplitude of a pressure generated from the sound source is high, so that a muffling effect for amplifying sound is unlikely to be obtained. On the other hand, in a case where the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is at the position of m × λ/<NUM>, the relationship is opposite to the case above. Thus, the sound pressure of the sound source is minimum, the disposition causes the sound not to be amplified, and the disposition causes a muffling effect to be likely to be obtained.

In addition, although related to a high impedance interface to be described later, particularly for an axial-flow fan and a propeller fan, the high impedance interface is almost at the same position as the fan, which is the sound source, as a duct diameter is narrowed by an axial portion. In addition, since high impedance interface reflection occurs as the fan rotates at a high speed, including other types of fans, the sound source position = high impedance reflection interface is satisfied often particularly in the case of the fan. Thus, position dependence described above appears greatly.

Insofar as the membrane surface is substantially parallel to the flow passage, a sound pressure interface has a maximum local speed. Therefore, this applies not only to the example shown in <FIG> but also to the examples shown in other drawings.

In addition, as there are a reflection interface that reflects, at a frequency (specific frequency of predominant sound) where the sound pressure of the sound generated by the sound source such as the fan <NUM>, at least some of the sound with a surface on which an impedance change occurs on a high impedance side from the sound source in the duct <NUM>, the sound source, and the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, it is preferable to suppress externally radiating sound toward an opposite side to the reflection interface. As examples, a case where the high impedance interface in the duct is closed by a wall harder than an internal fluid, a case where of a structure in which a duct diameter is small, a case where a plate with a hole and/or a punching structure is disposed on a duct surface, a case where a louver is disposed, a case where a shaft is placed in a middle portion, and the like can be given.

That is, in a case where a propeller fan or an axial-flow fan is used as the fan <NUM>, which is disposed in the duct <NUM> and is a sound source, a space for a casing and the like is narrow on the rear surface side of the fan <NUM> and an open end 12c side. Thus, there is a surface where an impedance change occurs on the high impedance side from the sound source such as the fan <NUM>, and the surface is the reflection interface that reflects sound. In addition, for example, since a shaft itself of the axial-flow fan functions as a rigid body that narrows the flow passage, an axial-flow fan surface itself also functions as the high impedance interface.

In addition, in a case where a blower fan, a sirocco fan, or a cross flow fan is used as the fan <NUM>, which is disposed in the duct <NUM> and is the sound source, the rear surface side of the fan <NUM>, excluding an intake portion, is the closed end portion 12f and is closed as shown in <FIG> and then reflection is performed also by blades of the rotating fan. Thus, the closed end portion 12f and the blades of the fan are the reflection interface where sound is reflected.

Therefore, in a case where a wavelength determined by a frequency at which the sound pressure of sound generated by the sound source such as the fan <NUM> is maximum is denoted by λ and an integer which is <NUM> or more is denoted by m, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is preferably positioned at a distance which is larger than m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM> and is smaller than m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM> from the reflection interface that causes an acoustic impedance change. Further, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is more preferably at a distance which is larger than (m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM>) and is smaller than (m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM>), and is even more preferably at a distance which is larger than (m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM>) and is smaller than (m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM>).

By doing so, the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> can be shifted away from the position at a distance of (2n + <NUM>) × λ/<NUM> (n is an integer of <NUM> or more), at which muffling is difficult, from the reflection interface that causes an acoustic impedance change, and can be brought closer to the position of m × λ/<NUM> (m is an integer of <NUM> or more), which is excellent in muffling.

The mechanism can be considered as follows. In a case where a resonance structure including the membrane-shaped member <NUM> causes resonance, an interface including the membrane-shaped member <NUM> is at a position where acoustic impedance is minimum. That is, a local speed causes reflection at the free end and a sound pressure causes reflection at the fixed end. On the other hand, for the interface reflection with the high impedance interface described above, a local speed causes reflection at the fixed end, and a sound pressure causes reflection at the free end. At this time, when a distance between a low impedance interface depending on the resonating body described above and the high impedance interface described above is (2n + <NUM>) × λ/<NUM>, a distance between the two interfaces and the amplitude of sound waves match each other, forming a resonance tube having end portions of a free end and a fixed end. In a case where a resonance phenomenon occurs in the duct in this manner, the internal sound pressure is amplified, so that also the externally radiating sound tends to be amplified. Accordingly, since a muffling effect caused by the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and an amplifying effect caused by resonance in the duct offset against each other, the disposition causes the muffling effect to be unlikely to be obtained.

For the disposition in the duct, the high impedance reflection interface, the sound source, the membrane-shaped member, and an open portion may be disposed in this order, or the sound source, the high impedance reflection interface, the membrane-shaped member, and the open portion may be disposed in this order. Examples of the case of the former include a structure where a louver is attached to the rear surface, there is the fan, and there is the opening portion through which wind is let out toward the front and a structure where the rear surface is narrowed down. Examples of the case of the latter, which is the high impedance reflection interface, include a case where a louver, a fixed blade structure, and/or a current plate are attached to the front of the fan.

On the other hand, in a case where the membrane-shaped member is disposed at the position of m × λ/<NUM>, the disposition causes a resonance phenomenon in the duct to be most unlikely to occur. Thus, a muffling effect caused by the membrane-shaped member <NUM> appears strongly, and the disposition causes a muffling effect of radiating sound to be most likely to occur.

In addition, it is preferable that a reflection portion which includes the high impedance reflection interface described above, the sound source, such as the fan <NUM>, and the membrane-shaped member <NUM> are disposed at a distance within λ/<NUM> and the radiating sound toward the opposite side to the reflection portion is suppressed.

By doing so, the size of the acoustic unit <NUM> can be made small.

It is more desirable that the range described above is within λ/<NUM>, and it is even more desirable that the range is within λ/<NUM>.

In order to confirm the effects of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> (membrane-type resonance structure) of the acoustic system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention, a three-dimensional model was constructed to implement membrane vibration, and an acoustic simulation was performed using the finite element method calculation software COMSOL ver. <NUM> (COMSOL Inc.

As the acoustic system <NUM> shown in <FIG>, calculation was performed through a duct model in which the duct <NUM> (one side was <NUM>) having a square cross section and a length from the internal sound source position to the end portion (the open end 12b) of the duct <NUM> was <NUM>. A model in which a free space was opened from the end portion of the duct <NUM> was adopted. Since an end portion interface (an opening surface of the open end 12b) open to the free space was an interface where an acoustic impedance change from a relatively high acoustic impedance side in the duct to a relatively low acoustic impedance of the free space occurred, the interface was a surface where reflection and transmission caused by the low impedance interface in accordance with the impedance difference occurred.

An object of the present invention is to suppress sound radiated from the open portion (the open end 12b) of the duct <NUM> to the space.

On the rear surface side of the internal sound source, a cylindrical rigid body wall (a hub <NUM>) that had the middle of the duct simulating the shaft of the axial-flow fan, which was the fan <NUM>, as a central shaft and had a diameter of <NUM> was disposed. Sound flowed through the outer peripheral portion (a portion that had a square shape of which one side was <NUM>, excluding a middle portion of Φ <NUM>) of the cylindrical wall 12d in the duct <NUM>. Since the flow passage diameter of the duct <NUM> was narrow due to the central shaft, acoustic impedance was high at this place. Accordingly, at the internal sound source position, an impedance change from low impedance to high impedance occurred due to the narrowing of the duct, and the reflection interface was formed.

As described above, the duct had the reflection interface where a change from high impedance to low impedance (outside) of the duct end portion occurred and the reflection interface where a change from a low impedance side to high impedance (the narrow duct) occurred on the rear surface side of the internal sound source. Although this model has simulated the axial-flow fan, without being limited to the axial-flow fan, a reflection interface caused by such high and low levels of impedance can be formed by various fans.

A point sound source simulating the axial-flow fan, which was the fan <NUM>, was used as the internal sound source. Eight point sound sources simulating eight blades were disposed at equal intervals and rotationally symmetrically on the circumference of a circle having a diameter of <NUM> within the cross section of the duct <NUM> at the sound source position. The center position of the circle, the center of a shaft, and the center of the cross section of the duct <NUM> matched each other. Sound was radiated in the same phase from the eight point sound sources (eightfold symmetrical positions). This simulated radiating sound from the eight-blade fan.

The muffling of approximately <NUM> was mainly subjected to the simulation. As the membrane-type resonance structure, the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, in which a PET film having a thickness of <NUM> was used as the membrane-shaped member (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the membrane) <NUM>, four ends of the PET film, which was the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, was restrained by being fixed to the square opening portion 20b of the frame <NUM> of which one side was <NUM>, the thickness of the rear surface closed space 20a of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> was set to <NUM>, and a rear surface thereof was closed by a wall, was used. The resonance structure was obtained by the vibration of a thin membrane, which is the PET film of which four ends were fixed, and reflection by a rear surface wall of the frame <NUM> via the rear surface closed space 20a.

The design of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was characteristic in that the sound absorption coefficient of higher-order vibration was designed to be higher than the sound absorption coefficient of fundamental vibration. Although it was necessary to make a membrane body hard by increasing the thickness of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> in order to make the frequency of the fundamental vibration high, there was a problem that sound absorption and/or a phase change were unlikely to occur in a case of becoming a hard membrane that was difficult to vibrate, and it was difficult to obtain a membrane-type resonance structure that had a high frequency and a large muffling effect by using fundamental vibration. On the contrary, since a membrane can be used as the membrane-shaped member <NUM> by using higher-order vibration resonance, there is an advantage that high resonance effect can be obtained also on the high frequency side.

<FIG> shows the normal incidence sound absorption coefficient of the membrane-type resonance structure, which is the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>. Although sound absorption caused by fundamental vibration is approximately <NUM>, the maximum value of the sound absorption is approximately <NUM>, which is caused by higher-order vibration. Further, as shown in <FIG>, it is a characteristic of the membrane-type resonance structure that resonance occurs at a plurality of frequencies. In addition, since there is no hole opened in the membrane-type resonance structure, there is a characteristic that new wind noise is not generated in response to the wind of the fan <NUM>.

Next, <FIG> shows a simulation structure in which the membrane-type resonance structure was disposed in the duct.

As shown in <FIG>, the membrane-type resonance structure, which was the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, was disposed at a position separated from an internal sound source <NUM> of the duct <NUM> by <NUM> to an external radiation side. At this time, an interval between the center position of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and the position of the internal sound source <NUM> in the duct flow passage direction was <NUM>. Eightfold symmetrical disposition was adopted for the internal sound source <NUM>.

Muffled sound volume in a case where the membrane-type resonance structure was disposed only on one surface of the quadrangular duct <NUM> and muffled sound volume in a case where four membrane-type resonance structures were disposed symmetrically on all four surfaces of the quadrangular duct <NUM> as shown in <FIG> were calculated. A portion separated from the internal sound source position by <NUM> in the duct flow passage direction was a wall (a reflection wall <NUM>: refer to <FIG>) on the rear surface side of the internal sound source <NUM>, and calculation was performed as a system reflecting sound.

<FIG> and <FIG> respectively show muffled sound volume in a case where one membrane-type resonance structure was disposed and muffled sound volume in a case where four membrane-type resonance structures were disposed. The muffled sound volume was calculated as a difference between externally radiating sound volume in a case where the membrane-type resonance structure was not disposed and externally radiating sound volume in a case where the membrane-type resonance structure was disposed. First, in order to see the ideal effect of the resonating body through calculation, a state where there was no sound absorption by a membrane structure was caused. This could be set as only the real part of the Young's modulus of the membrane had a number numerically and the imaginary part was set to <NUM>. That is, although there was a change in a phase and/or a traveling direction of sound waves caused by resonance, calculation was performed under a condition that there was no sound absorption caused by resonance. Under either condition, radiating sound volume was small compared to a case where there was no membrane-type resonance structure, there was a portion where the muffled sound volume was significantly large, and a significantly large muffling effect appeared.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, at <NUM>, which showed the largest resonance effect, the largest muffling effect appeared. In addition, at approximately <NUM>, which was another membrane vibration resonant frequency, and approximately <NUM> as well, the muffling effect appeared. That is, in the present invention, a single device can perform muffling at a plurality of frequencies. This corresponds to the fact that the membrane-type resonance structure used in the present invention has a plurality of resonances caused by fundamental vibration and a plurality of higher-order vibrations.

In this manner, it was found out that muffling occurred greatly with respect to a specific frequency by disposing the membrane-type resonance structure on the wall 12d of the duct <NUM>.

In order to clarify the mechanism, a sound pressure inside the duct <NUM> and a local speed were calculated. <FIG> shows a view of a sound pressure distribution (logarithmic expression as log10(P)) in which the sound pressure amplitude is logarithmically shown in shades. <FIG> shows a diagram of a local speed distribution shown by arrows after normalizing a local speed. This is the result at <NUM> where a large muffling effect was obtained. In <FIG>, white spots <NUM> indicate the sound sources <NUM> (enabled by the blades of the fan <NUM>), white indicates that the sound pressure is high, and black and dark shades indicate that the sound pressure is low.

From the sound pressure distribution shown in <FIG>, it is found out that sound radiated from the internal sound source was propagated only to the vicinity of the membrane-type resonance structure and was confined inside the duct <NUM>. In addition, there is a portion where the sound pressure was locally decreased between the vicinity of the membrane-type resonance structure and a middle portion of the duct <NUM>. This indicates that the membrane-type resonance structure and sound in the vicinity of a center portion of the duct <NUM> canceled each other out by interference. From the local speed distribution shown in <FIG> as well, it is found out that the direction of the local speed was reversed in the vicinity of the membrane-type resonance structure, causing interference of canceling-out. Accordingly, the mechanism of muffling the sound radiated to the outside of the duct <NUM> as interference, in which sound of which a phase was changed by the resonance of the membrane-type resonance structure and directly radiating sound from the internal sound source canceled each other out, occurred was clarified.

That is, the interference of canceling-out occurred due to interaction among the membrane-type resonance structure, the sound source, and a sound source rear surface (the reflection wall, the shaft, and the like). In a case where a distance between the two is short, near-field interference occurs, and in a case where the distance between the two is long, interference occurs in propagating waves.

In Simulation <NUM>, the reflection wall (reflection interface) <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) was provided on the rear surface side (the open end 12c side) of the internal sound source (the fan <NUM> shown in <FIG>). This was to simulate a phenomenon peculiar to the case of the fan <NUM>. The causes of the occurrence of predominant sound at a specific frequency in the case of the fan <NUM> were the number of blades of the fan <NUM> and the continued radiation of sound at a frequency, which was a rotation speed, in phase. That is, the blades of the fan <NUM> were in a state of moving in synchronization with a predominant sound frequency. At this time, in a case where sound, which was reflected in the duct <NUM>, returned to the portion of the blades of the fan <NUM>, the blades moving in synchronization with the frequency rotated, so that a situation where the blades and the sound were likely to interact with each other was caused. In this case, as the interaction was large, reflection at the position of the fan <NUM> was likely to occur.

Accordingly, regarding a predominant sound frequency using the fan <NUM> as a noise source, even in a case where a space on the rear surface side of the fan <NUM> was physically opened, the movement of the blades caused sound to behave just as the high impedance reflection wall (reflection interface) <NUM> was formed regarding predominant sound. A model in which the reflection wall <NUM> was disposed on the rear surface side of the internal sound source was prepared with the intention of simulating a decrease by the predominant sound of the fan <NUM>.

Next, in order to confirm a relationship between the position of the membrane-type resonance structure, which is the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of the acoustic system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention, and muffled sound volume, a change in the muffled sound volume was calculated by changing the position of the membrane-type resonance structure under the same condition (a case of four membrane-type resonance structures) as Simulation <NUM>. Muffled sound volume at <NUM>, which was a resonant frequency, was calculated under each condition by changing a distance between the position of the internal sound source (<NUM>) and a lower end of the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>) from <NUM> to <NUM>. The results are shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the muffled sound volume changed depending on the position of the membrane-type resonance structure. In particular, in a case where a distance in the graph shown in <FIG> was <NUM>, that is, a distance between the internal sound source and the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> was <NUM>, and a distance between the reflection wall on the rear surface side of the internal sound source and the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> was <NUM>, it was found out that there was a condition where a muffling effect was hardly seen.

In order to clarify the mechanism of this phenomenon, the level of a sound pressure at the internal sound source position was calculated. It is known that as the sound pressure at the internal sound source position increases, the radiation amount of sound from the sound source increases. The muffled sound volume of externally radiating sound and muffled sound volume at an internal sound pressure position are shown in <FIG> in a case of the position of <NUM> (a near-field interference region), in <FIG> in a case of position of <NUM> (an extreme internal sound source position amplification region), in <FIG> in a case of <NUM>, and in <FIG> in a case of <NUM>. That is, an effect of placing the membrane-type resonance structure was expressed as a difference with a condition without the membrane-type resonance structure as reference.

<FIG> shows a condition where externally radiating sound was hardly muffled. In this case, at a resonant frequency of the membrane structure, the amplification (a minus direction in <FIG>) of an extremely large sound pressure occurred at the position of the internal sound source. For this reason, it was found out that sound radiated from the sound source was strongly (<NUM> dB or more) amplified, offsetting the muffling effect of the externally radiating sound by the membrane-type resonance structure. Consequently, the muffling effect disappeared.

On the other hand, at other positions (<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>), the sound pressure at the internal sound source position at the resonant frequency of the membrane-type resonance structure was not greatly amplified. Accordingly, it is regarded that the externally radiating sound was muffled without offsetting the muffling effect by the membrane-type resonance structure. In particular, in the case of <FIG>, there is almost no frequency at which the externally radiating sound is amplified near the resonance, and there is a characteristic that a muffling effect is obtained over the entire region. At this time, it is found out that there is almost no frequency at which the internal sound source position is amplified.

In this manner, it was found out that externally radiating sound volume was determined by both of the resonance characteristic of the membrane-type resonance structure itself and a change in a sound pressure radiating amount caused by an increase or a decrease in the sound pressure at the internal sound source position.

The case of the position of <NUM> shown in <FIG> will be further considered. In this case, a distance between the reflection wall (<NUM>) on the rear surface side of the sound source (<NUM>) and the middle position of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> in the duct flow passage direction was <NUM>.

The membrane-type resonance structure also exhibited reflection since a phase change occurred at a resonant frequency. Sound reflected by the membrane-type resonance structure was again reflected by the wall (<NUM>) behind the sound source, and returned to the position of the membrane-type resonance structure. Further, the sound was reflected again at the position of the membrane-type resonance structure. In a case where sounds reflected by the membrane-type resonance structure are in phase with each other, the reflections overlap each other, causing strong resonance. That is, a resonator for sound caused by the position of the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>) in the duct <NUM> and the position of the wall (<NUM>) behind the sound source is formed.

Being an antinode of a sound pressure due to an interface from low impedance to high impedance at the position of the reflection wall (<NUM>) behind the sound source (<NUM>), and non-reversal of the phase of reflected waves of the sound pressure, that is, the phase change of the sound pressure was <NUM>. At a membrane-type resonance position, there was a node of the sound pressure due to the characteristic of the resonance. Accordingly, the reversal of the phase of the reflected waves of the sound pressure, that is, the phase change of the sound pressure was λ/<NUM>. At this time, insofar as a distance between the position of the reflection wall (<NUM>) of the rear surface of the sound source (<NUM>) and the position of the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>) was λ/<NUM>, a phase difference between the reflected waves at the position of the membrane-type resonance structure was λ (the phase change λ/<NUM> caused by reciprocating + the phase change λ/<NUM> at a resonator), showing a relationship of amplifying overlap. That is, it is found out that a condition where a strong resonator was formed by the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>) and the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the sound source rear surface, when the distance of λ/<NUM> was satisfied.

λ/<NUM> at a wavelength of <NUM> was approximately <NUM>. In a case of the condition of <FIG>, since the condition is a condition where a distance between the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the sound source rear surface, and the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>) was <NUM>, a resonator that was extremely close to the resonance condition and was strong in the duct was formed. At this time, a sound pressure in the duct centered around the inside of the resonator was extremely greatly amplified due to a resonance phenomenon. Since there was the internal sound source in the resonator in this simulation disposition, also the sound pressure at the internal sound source position was amplified. It was found out that as the sound pressure of the internal sound source was increased by the resonator in this manner, radiating sound volume from the sound source increased, causing an effect of offsetting a muffling effect by the membrane-type resonance structure.

Next, in order to confirm an effect of the membrane-type resonance structure, which was the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of the acoustic system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention as a practical system, calculation, in which a distance between the sound source (<NUM>) and the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was a rear surface, was set to <NUM> and also sound absorption was added to the membrane-type resonance structure, was performed. That is, with the same structure as in Simulation <NUM>, a structure where an imaginary part was introduced into the Young's modulus of the membrane structure and the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, which was the practical system, absorbed sound was adopted. Muffled sound volume in a case where the position of the membrane-type resonance structure was changed was calculated. The results are shown in <FIG>. In the drawing, the horizontal axis represents a distance between the position of the center of the membrane-shaped member <NUM> and the reflection wall (<NUM>), which is the sound source rear surface.

As compared to <FIG>, it is found out that even in a case where there was sound absorption by the membrane-shaped member <NUM>, similarly, the muffled sound volume was changed by the position of the membrane-type resonance structure. The muffled sound volume was smallest in a case where the distance was <NUM>, and this point matched the examination results in Simulation <NUM>. That is, when a distance between the reflection interface (<NUM>), which was the rear surface, and the center of the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>) was the length of the resonator, which was λ/<NUM>, the muffled sound volume was smallest due to the internal amplification. <FIG> shows a muffled sound volume spectrum in this case (a point B of <FIG>). It is found out that externally radiating sound was barely muffled.

On the other hand, in a case of a distance of <NUM>, at which the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the sound source rear surface, and the sound source (<NUM>) were brought closer to the membrane-shaped member <NUM> (<FIG>; a point A of <FIG>: near-field), and a case of a distance of <NUM>, at which the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the sound source rear surface, and the sound source (<NUM>) were brought further away from the membrane-shaped member <NUM> (<FIG>; a point C of <FIG>: far-field), a large muffling effect exceeding <NUM> dB was obtained. That is, it became clear that the muffled sound volume increased in a case where it was avoided that the distance became λ/<NUM>, and the muffled sound volume was maximum in a case of approximately m*λ/<NUM> (m was an integer of <NUM> or more). When this condition was satisfied, reflected waves of the membrane-type resonance structure had a phase relationship of not overlapping each other, which was a condition where a resonator was most unlikely to be formed in the duct <NUM>. For this reason, without amplifying a sound pressure at the sound source position, the largest muffling effect by the membrane-type resonance structure was obtained.

In particular, muffling approximately at m = <NUM> showed that the muffling effect was obtained even in a case of disposing in a near-field region less than λ/<NUM>, and showed that disposition was possible even in a case where the length of the duct <NUM> was extremely small, which is practically important.

Next, in order to confirm an effect of the membrane-type resonance structure, which was the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of the acoustic system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention as the practical system as in Simulation <NUM>, calculation, in which a distance between the sound source (<NUM>) and the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the rear surface, was set to <NUM> and also sound absorption was added to the membrane-type resonance structure, was performed.

Compared to Simulation <NUM>, the distance between the sound source (<NUM>) and the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the rear surface, was set to <NUM>, instead of <NUM>. <FIG> shows a change in the muffled sound volume in a case where the position of the membrane-type resonance structure was changed. It was found out that even in a case where a distance from the sound source to the reflection wall, which was the rear surface, was changed, as in Simulation <NUM>, the muffling effect was smallest when a distance between the reflection wall and the membrane-type resonance structure was λ/<NUM>, and the muffling effect increased on both sides thereof. <FIG> each show a muffling spectrum at a position thereof. It is found out that even in a case where the membrane-type resonance structure was disposed right next to the point sound source shown in <FIG> (the point A of <FIG>), that is, a case of m = <NUM>, the large muffling effect appeared. A duct length was not necessary at this position in principle, leading to the fact that muffling was possible with the approximate size of the casing of the fan <NUM>, which is practically important.

In this manner, it became clear that in a case where there was a high impedance interface (the point B of <FIG>), which was a wall, on the rear surface, and a case where a distance between the rear surface wall of the sound source and the membrane-type resonance structure was λ/<NUM> as shown in <FIG>, a resonator was formed and the muffling effect decreased, and on the other hand, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a case of m × λ/<NUM> (the point A and the point C of <FIG>), the muffling effect increased.

Next, in order to confirm an effect of the membrane-type resonance structure, which was the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of the acoustic system <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention, calculation, in which the reflection wall (<NUM>), which is the rear surface of the sound source (<NUM>), was eliminated and also sound absorption was added to the membrane-type resonance structure, was performed.

A change was made into the same system as in Simulation <NUM>, in which the reflection wall (<NUM>), which was the rear surface of the sound source (<NUM>), was eliminated and sound was radiated to the outside, and the same calculation was performed. <FIG> shows a change in the muffled sound volume when the position of the membrane-type resonance structure was changed as in Simulation <NUM> in this case. The distance was set to a distance between the position of the sound source (<NUM>) and the center position of the membrane-type resonance structure (<NUM>). Even in a case where the rear surface side of the sound source was opened, the muffled sound volume changed at the position of the membrane-type resonance structure. In a case where the distance between the sound source position and the position of a middle portion of the membrane <NUM> was approximately λ/<NUM>, the muffled sound volume was smallest. In addition, the muffled sound volume maximized when at the position of approximately m × λ/<NUM>.

Even in a case where the rear surface of the internal sound source was opened, the duct was narrowed at the internal sound source position since there was the axial portion as the reflection wall. Thus, the sound source position became the high impedance interface. Accordingly, it was found out that the position dependence of the muffled sound volume greatly appeared due to the presence of the high impedance interface even in a case where the reflection wall was not perfect as calculated in Simulations <NUM> and <NUM>. <FIG> (distance of <NUM>: the near-field at the position right next to the sound source), <FIG> (distance of <NUM>), and <FIG> (distance of <NUM>) each show a muffling spectrum.

In this manner, it was found out that even in a case where there was no reflection wall, which was the rear surface of the sound source, the interface to the high impedance side occurred depending on the shape of the sound source itself, so that an optimum position of the membrane-type resonance structure appeared. In particular, as shown in <FIG>, in the case of m = <NUM> (distance of <NUM>), the muffling effect was obtained only by disposing the membrane-type resonance structure right next to the sound source, which is meaningful in size reduction. As shown in <FIG>, in a case where the distance was <NUM>, which was close to λ/<NUM>, the muffled sound volume decreased. As shown in <FIG>, it is found out that the muffled sound volume maximized in a case where the distance was <NUM>, which was close to λ/<NUM>.

As in the cases of Simulations <NUM> to <NUM>, in a system having the internal sound source <NUM>, the reflection wall <NUM>, and the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, there is a mechanism in which there are two resonances and the resonances contribute to muffling and amplification, respectively. The mechanisms were considered.

A muffling mechanism (the membrane-type resonating body alone) is as follows.

As shown in <FIG>, sound (solid line) directly emitted from the sound source <NUM> and sound (dotted line), of which a phase was changed by the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and which was discharged again, underwent phase reversal, causing interference of canceling each other out. Herein, phase reversal was performed depending on the characteristic of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> regardless of a distance between the sound source <NUM> and the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>. For this reason, a frequency was determined by the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> alone. Therefore, the phase change of transmitted waves caused by the resonance of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> alone was important.

An amplifying mechanism (resonator depending on a length) is as follows.

As shown in <FIG>, in a case where a distance between the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and the reflection wall <NUM> behind the sound source agreed with a wavelength, the resonator caused resonance.

At this time, the length of a cavity was one fourth (λ/<NUM>) of the wavelength. Herein, sound from the sound source <NUM> was strongly radiated by increasing a sound pressure at the position of a sound source <NUM>. For this reason, the externally radiating sound also increased. This was based on the resonance characteristic of the cavity formed by the reflection wall <NUM> and the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>. Therefore, when a distance between the reflection wall <NUM> and the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was λ/<NUM>, a resonance effect was large. For this reason, a distance between the reflection phase of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and the reflection wall <NUM>, which was the rear surface, was important.

Both of the muffling mechanism and the amplifying mechanism worked at a frequency near the resonance of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>.

In addition, a practical case where there was sound absorption by the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of Simulations <NUM> and <NUM> absorbing sound through membrane vibration and an ideal case where there was no sound absorption by the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> of Simulations <NUM> and <NUM> were considered.

As described above, in case where sound was absorbed by the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> through membrane vibration, an imaginary part was introduced into the Young's modulus of the membrane <NUM>, and calculation was performed assuming that the membrane <NUM> which actually performed absorption. In this case, a relationship between a distance between the reflection wall <NUM>, which was the rear surface, and the center of the membrane <NUM> and the muffled sound volume was as shown in <FIG> described above.

<FIG> and <FIG> show, in a case where the distance between the reflection wall <NUM>, which was the rear surface, and the center of the membrane <NUM> was <NUM>, and a case where the distance was <NUM>, a relationship between a frequency and muffled sound volume for a case where there was sound absorption by the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and a case where there was no sound absorption.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in a case where there was strong damping and sound absorption in the membrane <NUM>, as shown by a solid line, there was no muffling, no amplification, and no strong peak shown by a dotted line showing a case where there was no sound absorption. As a result, the relationships were broadened as shown by the solid lines in <FIG> and <FIG>. However, the maximum and minimum positions of the muffled sound volume are not different from the case of the dotted lines showing no absorption.

The above simulation results can be summarized as follows.

In response to the resonance of the membrane-type resonating body with the rear surface closed space, a muffling effect appears. In a case where there is the higher-order vibration, the muffling effect appears in both of the fundamental vibration and the higher-order vibration.

On the other hand, there is a condition where a cavity resonator is formed by the membrane-type resonating body and the reflection wall, which is the rear surface, contributing to amplification.

Accordingly, muffling by the resonator (membrane-type resonating body) and amplification by the cavity resonator compete against each other, and the position dependence of the resonator appears.

Practically, in a case where a distance between the reflection wall and the membrane-type resonating body is λ/<NUM>, the cavity resonator is formed, the amplifying effect of the sound pressure is strong, and the muffling effect is small. Therefore, the membrane-type resonating body is to be disposed avoiding this distance of λ/<NUM>.

A large muffling effect appears even with the near-field interference by bringing the membrane-type resonating body closer to the sound source and/or the wall. In this case, muffling can be performed with an extremely small size.

As described above, through the simulations, it has been clarified that muffling can be performed for the predominant sound of the sound source by configuring an acoustic unit in which the membrane-type resonating body is disposed on the wall of the duct.

Hereinafter, the acoustic unit according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on examples. Materials, amounts used, ratios, the content of processing, processing procedures, and the like shown in the examples below can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention as long as such changes are within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not to be construed as limiting by the examples shown below, but only by the appended claims.

First, as shown in <FIG>, one end surface of the duct <NUM> having cross section disposition shown in <FIG> was configured by fitting the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> having width <NUM> × length <NUM> × width <NUM>, which is shown in <FIG>, into each of an upper surface, which was one end surface, and both side surfaces of the duct <NUM> that had the through-hole 12a having a square cross section of <NUM> × <NUM>, had external dimensions of <NUM> × <NUM> consisting of the wall 12d having a thickness of <NUM>, and had a length of <NUM>. Next, the fan <NUM>, which had a square shape of <NUM> × <NUM> and had a thickness of <NUM>, was attached to the one end surface of the duct <NUM> configured as described above, and the through-hole 12a of the duct <NUM> was configured to be covered with the fan <NUM>, configuring the acoustic unit <NUM>.

A duct <NUM> that had a through-hole 13a having the same dimensions, had cross section dimensions of <NUM> × <NUM> × length <NUM>, and was lined with urethane rubber 13b having a thickness of <NUM> was attached to an intake side of the fan <NUM>.

In addition, a microphone <NUM> was attached at a position separated at a right angle by <NUM> from a position <NUM> downstream from the center of the other open end 12b of the duct <NUM> on the left in the drawing of the acoustic unit <NUM>, configuring an experimental system measuring the noise of the acoustic unit <NUM>.

San Ace <NUM>, Model: 9GA0612P1J03 (manufactured by Sanyo Denki) was used as the fan <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> had the opening portion 20b that had an elliptical shape having a major axis of <NUM> and a minor axis of <NUM>. The rectangular parallelepiped frame <NUM>, of which a bottom surface and four side surfaces were configured by using an upper acrylic plate having width <NUM> × length <NUM> × thickness <NUM> and an acrylic plate having a thickness of <NUM>, and which had width <NUM> × length <NUM> × width <NUM> as a whole, was configured. The membrane-shaped member <NUM> made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of <NUM> was bonded to an upper surface of the upper acrylic plate to cover the opening portion 20b.

In a noise measurement system of the acoustic unit <NUM> shown in <FIG>, which was configured as described above, as the three membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> could be moved downstream from the position of the fan <NUM>, the center position of the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> with respect to the sound source (the fan <NUM>) (a distance between the center position of the blades of the fan <NUM> and the center position of the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> in a cross section in the duct flow passage direction) was changed, and the sound pressure of noise radiated from the duct of the acoustic unit <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention when the fan <NUM> was rotated at a rotation speed of <NUM>,<NUM> rpm was measured by the microphone <NUM>.

A relationship between the sound pressure measured in this manner and the frequency is shown in <FIG> as Example <NUM> in which the center position of the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> with respect to the fan <NUM> was λ/<NUM>. Herein, a wavelength λ was <NUM>. <FIG> shows the sound pressure in a case where the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was not disposed as reference. In addition, <FIG> also shows sound absorption through muffling by a muffler when the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> functioned as the muffler.

In addition, <FIG> shows a relationship between a center position/λ of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> with respect to the fan <NUM> and a transmission loss at <NUM>,<NUM>. That is, a microphone sound pressure in a case where the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> is disposed at each position at <NUM>,<NUM> and a reference microphone sound pressure where the membrane-type resonating body is not disposed were compared to each other, and the result was expressed as a transmission loss. Points shown in <FIG> are all examples of the present invention.

<FIG> shows that a thick solid line of Example <NUM> had a significantly lower sound pressure than a dotted line of reference, and a larger muffling effect than the reference. That is, it is found out that Example <NUM>, in which the position of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was λ/<NUM>, had a large muffling effect.

In addition, from <FIG>, it is found out that in a case where the position/λ was <NUM>, that is, the position was λ/<NUM>, there were transmission losses at points ahead or behind the position although the transmission losses were small. On the contrary, in a case of Example <NUM> in which the position/λ was <NUM>, that is, the position was λ/<NUM>, there were larger transmission losses at points ahead or behind the position.

That is, it was found out that a muffling effect changed depending on a place where the membrane-type resonating body was disposed, and the effect was large particularly at the position of λ/<NUM> from the fan.

Further, from <FIG>, it is found out that a transmission loss amount increased in a case where the distance to the fan was made closer than λ/<NUM>. In a case where the distance was made closest, the position was <NUM>. 12λ, and the transmission loss exceeded <NUM> dB. As described above, it became clear that not only the position of <NUM>. 5λ but also a direction in which the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was brought closer to the fan than <NUM>. 25λ are optimum values for increasing the transmission loss. This suggests that the optimum value of the transmission loss was a position m × λ/<NUM> (m was an integer of <NUM> or more) in a case of being combined with the simulations.

From the above, it is found out that the muffling effect of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> had the position dependence of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, and bringing the position of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> further away from λ/<NUM> and bringing closer to <NUM> or λ/<NUM> were desirable.

In the same measurement system as in Example <NUM>, the microphone <NUM> was disposed at a position separated at a right angle by <NUM> from a position <NUM> downstream side instead of the position separated at a right angle by <NUM> from the position <NUM> downstream side.

The amount of current was adjusted such that the predominant sound of the fan <NUM> was set to <NUM>,<NUM>. At this time, an end portion wind speed measured by a flow meter was <NUM>/s. With respect to the measurement system, comparison between an acoustic unit 10a of Example <NUM> comprising the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> shown in <FIG> and an acoustic unit <NUM> of Comparative Example <NUM> comprising Helmholtz resonating bodies <NUM> shown in <FIG> was made.

A structure where six membrane-type resonating bodies (two for each side surface among three side surfaces, in total, six) each having a membrane-type fixing unit having Φ26 mm shown in <FIG> were disposed on one surface in the cross section of the duct <NUM> was adopted for the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> of the acoustic unit 10a of Example <NUM>. The membrane-shaped member <NUM> of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of <NUM>, and the rear surface distance was <NUM>. The resonant frequency of the acoustic unit 10a having this structure was <NUM>,<NUM>.

The acoustic unit <NUM> of Comparative Example <NUM> was configured as in the acoustic unit 10a of Example <NUM> except for using the Helmholtz resonating bodies <NUM> to be compared to, instead of the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM>. That is, the number and disposed positions of the Helmholtz resonating bodies <NUM> were the same as those of the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> of Example <NUM>. The Helmholtz resonating bodies <NUM> to be compared to was designed such that each volume thereof was the same as the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>. That is, the thickness of a surface plate <NUM> was <NUM>, the rear surface distance was <NUM>, the rear surface was a Φ26 mm cylindrical cavity, and a through hole (resonance hole) <NUM> that had a hole diameter of <NUM> and a thickness of <NUM> was in the surface plate <NUM>. The resonant frequency was also <NUM>,<NUM>. Each frame and a structure such as the surface plate <NUM> of the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM> were prepared by processing an acrylic plate with a laser cutter.

The disposed positions of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and the Helmholtz resonating bodies <NUM> were determined to be positions attached to an exhaust side fan end portion. That is, frame portions of the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM> were disposed at positions in contact with the casing of the fan <NUM> as in <FIG>.

In this manner, acoustic measurement was performed in the cases of the acoustic unit 10a of Example <NUM>, the acoustic unit <NUM> of Comparative Example <NUM>, an acoustic unit <NUM> that does not have a resonating body, such as the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> and the Helmholtz resonating bodies <NUM>, and only has the duct <NUM>. The results are shown in <FIG> and Table <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a microphone position sound pressure near fan peak sound when the resonating body was not disposed (Reference Example <NUM>), the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was disposed (Example <NUM>), and the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM> was disposed (Comparative Example <NUM>).

As shown in Table <NUM>, in a case where a transmission loss was calculated from a sound pressure between peaks, while there was peak muffled sound volume of <NUM> dB or more in Example <NUM>, there was only peak muffled sound volume of <NUM> dB in Comparative Example <NUM>. Between the resonating bodies having the same volume, the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> had a larger peak sound transmission loss than the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM>.

Further, according to <FIG>, in the membrane-type resonating body <NUM>, sound other than peak sound was also decreased around the low frequency side, and sound was not increased compared to when there is basically no resonating body.

On the other hand, in Comparative Example <NUM> in which the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM> was disposed, sound volume was more increased in the entire band shown, in particular, on high frequency side than when there was no resonating body. This difference reached approximately <NUM> dB at the maximum. An increase in sound volume by the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM> was caused by wind noise brought about by the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM>. That is, as wind flowed along with sound in the duct, wind noise was generated at an opening portion of the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM>. More specifically, a fluid vortex was generated at an opening portion edge portion, causing a wind noise component to appear. Although the wind noise component itself was like white noise of which a frequency characteristic was not distinctive, the generated wind noise component interacted with the Helmholtz resonating body <NUM>. In this case, the wind noise component was trapped in the resonating body and was enhanced near the resonant frequency of Helmholtz resonance. As the enhanced component was again radiated from the Helmholtz resonating body through the opening portion, causing a strong wind noise source which had a characteristic frequency. Due to this effect, the sound volume was increased near the Helmholtz resonant frequency (this is exactly the same phenomenon which occurred when a PET bottle was blown).

That is, in a case where a resonant frequency was adjusted to fan peak noise in an attempt to muffle fan noise using the Helmholtz resonating body, wind noise was inevitably increased at the resonant frequency and some of a muffling effect was eliminated. Further, since Helmholtz resonance generally had a wider frequency width than fan peak sound, large wind noise at a frequency around the fan peak sound resulted in an increase in noise volume.

On the other hand, the membrane-type resonating body did not generate wind noise including a frequency around peak sound as well. Accordingly, without increasing sound volume, a large muffling effect could be obtained at the peak sound frequency. Accordingly, it was found out that the membrane-type resonating body that does not have the opening portion is more suitable to muffling than the resonance structure that has the opening portion, such as Helmholtz resonance.

In a measurement system which was the same as in Example <NUM>, an experiment of obtaining a larger muffling effect was performed by disposing the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> in the duct flow passage direction in two rows (Example <NUM>) and four rows (Example <NUM>) instead of one row. <FIG> shows an image diagram in a case of four-row disposition. <FIG> shows the results.

<FIG> shows a microphone position sound volume spectrum measured under each disposition condition of the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM>. In addition, Table <NUM> shows comparison of peak sound volume including the results of Example <NUM>. It was found out that a larger muffling effect was obtained by disposing the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> in a plurality of rows in the duct flow passage direction. In a case of being arranged in four rows, a muffling effect of <NUM> dB or more could be obtained.

In addition, after a flow meter measured a wind speed in each of Example <NUM>, Example <NUM>, and Example <NUM>, it was found out that the speeds of all of the examples were <NUM>/s. This was the wind speed which was the same in a case where the membrane-type resonating body <NUM> was not disposed. It was found out that air volume was not impaired by disposing the membrane-type resonating bodies <NUM> on the wall surface.

Through the results, the effects of the present invention were made clear.

Claim 1:
An acoustic system (<NUM>) comprising:
a duct (<NUM>) that has a function of causing a fluid to flow therein and has a tubular shape;
a sound source; and
at least one membrane-type resonance body (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one membrane-type resonance body (<NUM>) has at least one membrane-shaped member (<NUM>) that is closed and formed as a part of a wall of the duct (<NUM>) and vibrates in response to sound, and a frame (<NUM>) attached to a rear surface side of the membrane-shaped member (<NUM>) so as to form a closed or substantially closed space (20a) on the rear surface side of the membrane-shaped member (<NUM>), the at least one membrane-type resonance body (<NUM>) being configured to cause acoustic resonance by a structure including the at least one membrane-shaped member (<NUM>) and the closed or substantially closed space (20a), and to suppress sound that is transmitted from the sound source into the duct (<NUM>) and radiated from a downstream end portion of the duct (<NUM>),
wherein the sound source is either an internal sound source or an external sound source, wherein, in case of the internal sound source, said internal sound source is disposed inside the duct (<NUM>) or at an outer peripheral portion of the duct (<NUM>), which communicates with an inside of the duct (<NUM>), and in case of the external sound source, said external sound source is at a distance within a wavelength at a frequency of the acoustic resonance on the outside from an upstream end portion of the duct (<NUM>),
wherein, for at least one membrane-shaped member (<NUM>) or at least one membrane-type resonance body (<NUM>), in a case where a wavelength determined from a frequency at which a sound pressure of sound generated by the sound source (<NUM>) is maximum is denoted by λ and an integer of <NUM> or more is denoted by m, a center of the membrane-shaped member is positioned at a distance which is larger than (m × λ/<NUM> - λ/<NUM>) and is smaller than (m × λ/<NUM> + λ/<NUM>) from a position of the sound source (<NUM>), and
wherein in a case where a Young's modulus of the membrane-shaped member is denoted by E (Pa), a thickness is denoted by t (m), a thickness of the closed or substantially closed space (20a) is denoted by d (m), and a circle equivalent diameter of a region where the membrane-shaped member vibrates is denoted by Φ (m), hardness E × t<NUM> (Pa × m<NUM> ) of the membrane-shaped member is <NUM> × d-<NUM> × Φ <NUM> or less.