Patent ID: 8061474

Claim:
A noise attenuation system disposed in a structure including a wall or ceiling, the wall or ceiling including a board having an exposed surface and an opposite surface, comprising: a heat-generating object requiring air flow for heat dissipation disposed in the structure, the object either generating sound or allowing sound to pass through; and a noise absorbing muffler positioned within the structure and forming an elongated cavity and having an edge abutting the opposite surface of the board of the wall or ceiling, at least a portion of the object extending into the cavity, wherein the noise absorbing muffler comprises: an outer barrier layer that limits the passage of sound waves therethrough; and at least one noise absorbing layer positioned adjacent the outer barrier layer, wherein the noise absorbing layer absorbs a predetermined amount of sound waves, wherein a length of the cavity defined by the noise absorbing muffler is selected, based upon the substantially lowest frequency of the noise to be absorbed, the material used for the noise absorbing muffler, and the materials surrounding the object, such that the noise absorbing layer substantially absorbs at least as much of the sound waves as does the structure surrounding the object; wherein the elongated cavity has substantially completely open ends and permits the dissipation of heat emitted from the object.