Acoustic device thermoforming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000140-B2
Application number	US-202017074090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	Oct 18, 2019
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A method of fabricating an acoustic device includes forming a plurality of holes in a panel, disposing the panel in a support frame, and heating the panel to a temperature such that the panel sags while disposed in the support frame and each hole of the plurality of holes is modified.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of fabricating an acoustic device, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of holes in a panel;
disposing the panel in a support frame; and
heating the panel without a mold to a temperature such that the panel sags while disposed in the support frame and each hole of the plurality of holes is modified.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the plurality of holes comprises cutting a plurality of elongated slots in the panel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes comprise at least one hole shaped such that the at least one hole exhibits auxetic deformation when the panel sags.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the plurality of holes comprises implementing a waterjet cutting procedure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a glass material.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the glass material comprises float glass.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising defining a perimeter shape of the panel before disposing the panel in the support frame.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising supporting the panel with a plurality of rods as the panel is initially heated.

9. A method of fabricating an acoustic pane, the method comprising:
cutting a plurality of elongated slots in a flat panel;
disposing the flat panel in a frame; and
heating the flat panel without a mold in a kiln to a temperature such that the flat panel sags while disposed in the frame and each elongated slot of the plurality of elongated slots undergoes deformation.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the deformation is auxetic.

11. An acoustic device comprising:
a panel having a perimeter and an interior face within the perimeter, the interior face having a sagging curvature; and
a plurality of holes in the interior face;
wherein the sagging curvature of the interior face is modified by either auxetic deformation or a flap at one or more holes of the plurality of holes.

12. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein the curvature is non-uniform.

13. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein each hole of the one or more holes is configured such that the interior face comprises a flap at each hole, each flap projecting outward from the curvature of the interior face.

14. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein the panel has an inflection between the perimeter and the curvature of the interior face.

15. The acoustic device of claim 14 , wherein:
the perimeter is disposed in a plane; and
the curvature projects outward from the plane.

16. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a variable hole pattern such that the panel has auxetic deformation at a first hole of the plurality of holes and non-auxetic deformation at a second hole of the plurality of holes.

17. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein:
each hole of the plurality of holes is elongated; and
a respective length of each hole of the plurality of holes varies across the panel.

18. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein:
the plurality of holes comprise a first hole and a second hole; and
the first hole is oriented at an angle relative to the second hole.

19. The acoustic device of claim 11 , wherein the panel comprises a glass material.

20. An acoustic system comprising:
a framework; and
a plurality of panes supported by the framework;
wherein:
each pane comprises a face with a sagging curvature and further comprises a plurality of holes in the face;
the sagging curvature, the plurality of holes, or both the curvature and the plurality of holes differ across the plurality of panes; and
in at least one of the panes of the plurality of panes, the sagging curvature of the face is modified by either auxetic deformation or a flap at one or more holes of the plurality of holes.

21. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein, in at least one pane of the plurality of panes, the face is twisted beyond the curvature at one or more holes of the plurality of holes.

22. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of panes are disposed in multiple layers.

23. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of panes comprises first and second panes arranged back-to-back.

24. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein the framework is configured to suspend the plurality of panes from a set of wires.

25. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein the framework comprises a flat surface to which the plurality of panes are mounted.

26. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein the framework is configured such that the plurality of panes are disposed in a standalone arrangement.

27. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein:
each pane of the plurality of panes comprises a glass material; and
the plurality of panes are arranged and configured to provide multiple acoustic functions.

28. The acoustic system of claim 27 , wherein the multiple acoustic functions comprise absorption.

29. The acoustic system of claim 28 , wherein the multiple acoustic functions further comprise diffusion.

30. The acoustic system of claim 27 , wherein the plurality of panes are arranged in multiple layers.

31. The acoustic system of claim 30 , wherein the plurality of panes in the multiple layers are arranged and configured such that the multiple acoustic functions comprise absorption.

32. The acoustic system of claim 30 , wherein panes of the plurality of panes in adjacent layers of the multiple layers are offset from one another.

33. The acoustic system of claim 30 , wherein:
first and second panes of the plurality of panes are disposed in adjacent layers of the multiple layers in a back-to-back arrangement; and
the holes in the first and second panes are not aligned with one another.

34. The acoustic system of claim 30 , wherein:
first and second panes of the plurality of panes are disposed in adjacent layers of the multiple layers in a back-to-back arrangement; and
the holes in the first and second panes are aligned with one another.

35. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein:
the holes in the faces of the plurality of panes are distributed to establish multiple zones of the acoustic system; and
the multiple zones implement different acoustic functions.

36. The acoustic system of claim 35 , wherein the multiple zones comprise an absorptive zone, a transparent zone, and a diffusive zone.

37. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein:
the holes in the faces of the plurality of panes are distributed to establish multiple portions of the acoustic system; and
a respective portion of the multiple portions exhibits a mixture of multiple acoustic functions.

38. The acoustic system of claim 20 , further comprising a further pane supported by the framework, wherein a face of the further pane lacks a hole.

39. The acoustic system of claim 20 , wherein, in at least a further one of the panes of the plurality of panes, one or more of the holes is elongated.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan Regents

Inventors

• Mcgee Jonathan Wesley
• Newell Cathlyn
• Belanger Zackery

Classifications

• E04B1/8409 Primary

  sheet-shaped · CPC title

• C03B23/0252

  by gravity only, e.g. sagging (C03B23/035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G10K11/162

  Selection of materials · CPC title

• B26F1/26 Primary

  Perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet · CPC title

• E04B2001/8414

  with non-planar face, e.g. curved, egg-crate shaped · CPC title