Acoustics – Sound-modifying means – Sound absorbing fence or screen
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-10-23
Dang, Khanh (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Sound-modifying means
Sound absorbing fence or screen
C052S144000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305492
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a noise-protection wall-segment, for example for roads, motorways or railways and such, said noise-protection wall-segment consisting of one or more transparent sheets, preferably made of synthetic material, and means for fixing the transparent sheets.;
DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
Noise-protection embankments, walls or facades have been employed for some years in connection with the protection of citizens from traffic noise. On account of the large space requirement of embankments, these are preferably raised in open terrain; on the other hand, in the municipal domain, in the case of bridge structures and frequently also in the case of railway lines, noise-protection walls or facades find application.
In order not to exclude the car-driver or the passenger of a rail vehicle entirely from the environment despite the high walls—that is, as a precaution against a possible “tunnel effect” on bridges, for example—these walls are nowadays constructed so as to be partially transparent.
Stemming from the conventional technology for installing silicate glasses, transparent panes are set in frames, and in certain cases wire gratings are additionally intended to provide a safeguard by preventing fragments from falling down.
A generic noise-protection wall-segment, is known from DE 42 30 786 A1, for example. The segment that is presented therein consists of two perpendicular posts at the edges and a substantially rectangular frame which is fixed to the perpendicular posts at the edges and of a substantially rectangular sound-absorbing sheet. The frame exhibits two vertical frame crossbeams and an anterior stiffening crossbeam connecting the two upper end regions of the two vertical frame crossbeams and in contact with the latter, which likewise connects the two upper end regions of the two vertical frame crossbeams, being in contact with the latter, and which is attached in such a way as to be capable of being dismantled. The substantially rectangular sound-absorbing sheet is dimensioned so as to be capable of being inserted into the frame and is detachably retained in the latter.
From the dimensional design it is to be noted that the sound-absorbing sheet made of plastic which is inserted into the frame may be up to 50% higher than the frame or than the vertical frame crossbeams, so that for a given segment-height the frame has to have a height amounting to approximately ⅔ of the height of the sound-absorbing sheet.
Although the noise-protection wall-segments according to DE 42 30 786 enable the advantageous use of transparent plastic sheets, as a result of the essential use of the frame construction at approximately ⅔ of the height of the sound-absorbing sheets a visually “quite massive” impression is still conveyed. This is because the “free-standing portion”, that is to say the part of the plastic sheets projecting beyond the frame construction, is important for the visual impression.
Moreover, in this way a relatively large proportion of the area of the relatively expensive plastic sheet is employed without achieving the desired effect, i.e. a large fraction of the plastic sheet is totally contained within the frame of the load-bearing structure, so that the intended slimmer effect is achieved only imperfectly or not at all.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the state of the art which has been mentioned and discussed herein, the object underlying the invention is accordingly to make available a noise-protection wall-segment of the aforementioned type which is intended to convey a “visually lighter” impression but at the same time is sufficiently stable in relation to loads due to wind pressure.
Inter alia, visually intrusive posts or frame constructions are to be reduced to a minimum or even entirely avoided with the new noise-protection wall-segment.
In particular, one aim of the invention is to make available a noise-protection wall-segment, dispensing with bars or frames that are arranged high up and that therefore have a disadvantageous influence on the visual and aesthetic effect, that is to permit the erection of a noise-protection wall that is as imperceptible as possible and harmoniously adapted to the landscape.
Furthermore, the new noise-protection wall-segment is to be capable of being prefabricated industrially, and the prefabricated segments are to be capable of being easily transported, capable of being assembled and disassembled, and also capable of being interchanged as simply as possible.
Another object underlying the invention can be seen in the feature that the noise-protection wall-segments are to be capable of being secured with simple means against splintering in the event of fracture, in which connection they are, in addition, also to be capable of being formed so as to prevent collisions with flying birds.
Moreover, the creation of a noise-protection wall by making use of noise-protection wall-segments is also an object of the invention, in which connection the new noise-protection wall is to be transparent, visually as inconspicuous as possible and barely perceptible. In particular, the new noise-protection wall is also to be simple to fabricate, easy to repair and favourable as regards maintenance.
These objects, as well as others which are not stated individually but which readily follow from the introductory discussion or which can be derived from what has been said herein, are achieved by means of a noise-protection wall-segment.
These objects, as well as others which are not stated individually but which readily follow from the introductory discussion or which can be derived from what has been said herein, are achieved by means of a noise-protection wall-segment having the features of claim
1
. Advantageous embodiments of noise-protection wall-segments according to the invention are afforded protection in the subordinate claims that are dependent on claim
1
. Further claims relate to noise-protection walls that can be obtained from the segments according to the invention. With regard to the problematical nature of the process, the corresponding process claims provide solutions for the problems underlying the invention. Advantageous modifications to the process are subjects of the subordinate claims that refer to the independent process claims.
In the case of a noise-protection wall-segment exhibiting a transparent sheet and means fixing the transparent sheet, by virtue of the fact that the sheet, relative to its arrangement in an assembled noise-protection wall, is shaped around a vertical line out of the plane of the wall defined by the noise-protection wall, it is possible, in a manner that could not readily be foreseen or predicted by the average technically skilled person, to obtain a whole series of advantages. These include, inter alia:
In the case where the noise-protection wall-segment according to the invention is employed in a noise-protection wall, no retaining posts and/or load-bearing members of any kind are necessary between the individual segments.
The noise-protection wall-segments according to the invention consequently permit, for the first time, the provision of transparent noise-protection walls having “transparent posts”, i.e. for the first time it is possible to provide a completely transparent noise-protection wall without non-transparent posts that interfere with the visual impression, and to realise intervals of six, eight or more metres between non-transparent posts.
The noise-protection wall-segments are self-supporting.
The noise-protection wall-segments are stable in relation to atmospheric influences, loads arising due to wind pressure, in relation to vandalism or other stress demands as defined by ZTV LSW 88, for example.
The shaping of the individual segments around a vertical line relative to the direction of installation of the wall (vaulting and/or folding) generates a larger standing area on the ground and is suitable to conduct away induced loads due to wind pressure into pedestals or foundations.
In instances of vaulted shaping, noise-protection wall
Brand Norbert
Oberlander Klaus
Oleiko Bernd
Dang Khanh
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Rohm Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
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