Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a noise shield arrangement for a vehicle comprising a noise shield structure arranged to, at least partly, encapsulate a sound generating structure of the vehicle, wherein the noise shield structure is formed by an acoustic isolating material and comprises a first surface arranged to face the sound generating structure, and a second, oppositely positioned surface arranged to face away from the sound generating structure, wherein the noise shield arrangement comprises at least one thermally conductive element extending through the noise shield structure between the first surface and the second surface.
Claims
1. A noise shield arrangement for a vehicle, comprising: a noise shield structure arranged to, at least partly, encapsulate a sound generating structure of the vehicle, wherein the noise shield structure is formed by an acoustic isolating material and comprises: a first surface arranged to face the sound generating structure, and a second surface, oppositely positioned from the first surface, the second surface arranged to face away from the sound generating structure, and at least one thermally conductive element extending through the noise shield structure between the first surface and the second surface.
2. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is a thermally conductive pipe.
3. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is a heat pipe.
4. The noise shield arrangement of claim 3, wherein the heat pipe comprises: a sealed inner cavity, and a casing enclosing the inner cavity to form an encapsulated volume between the inner cavity and the casing, wherein the encapsulated volume comprises a liquid fluid.
5. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is a thermosyphon.
6. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element protrudes a distance out from the second surface.
7. The noise shield arrangement of claim 6, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises an angled portion arranged at the distance from the second surface.
8. The noise shield arrangement of claim 7, wherein the angled portion has an angle of at least 45 degrees relative to the portion extending through the noise shield structure.
9. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is arranged and configured to extend to a heat consumer of the vehicle.
10. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of thermally conductive elements.
11. The noise shield arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a first noise shield portion, and a second noise shield portion connected to the first noise shield portion, the thermally conductive element forming part of the first noise shield portion.
12. The noise shield arrangement of claim 11, wherein the first and second noise shield portions are formed by different acoustic isolating materials.
13. A vehicle, comprising: a sound generating structure, and a noise shield structure at least partially enclosing the sound generating structure, wherein the noise shield structure is formed by an acoustic isolating material and comprises: a first surface arranged to face the sound generating structure, and a second surface oppositely positioned from the first surface, the second surface arranged to face away from the sound generating structure, and wherein the noise shield structure further comprises at least one thermally conductive element extending through the noise shield structure between the first surface and the second surface.
14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the sound generating structure is at least one of a vehicle engine, an air compressor, or a pump.
15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein: the vehicle comprises a heat consumer, and the thermally conductive element extends from the noise shield structure to the heat consumer.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The above, as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments, wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a lateral side view of a vehicle according to an example embodiment,
[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a noise shield arrangement according to an example embodiment,
[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a noise shield arrangement according to another example embodiment, and
[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a thermally conductive element according to an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 1, which is lateral side view of a vehicle 10 according to an example embodiment. The vehicle 10 is in FIG. 1 illustrated in the form of a truck, but the noise shield arrangement described below in relation to FIGS. 2-4 is applicable for other vehicles as well, such as a bus, a working machine, a car, etc. The vehicle 10 comprises a plurality of sound generating structures 200. In FIG. 1, the sound generating structure 200 is illustrated by the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. Other sound generating structures may, for example, be a compressor, a pump, an electric motor, etc.
[0034] In order to describe the noise shield arrangement in further detail, reference is made to FIGS. 2-3 which illustrate noise shield arrangements 100 according to example embodiments. Starting with FIG. 2, the noise shield arrangement 100 comprises a noise shield structure 102 which at least partially encapsulates the sound generating structure 200. The noise shield structure 102 comprises a first noise shield portion 120 formed by an acoustic isolating material. Optionally, and as indicated in FIG. 2, the noise shield structure 102 comprises a second noise shield portion 130 formed by a different acoustic isolating material compared to the first noise shield portion 120, whereby the first 120 and second 130 noise shield portions are connected to each other to properly prevent noise from being directed out to the environment. Although FIG. 2 illustrates two different noise shield portions, it should be understood that the present disclosure is applicable by using only the first noise shield portion 120, i.e. the first 120 and second 130 noise shield portions may be formed by the same material. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the noise 300 generated by the sound generated structure 200 is schematically illustrated as prevented from being directed out from the noise shield structure 102.
[0035] Furthermore, the noise shield structure 102 comprises a first surface 104 facing the sound generating structure 200, and a second surface 106 arranged on an opposite side of the noise shield structure 102 compared to the first surface 104. Hence, the second surface 106 faces away from the sound generating structure 200.
[0036] Moreover, the noise shield arrangement 100 further comprises a plurality of thermally conductive elements 110, in the following exemplified and referred to as thermally conductive pipes 110. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the thermally conductive pipes 110 extend through the noise shield structure 102 between the first 104 and second 106 surfaces. In the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the thermally conductive pipes 110 protrude a non-zero distance 140 out from the second surface 106. As can be seen by the arrows indicated with reference numeral 350, heat generated by the heat generating structure 200 is absorbed by a hot interface side 116 of the thermally conductive pipes 110 and transferred through the thermally conductive pipes 110 to a cold interface side 118. The hot interface side 116 is thus formed at a first end portion of the thermally conductive pipes 110 positioned on the same side as the first surface of the noise shield structure 102, and the cold interface side 118 is formed at a second end portion of the thermally conductive pipes 110 positioned at the non-zero distance 140 from the second surface 106. Hence, heat is directed from the encapsulated volume containing the sound generating structure 200 and directed through the noise shield structure 102 by means of the thermally conductive pipes 110 to a position arranged at a distance from the second surface 106.
[0037] According to the example depicted in FIG. 2, the thermally conductive pipes 110 comprises an angled portion 112 at the non-zero distance 140 from the second surface. Hereby, the heat 350 transferred through the thermally conductive pipes 110 can be directed to a suitable position outside the encapsulated volume and routed to bypass other components of the vehicle.
[0038] Turning now to FIG. 3 illustrating another example embodiment of the noise shield arrangement 100. In FIG. 3, a cross-section of the noise shield structure 102 is depicted, as well as a view towards the second surface 106.
[0039] In the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the noise shield arrangement 100 also comprises a plurality of thermally conductive pipes 110. However, in FIG. 3, the plurality of thermally conductive pipes 110 are united in a single passage 300 through the noise shield structure 102. In the example of FIG. 3, three thermally conductive pipes 110 are arranged at the first surface 104 facing the sound generating structure 200. These three thermally conductive pipes 110 merge into a single thermally conductive pipe extending from the first surface 104 to the second surface 106 of the noise shield structure 102. At the second surface 106, the single thermally conductive pipe is split into three thermally conductive pipes 110 which protrudes the non-zero distance 140 out from the second surface 106. FIG. 3 depicts that the heat is released in the vicinity of the second surface 106 but it should be readily understood that the plurality of thermally conductive pipes 110 extending out from the second surface 106 can be routed to a suitable position in a similar vein as described above, such as e.g. to a heat consumer of the vehicle.
[0040] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the thermally conductive pipes 110 extending out from the second surface 106 can be arranged in different directions to guide heat to various positions. Also, by providing a single passage through the noise shield structure 102, the noise shield structure can be preserved in its original configuration. Also, a single passage 300 may improve the ability to block noise from being directed through the noise shield structure 102.
[0041] The thermally conductive pipes 110 are preferably heat pipes. Reference is therefore made to FIG. 4 which illustrates a heat pipe according to an example embodiment. As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the heat pipe 110 comprises a sealed inner cavity 402 and a casing 406 enclosing the inner cavity 402. Hereby, an encapsulated volume 404 is formed between the inner cavity 402 and the casing 406. Furthermore, the encapsulated volume 404 comprises a liquid fluid 408. The heat pipe comprises the above described hot interface side 116 facing the sound generating structure 200, and the cold interface side 118. When the sound generating structure generates heat during operation, the heat is absorbed by the hot interface side and turned into vapor 355. The vapor 355 travels along the heat pipe 110 to the cold interface side 118 where it condenses back into a liquid 450 and the heat 350 is released at a suitable position outside the noise shield at the cold side interface 118. The liquid 450 thereafter returns to the hot interface side 116 through either capillary action or centrifugal force, and the cycle repeats, i.e. the liquid 355 once again turns into vapor.
[0042] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
