IL167815A - Acoustic insulating modules - Google Patents

Description

167815 ,7'j] J 453546 r w wipKTrasaVma ACOUSTIC INSULATING MODULES ACOUSTIC INSULATING MODULE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to acoustic insulating modules for the building industry. More specifically the present invention relates to acoustic insulating modules for piping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Acoustic insulation is commonly achieved in construction sites by employing building modules designed to attenuate sound. Such modules are commonly used for insulating external walls and the construction of inner walls. As an example a European patent application 0595287B1 discloses a method for the production of such modules as semi-finished products. In particular this acoustic insulating module consists of a board of which at least one of its surfaces is coated with a hardened mortar in which a reinforcing mesh is embedded. The core of the board is made of sound absorbing materials such as compacted fibers interspersed in plastic foam. However such modules when applied to acoustically insulate sewage or water pipes, cannot usually meet the standards requirements of sound attenuation, unless a high volume of absorbing material is used, affecting the available space.

Wrapping the pipes with an insulating blanket typically consisting of mineral wool is commonly used for providing acoustic insulation to piping. A sound- reflecting layer is applied on top of the mineral wool blanket, in such cases in which a higher level of acoustic insulation is required. A sheet of lead, which is easy to work with, is typically employed for such purpose. Covering the wrapped pipes with plaster panels enhances the level of acoustic insulation and provides for an aesthetic appearance. A reference is made to Fig. 1 in which an isometric view of a section of an acoustically insulated pipe of the prior art is shown. Pipe 10 lies on the floor. The pipe is wrapped with a layer of mineral wool 12. An external cylindrical covering layer 14 of lead provides for further acoustic insulation. After applying the insulation, a construction element such as a plaster cover 16 is applied over to hide the piping. Currently, all the covers are applied in the construction site, which is demanding with respect of skill and time. Ready made and easily applied acoustic insulating modules specifically designed for applying to piping, can make the acoustic insulation more efficient and cost effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a section of an acoustically insulated pipe as in the prior art; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a section of an acoustic insulating module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a top view of an acoustic insulating module according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION An acoustic insulating module of the invention is a construction element made of acoustic insulating boards described next. The acoustic insulating board of the invention has a light building board on which is attached an acoustic insulating element. The light building board is typically a plastic board coated at least at one side with hardened mortar. In the mortar coating, a reinforcement mesh is typically embedded. A few acoustic sound attenuating layers interleaved by sound reflecting layers form the acoustic insulating element. The materials out of which the acoustic insulating elements are made are described following.

Fig. 2 shows an isometric view of a section of an acoustic insulating module 30 for insulating a pipe 46, according to an embodiment of the present invention. An acoustic insulating module 30 comprises two acoustic insulating boards 47a and 47b, which in this embodiment are mutually attached at right angles. Acoustic insulating boards 47a and 47b comprises an external wall 34, which is a light building board (LBB) and an acoustic insulating element (AIE) attached to one of its side surfaces. Embedded in a coating 36 of light building board is a reinforcing mesh 38. The acoustic insulating element (AIE) typically consists of a few sound-attenuating layers interleaved by sound reflecting-layers. The sound attenuating-layer typically consists of compacted fibrous material such as plastic (e.g. polyester), fiberglass, or mineral wool. Substitutes consisting of porous materials such as porous plastic or foam, or rubber foam or in combination with the compacted fiber are used as well. The sound-reflecting layer consists of a sheet of metal, preferably lead, one or a few sheets of fabric coated with plastic resins, one or a few light building boards coated over one or both sides with hardened mortar, one or a few sheets of plastic, or rubber, hardened with mineral additives such as typically employed for fabricating piping or acoustic covers for the car industry. In Figs. 2 and 3 two sound attenuating layers 40 sandwich a sound-reflecting layer 42. Both attenuating layers 40 are associated with external wall 34, where a surface of one of these attenuating layers constitutes the inner face of this module. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, module 30 is disposed completely spaced apart from pipe 46. However, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, module 30 is disposed in a position wherein there is some contact between the module and pipe 46, for example at contact points 49a and 49b. Thus there is at least a portion of pipe 46 that is not in contact with, i.e. spaced apart from pipe 46, i.e. indirectly insulated - not in physical contact. A covering construction module 30, (e.g. two acoustic insulating boards 47a and 47b) , is typically an L or U shaped module, is attached to a pre-existing receiving surface such as ceiling, or floor, or wall, e.g. building wall 44 along which a drainage or a water pipe such as pipe 46, is laid. Rectangular pieces of acoustic insulating boards are attached to the open ends of the laid module forming an enclosure surrounding the pipe. For the attachment of module 30 to the receiving surface, typically a conventional adhesive material is used. However, other attachment means are applicable as well. Such a cover, which is simple to apply, provides the required acoustic insulation to pipe 46. In cases in which pipe 46 is hanged in a middle of the wall a "U" shaped module similarly formed provides the necessary insulation.

It should be noted that in cases wherein the covering construction module consists of more than one board, the boards may intersect at any angle greater than zero and smaller than 180°.

The mortar coating 36 of the light building board is planar or dome shaped. A dome shaped coating provides an improved strength feature and an enlarged surface for a better adherence of tiles or plaster to the exterior surface of the light building board. The dome shape also provides higher specific density, which in turn enhances its sound reflectance. The core of a light building board is made of plastic foam, plaster, or any composite material as known in the art.

Typically, the method of the present invention is carried out by the following steps. First, forming an acoustic insulating module 30 by: associating at least one acoustic insulating element of the module with at least one external wall 34 to form at least one insulating board; coating external wall 34 of the module by applying hardened mortar over at least one face of the external wall; and attaching acoustic insulating module 30 to an applicable receiving surface by: applying an adhesive over contact points of the module; placing the module so that at least a portion is spaced apart from pipe 46; and pressing the acoustic insulating module against said applicable receiving surface in order to secure the external wall to the surface. 167815/9

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1. A method for acoustically insulating a pipe by way of enclosing said pipe within an acoustic insulating module and an applicable receiving surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming said acoustic insulating module by: associating at least one acoustic insulating element comprising, at least one sound attenuating layer and at least one sound reflecting layer with at least one external wall to form at least one insulating board; coating said external wall of said module by applying hardened mortar over at least one face of said external wall; and attaching said acoustic insulating module to an applicable receiving surface by: applying an adhesive over contact points of said module; placing said module so that at least a portion thereof is spaced apart from said pipe; and pressing said acoustic insulating module against said applicable receiving surface in order to secure the external wall to said surface. 2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said association with said external wall comprises interleaving of at least two sound attenuating layers with at least one sound reflecting layer. 3. An acoustic insulating module for acoustically insulating piping, which is adjacent to or abutting a building element, said module comprising: an insulating board formed by associating an acoustic insulating element with at least one external wall; and a hardened mortar coating on the outer surface of the external wall; and the acoustic insulating module associated with said building element 167815/9 comprises at least one sound attenuating layer interleaved with a sound reflecting layer. 4. A module as in claim 3, wherein said external wall comprises a light building board. 5. A module as in claim 4, wherein at least one face of said light building board is coated with hardened mortar. 6. A module as in claim 5, wherein said coat is dome shaped, and wherein a mesh is embedded in said coat. 7. A module as in claim 3, wherein said module has a geometrical shape resembling the letter "U". 8. A module as in claim 3, wherein said module has a geometrical shape resembling the letter "L". 9. A module as in claim 3, wherein said module comprises at least two sound attenuating layers interleaved with at least one sound reflecting layer. 10. A module as in claim 3, wherein said at least one sound attenuating layer comprises any item selected from a group of items consisting of compacted fibrous material, rubber foam, plastic foam and any combination thereof, and wherein said compacted fibrous material comprises any material selected from a group of materials consisting of plastic fibre, fibreglass, mineral wool and any combination thereof. 167815/9

1. A module as in claim 4, wherein said at least one sound reflecting layer comprises any item selected from a group of items including sheets of metal, light building boards, sheets of rubber hardened by mineral additives, sheets of plastic hardened by mineral additives, fabrics coated with plastic resins and any combination thereof. For The Applicant,