Tire and wheel noise reducing device and system

Abstract

A system for dissipating sound shock waves within a vehicle tire includes a wheel upon which a tire is mounted to create an internal air chamber defined by the wheel and the tire. A flow-resistant barrier is coupled to the wheel or the tire and defines an air cavity within the internal air chamber. A porous spacer can support the barrier with respect to the tire and also can provide a flexible energy damper. The barrier comprises a material that provides an acoustical resistance to sound shock waves passing therethrough. The air cavity defined by the barrier has a volume such that air within the cavity offers relatively small impedance to the passage of shock waves through the barrier and into the air cavity. The barrier also can produce frictional heat when displaced by a shock wave, thereby converting energy of the shock wave to heat to reduce noise associated therevvith.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 473,928, filed June 23, 2006, entitled "Tire and Wheel Noise Reduction Apparatus and System," which is filed under 35 U.S.C. §119 claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 694,018, filed June 24, 2005, entitled "Tire and Wheel Noise Absorbing Apparatus and Systems." The entire disclosure of each of the above-identified priority applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] The present invention relates generally to reducing vehicle noise from tires and wheels, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a sound reducing device disposed within an internal air chamber formed by the tire and the wheel on which the tire is mounted. Background of the invention [0004] When car tires hit the road, they make quite a bit of noise. In some vehicles, at speeds above 25 mph, tire ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In particular, those methods do not effectively absorb the low frequency energy (e.g., below 800 Hz) associated with the shock waves that generate tire noise

While tires generate considerable low frequency energy, an effective tire noise absorber should reduce the noise generated by this low frequency energy, however, conventional methods do not adequately reduce this noise

In addition, low frequency noise amplifies the perceived high frequency noise generated by tread air compression and tire scuffing, thus conventional methods cannot reduce perceived high frequency tire noise due to their inability to reduce low frequency energy noise

Other drawbacks include the difficulty of fitting the tires to the wheels when using traditional methods, possible damage if the traditional methods fail while the vehicle is in operation, and the inefficiency of the traditional methods

[0009] Traditional low frequency noise absorption methods exist, however, such traditional methods are not feasible for small internal air chambers such as those of tires

This traditional method of low frequency absorption is too large for the tire air chamber, will prevent tire inflation, is not effective, and / or can cause safety hazards if used in conjunction with tires

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