Appliance Design - August 2007 - (Page 24)

NOISE & VIBRATION MUFFLER MENU 3M Thinsulate Acoustic Insulation is made of ultraﬁne ﬁbers that create a tortuous path for sound waves. Materials help rein in the racket. W by larry adams 24 applianceDESIGN August 2007 hether it’s the clunky rumble of a compressor motor, the deafening whine of a vacuum cleaner, or the clank and clatter of buttons and zippers tumbling in clothes dryer, appliance noise can be annoying. People are more aware of it than ever before, and consumer magazines that test and rate appliances often include noise as a factor. As a result, consumers increasingly include noise level ratings as an important part of the appliance purchase decision. Consumers want their appliances to be like the movie heroes of yesterday. They like the strong, silent type. Quiet suggests quality. One way to lower the boom on noise is through the strategic application of materials designed to target the problem, and today, designers have a diverse menu of products from which to choose. In addition, sophisticated acoustics laboratories are also available that can help product designers identify noise sources and characterize the frequencies and type of noise. This data will help designers specify the appropriate material for the job, and help them figure out how and where to use such materials. To quiet the appliance, designers can use absorption, barrier, damping or isolation materials to mute sound. Dennis Shane, vice presi- dent of sales and marketing for Soundcoat, a Deer Park, N.Y.-based manufacturer of noise and vibration-reducing materials, says that “composites can be built that can do one function, two functions, three functions or all of these functions in combination.” Noise can generally be classified as structure-borne or airborne. Structure-borne noises are those noises caused by vibrational energy that travels along the framework of the product and striking another component. Noise originating from a motor, for example, often emanates from a nearby panel or component that is attached to the motor. These types of noises are typically dealt with through isolating the offending unit or damping it with additional materials. Airborne noises are those that literally travel through the air. They are often controlled using absorbers such as non-woven acoustic insulation or foam materials. The materials and sound-elimination techniques that are used are often very specific to a product’s design. While suppliers offer a range of standard materials, the material selected may depend on the source location, the frequency of the noise, as well as non-acoustical considerations, such as the need for water resistance, temperatures resistance, or flame retardance. Other materials may need to be lightweight or conformable. www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appliance Design - August 2007

Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch A Reed Switch is Simople, yet Versatile, and Designers are Finding New Uses for this Time-Tested Technology A Novel Actuation and Sensing Technology can Register a Light Touch, but Resist Blows from a Hammer Tracing the Source of Noise is Made Easier with Noise Source Identification Methods Appliance Noise can be Annoying, but Designers have Many Material Choices to Help Rein in the Racket Nanocomposites are No Longer a Technology for the Future. These Plastic Materials are Already on the Job A New High-Strength, Low-Density Glass-Microsphere Additive can Improve Plastic Part and Molding Performance A New Electromagnetic Weld/Bonding Process Helps Ensure Long-Term Integrity of Joints in Plastic Parts Snap-Based Technology Eases Installation and Makes Products More Serviceable Two-Part Silicone Adhesives Provide a Rapid-Cure Alternative to Traditional One-Part Silicones Classified DesignMart Advertiser’s Index Association Report: GAMA

Appliance Design - August 2007

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