U.S. patent application number 11/567790 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for acoustic perimeter seal for vehicle energy storage module.
This patent application is currently assigned to GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hua He.
Application Number | 20080136110 11/567790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39401064 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080136110 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
He; Hua |
June 12, 2008 |
Acoustic Perimeter Seal for Vehicle Energy Storage Module
Abstract
An acoustic seal arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle.
The vehicle has a floor pan defining the floor of a passenger
compartment. The vehicle also has an energy storage module. The
energy storage module has a top wall with an outer perimeter
portion and the energy storage module is suspended in spaced
relation beneath the floor pan. A ring-shaped seal of compressible
material is positioned between the outer perimeter portion of the
energy storage module and the floor pan and in compression
therebetween to form a sealed space and impede the transmission of
noise into the sealed space between the top wall of the energy
storage module and the floor pan. Accordingly, that portion of the
vehicle floor pan that lies above the sealed space is protected
from exposure to road noise, thereby quieting the passenger
compartment.
Inventors: |
He; Hua; (North Potomac,
MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION;LEGAL STAFF
MAIL CODE 482-C23-B21, P O BOX 300
DETROIT
MI
48265-3000
US
|
Assignee: |
GM Global Technology Operations,
Inc.
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
39401064 |
Appl. No.: |
11/567790 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
277/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 13/0861 20130101;
B60K 2001/0472 20130101; B60K 2001/0438 20130101; B60Y 2306/09
20130101; B60K 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
277/316 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/682 20060101
E04B001/682 |
Claims
1. An acoustic seal arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising: a
floor pan defining the floor of a passenger compartment; an energy
storage module having a top wall with an outer perimeter portion
and being suspended in spaced relation beneath the floor pan; a
ring-shaped seal of compressible material positioned between the
outer perimeter portion of the energy storage module and the floor
pan and being compressed therebetween to form a sealed space and
reduce the transmission of noise into the sealed space between the
top wall of the energy storage module and the floor pan.
2. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 1 in which the ring
shaped seal is comprised of a closed cell foam material.
3. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 2 in which the material
of the ring-shaped seal is selected from one of EPDM, nitrile,
cellular urethane and neoprene.
4. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 1 in which the
ring-shaped seal is adhered to the outer perimeter portion of the
energy storage module top wall prior to the mounting of the energy
storage module on the vehicle body.
5. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 4 in which the
ring-shaped seal is manufactured with an adhesive in-situ on the
face of the seal that is adhered to the outer perimeter portion of
the energy storage module.
6. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 1 in which an additional
pad of acoustic control material is placed into the space between
the energy storage module top wall and the floor pan.
7. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 6 in which the additional
pad is formed integrally with the ring-shaped seal.
8. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 6 in which the additional
pad fills substantially the entire height of the space between the
energy storage module top wall and the floor pan.
9. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 6 in which the additional
pad is integrally formed with the ring-shaped seal and fills all or
part of the space between the ring-shaped seal and the floor pan
and the top wall of the energy storage module.
10. An acoustic seal arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising: a
floor pan defining the floor of a passenger compartment; an energy
storage module having a top wall and being suspended in spaced
relation beneath the floor pan; a sheet of compressible material
positioned between top wall of the energy storage module and the
floor pan, at least the outer perimeter portion of the sheet of
material being compressed between the energy storage module and the
floor pan to seal against the transmission of noise into space
inwardly of the compressed outer perimeter portion.
11. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 10 in which the portion
of the sheet of compressible material that is inboard the
compressed outer perimeter portion is also compressed between the
top wall of the energy storage module and the floor pan.
12. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 10 in which the material
of the ring-shaped seal is selected from one of EPDM, nitrile,
cellular urethane and neoprene.
13. An acoustic seal for a motor vehicle of the type having a floor
pan and an energy storage module that is mounted beneath the floor
pan and has a top wall with an outer perimeter portion, comprising:
a ring-shaped seal of compressible material adapted to be
positioned and compressed between the outer perimeter portion of
the energy storage module and the floor pan to form a seal reducing
the transmission of road noise into space between the top wall of
the energy storage module and the floor pan.
14. The acoustic seal of claim 13 in which the ring-shaped seal is
a closed cell foam material such as EPDM, nitrile, cellular
urethane or neoprene.
15. The acoustic seal of claim 13 in which the ring-shaped seal is
adhered to the outer perimeter portion of the energy storage module
top wall prior to the mounting of the energy storage module on the
vehicle body.
16. The acoustic seal claim 15 in which an adhesive is provided
in-situ on the face of the seal that contacts the energy storage
module top wall.
17. The acoustic seal of claim 13 in which the acoustic seal has an
additional pad of acoustic control material located inboard of the
outer peripheral portion of the energy storage module.
18. The acoustic seal of claim 17 in which the additional pad is
formed integrally with the ring-shaped seal.
19. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 18 in which the
additional pad fills substantially the entire height of the space
between the energy storage module top wall and the floor pan.
20. The acoustic seal arrangement of claim 17 in which the
additional pad is integrally formed with the ring-shaped seal and
fills all or part of the space between the ring-shaped seal and the
floor pan and the top wall of the energy storage module.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the reduction of noise
within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle body and more
particularly to reducing the transmission of road noise through the
floor pan in the region of an energy storage module such as a fuel
tank or a battery pack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known in motor vehicles that a vehicle body includes a
sheet metal floor pan that defines the floor of the passenger
compartment. The floor pan is typically covered with a layer of
carpeting to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for the
passenger. An energy storage module, such as a fuel tank or a
battery pack, is mounted on the vehicle body beneath the floor
pan.
[0003] It is also known that the comfort of the passenger is
enhanced by limiting the intrusion of road noise into the passenger
compartment. Because noise can be transmitted through the floor
pan, it is well known to place a layer of sound insulating material
beneath the carpet to reduce the transmission of road noise.
[0004] It would be desirable to provide new and improved techniques
for minimizing the transmission of road noise through the floor pan
in the region of the energy storage module, particularly when it
may be desirable to minimize the space that is needed for packaging
the insulation material beneath the carpeting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An acoustic seal arrangement is provided for a motor
vehicle. The vehicle has a floor pan defining the floor of a
passenger compartment. The vehicle also has an energy storage
module, such as a fuel tank or a battery pack. The energy storage
module has a top wall with an outer perimeter portion and the
energy storage module is suspended in spaced relation beneath the
floor pan. A ring-shaped seal of compressible material is
positioned between the outer perimeter portion of the energy
storage module and the floor pan and in compression therebetween to
form a sealed space and impede the transmission of noise into the
sealed space between the top wall of the energy storage module and
the floor pan. Accordingly, that portion of the vehicle floor pan
that lies above the sealed space is protected from exposure to road
noise, thereby quieting the passenger compartment.
[0006] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention,
are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended
to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view showing a fuel tank
suspended beneath a vehicle floor pan;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the fuel tank of FIG. 1 taken in
the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing another
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The following description of certain exemplary embodiments
is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention,
its application, or uses.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle body 8 includes a floor pan
10 of stamped steel sheet that forms the floor of a passenger
compartment. A carpet 12 covers the floor. A sound insulating pad
14 underlies the carpet 12 and rests upon the floor pan 10.
[0013] A fuel tank 18 is mounted on the vehicle body beneath the
floor pan 10. The fuel tank 18 is of conventional design and may be
of steel construction, blow molded plastic, or other conventional
construction. Fuel tank 18 has a top wall 22 and the top wall 22
has an outer perimeter portion 24. The fuel tank 18 is attached to
the vehicle body 8 by hanger straps or hanger brackets, not shown
in the drawing. The top wall 22 of fuel tank 18 is positioned a
distance from the floor pan 10 so that a space 26 remains between
the top wall 22 of the fuel tank 18 and the floor pan 10.
[0014] An acoustic seal 30 is installed between the top wall 22 of
the fuel tank 18 and the floor pan 10 to impede the transmission of
road noise into the space 26 between the fuel tank 18 and the floor
pan 10. In particular, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the acoustic seal
30 is a ring-shaped seal of compressible material such as closed
cell foams EPDM, nitrile, cellular urethane, or neoprene, etc.
[0015] As seen in FIG. 1, the acoustic seal 30 is dimensioned in
relation to the distance between the fuel tank and the floor pan to
assure that the acoustic seal 30 is maintained in a compressed
condition so that the acoustic seal 30 acts as a dam to impede the
transmission of noise into the sealed empty space 26 that exists
within the confines of the ring-shape and between the top wall 22
of the fuel tank 18 and the floor pan 10. Because the road noise
cannot reach the sealed space 26, that region of the floor pan 10
that overlies the fuel tank is not subjected to road noise and
therefore the extent of noise intrusion into the passenger
compartment is reduced.
[0016] If desired, the assembly of the acoustic seal 30 into the
vehicle body 8 can be facilitated by adhesively securing the
acoustic seal 30 to the outer perimeter portion 24 of the fuel tank
10 prior to mounting the fuel tank 10 on the vehicle 8.
Accordingly, when the fuel tank 10 is installed, the acoustic seal
30 is automatically compressed between the floor pan 10 and the
fuel tank 10. If desired, the acoustic seal 30 can be manufactured
with a bead of adhesive or an adhesive tape formed on the acoustic
seal 30 for ready attachment of the acoustic seal 30 to the fuel
tank 18.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In FIG.
3, a ring-shaped acoustic seal 130 is compressed between the floor
pan 110 and the outer perimeter portion 124 of the top wall 122 of
the fuel tank 118. However, the ring-shaped acoustic seal 130 also
includes an additional pad 132 that fills the sealed space 126,
partially or completely, that resides within the inside of the ring
shape of the ring-shape acoustic seal 130. The additional pad 132
of material may be formed integrally with the acoustic seal 130 or
may be a separately manufactured and installed pad. The additional
pad 132 may be of sufficient thickness to fill the entire height of
the space 126 between the top wall 122 and the floor pan 10, or the
additional pad 132 may be of thickness less than the height of the
space 126. Notwithstanding the use of the additional pad 132, the
ring-shaped acoustic seal 130 will act as a perimeter seal to
impede the entry of noise into the space 126, while the presence of
the additional pad 130 will provide additional benefit by absorbing
noise that might transmit through the tank 118. Thus, in one form
the acoustic seal may simply be a sheet of material that is
generally coextensive in size with the top wall 122 of the fuel
tank 118 and has at least the outer perimeter portion of the sheet
of material compressed between the floor pan and the top wall of
the fuel tank at the outer perimeter to form a perimeter seal.
[0018] The foregoing description of the invention is merely
exemplary in nature and, thus, variations thereof are intended to
be within the scope of the invention. For example, although it is
desirable that the shape of the ring-shape acoustic seal 30 should
follow the outer edge of the fuel tank 10 as close as possible in
order to seal the largest possible space beneath the floor pan, it
may be necessary for the seal to take a path that that is further
from the fuel tank edge, for example to accommodate fuel lines or
other vehicle components and structures. The ring-shaped seal may
have varying thickness around its perimeter in order to accommodate
the fact that both the fuel tank and the floor pan commonly have
complex shapes and indentations and reinforcements that lend
strength to these stamped or molded structures. It will be
understood that the ring-shaped seal 30 may be manufactured from
any of the wide range of commercially available materials that
exhibit acceptable performance in relation to sound absorption,
resistance to exposure to water and other foreign matter, physical
strength and compression, and chemical stability and durability.
Although the drawings herein show the example of a conventional
fuel tank, it will be appreciated that the seal arrangement may be
used with any fuel storage tank, whether the tank is for storage of
gasoline, diesel fuel, hydrogen, bio fuels, or other fuels or
liquids for supply to internal combustion, hybrid, or fuel cell
power systems. In addition, the seal arrangement can be used with a
battery pack that is located beneath the floor pan.
* * * * *