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Device and method for heat and noise insulation of motor vehiclesRelated Patent Categories: Acoustics, Sound-modifying Means, Sound Absorbing Panels, Multilayer Panel Or Wall StructureDevice and method for heat and noise insulation of motor vehicles description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070169991, Device and method for heat and noise insulation of motor vehicles. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a device for heat insulation and/or noise insulation for a component such as an oil-carrying element of an internal combustion engine. The device has a first carrier layer that is rigidly connected with the component to be insulated and an insulating layer that demonstrates poor heat and noise conduction properties. [0003] 2. The Prior Art [0004] A heat-insulating and noise-insulating paneling for the engine space of a motor vehicle is described in German Patent No. DE 198 21 532 A1, which comprises a cover layer on the engine side and a cover layer facing away from the engine side, as well as a first, thin carrier layer made of an acoustically insulating, temperature-resistant, duroplastic foam material and an insulating layer made of a plastic foam material, a particle laminate foam material, or a nonwoven fabric. One cover layer consists of a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, or a knitted fabric, whereby the fibers are woven together, spun together, or connected with one another in some other manner (particularly by means of binders). The same holds true for the fiber nonwoven fabric of the insulating layer. The paneling is structured as a molded part that has been pressed to produce a unit, and is intended for lining car body components such as the face wall of the engine space or the transmission tunnel. [0005] Furthermore, a heat-insulating and noise-insulating component comprising a reinforcing carrier layer and an absorbent insulating layer is known from German Patent No. DE 199 59 089 A1. In this connection, the carrier layer is formed by a metal intermediate wall of a motor vehicle, for example a partition between the passenger space and the engine space of the motor vehicle. The insulating layer, on the other hand, is formed from several plies of fiber nonwoven fabric that have been consolidated in themselves, or shape-retaining foam materials, as necessary. Within the insulating layer, convection channels through which air can flow, having defined inlet and outlet openings and a rigidly defined position and expanse, are furthermore provided, to increase the heat resistance (i.e. for cooling) of the component. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device that provides effective heat insulation and/or noise insulation with simple means, which insulation can be changed during operation and thereby adapted to operating conditions. [0007] This object is accomplished by means of a device which has a plurality of individual damping elements, particularly fiber or honeycomb elements, which are individually connected with the carrier layer and/or joined to it in articulated manner. An air cushion is formed between the individual damping elements, within the insulating layer and/or between the carrier layer and the insulating layer, which cushion can be changed by means of an adjustment of several damping elements, the entire insulating layer and/or the carrier layer. The air cushion demonstrates reduced heat and noise conduction properties and thereby acts as a damping material. The air cushion can be changed in accordance with the operating conditions of the motor vehicle, by adjusting the damping elements, the insulating layer and/or the carrier layer. Therefore the heat and noise conduction properties of the device can be adapted to the operating conditions of the motor vehicle. [0008] In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, several damping elements are implemented as elastic fibers made of a material having poor heat conduction properties. The fibers are adjustable by way of an air stream, particularly the head wind of a motor vehicle. In this way, a device that can be adjusted in a particularly simple manner is created, which automatically changes its heat transfer properties as a function of the driving speed of the motor vehicle, if the head wind moves the fibers because of their air resistance. In this connection, a particularly good shielding property of the device is provided, in particular in the case of a cold start and a low start-up speed, so that the device is preferably suitable for being affixed on the outside of an internal combustion engine. In this connection, the device according to the invention improves the cold-start behavior of the internal combustion engine. The device is particularly advantageous for use on the outside of an oil pan, with fibers hanging down. [0009] In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, several damping elements are implemented as fibers having shape-changing properties, which are adjustable by way of a thermal and/or electrical control that turns them on, which is preferably imparted by way of the carrier layer. Therefore the fibers can be adjusted actively and in a targeted manner, independent of the head wind or the influence of gravity, so that an adjustment of the heat and noise conduction properties in accordance with current requirements possible at any time. Fibers that are adjustable by means of piezo effects, bimetal effects, and/or memory effects are preferred. A preferred turn-on control by way of the carrier layer allows simultaneous and parallel turn-on control of all the damping elements. [0010] In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, there are several damping elements which are configured as movably mounted honeycomb elements. These elements are adjustable in their position and/or orientation via a carrier layer that can be turned on. The honeycomb elements are implemented as hollow bodies that are stable in shape, to a great extent, and are preferably rigidly connected with the carrier layer or at least indirectly coupled with it. In this connection, a honeycomb element is not limited, according to the invention, to a specific structure, for example an octagonal or eight-sided structure, but instead, a honeycomb element can have any desired tube-like/chamber-like structure. Preferably, the honeycomb elements are filled with air or another gas that conducts heat poorly, whereby a more or less strong vacuum can also be provided. In addition, a certain air cushion is provided in the region of the honeycomb elements, which cushion is surrounded by the honeycomb elements at least in certain segments. By adjusting the honeycomb elements, it is therefore also possible to adjust the air cushion. [0011] In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, several damping elements are implemented as honeycomb elements arranged to be immovable relative to the component to be insulated. These movable honeycomb elements are mounted between the immovable honeycomb elements, or the immovable honeycomb elements demonstrate shape-changing properties and can be adjusted by way of a thermal and/or electrical turn-on control, which is preferably imparted by way of the carrier layer. The honeycomb elements implemented to be immovable are not displaceable in a translational manner. An air cushion consisting of many individual volumes is preferably formed between them, and individual volumes can be adjusted by a translational adjustment of movable honeycomb elements and/or a shape change of the immovable honeycomb elements. [0012] In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the insulating layer has several air pockets that are separated from one another. A damping element is arranged in at least one of the air pockets. In this connection, a ply that delimits and surrounds the air pockets is assigned to the insulating layer. This ply can also be represented by the carrier layer. Any desired gas having poor heat-conducting properties can be accommodated in the air pockets, if applicable, under vacuum conditions. The damping element is preferably implemented as a honeycomb element, or as another barrier body that has mass and poor heat/noise-conducting properties. The damping element preferably serves to adjust the air pockets from the inside out. [0013] The invention also includes a method for heat insulation and/or noise insulation, wherein a first carrier layer is connected with a component to be insulated, particularly an oil-carrying element of an internal combustion engine. A plurality of individual damping elements, particularly fiber or honeycomb elements, are individually connected with the carrier layer and/or joined to it in articulated manner, to form an insulating layer. An air cushion is formed between the individual damping elements, within the insulating layer and/or between the carrier layer and the insulating layer, which cushion is changed by means of an adjustment of several damping elements, the entire insulating layer and/or the carrier layer. The method according to the invention makes effective insulation of the internal combustion engine possible, in that one or more oil-carrying elements are provided with an insulating device comprising a plurality of damping elements. According to the invention, the damping elements, the insulating layer and/or the carrier layer are adjustable, in such a manner that the air cushion that is preferably formed in or around the damping elements can be adapted to the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. In addition to the conditions in the engine, the ambient conditions must also be taken into consideration. [0014] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, several damping elements are implemented as elastic fibers made of a material having poor heat conduction properties. These fibers are adjustable by way of an air stream, particularly the head wind of a motor vehicle. In this connection, the method utilizes the head wind of the motor vehicle in order to automatically change the heat transfer properties of the air cushion as a function of the driving speed of the motor vehicle, if the head wind moves the fibers because of their air resistance. In this connection, the method produces a particularly good shielding of the internal combustion engine, in particular in the case of a cold start and a low start-up speed. The method thereby makes it possible to improve the cold-start behavior of the internal combustion engine, by achieving a faster warm-up of the internal combustion engine. [0015] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, several damping elements are implemented as fibers having shape-changing properties, which are adjusted by way of a thermal and/or electrical control that turns them on, which is preferably imparted by way of the carrier layer. Therefore the fibers can be adjusted actively and in a targeted manner, independent of the head wind or the influence of gravity, so that an adjustment of the heat and noise conduction properties in accordance with current requirements possible at any time. Fibers that are adjustable by means of piezo effects, bimetal effects, and/or memory effects are preferred. A turn-on control by way of the carrier layer allows simultaneous and parallel turn-on control of all the damping elements. [0016] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, several damping elements are implemented as movably mounted honeycomb elements that are adjusted in their position and/or orientation by way of a carrier layer that can be turned on or moved. The honeycomb elements are implemented as hollow bodies that are stable in shape, to a great extent, and which are connected with the carrier layer or articulated on it. In this connection, a honeycomb element is not limited, according to the invention, to a specific structure, for example an octagonal or eight-sided structure, but instead, a honeycomb element can have any desired tube-like/chamber-like structure. Preferably, the honeycomb elements are filled with air or another gas that conducts heat poorly, whereby a more or less strong vacuum can also be provided. In addition, a certain air cushion is provided in the region of the honeycomb elements, which cushion is surrounded by the honeycomb elements at least in certain segments. By means of adjusting the honeycomb elements, it is therefore also possible to adjust the air cushion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. [0018] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: [0019] FIG. 1 shows a fundamental diagram relating to a first exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention; [0020] FIGS. 2a and 2b show additional fundamental diagrams relating to the adjustment of the device according to FIG. 1; [0021] FIG. 3 shows a fundamental diagram relating to a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention; and Continue reading about Device and method for heat and noise insulation of motor vehicles... Full patent description for Device and method for heat and noise insulation of motor vehicles Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device and method for heat and noise insulation of motor vehicles patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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