IP Library Granted Patent US 12,330,768
Granted Patent B2
US 12,330,768 · App. 17/608,819 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Acoustic panel

Inventors: Dave Kirk (Burnley, GB); Graeme Hill (Burnley, GB); Dave Hebden (Burnley, GB); Simon Furmston (Burnley, GB)
Assignee: Safran Nacelles Limited
B64C1/40B64D33/02F02C7/045F02K1/827G10K11/168B64D2033/0206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,330,768
App. No.
17/608,819
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An acoustic panel for an aircraft comprising: a sound attenuating sheet having a plurality of cavities, a sound attenuating sheet having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and an end surface connecting the first and second surfaces, a first sheet extending over at least a portion of the first surface and over the end surface, and a second sheet extending over the second surface and the end surface, wherein the first and the second sheets are connected such that a tensile force can be transferred therebetween.

Claims (18)

1. A curved acoustic panel for an aircraft comprising:

a sound attenuating sheet comprising two sound attenuating sheet layers, wherein each sound attenuating sheet layer comprises a plurality of cavities and the sound attenuating layers are separated by a septum, the sound attenuating sheet having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and an end surface connecting the first and second surfaces,

a first sheet portion extending over and abutting both at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the end surface,

a second sheet portion extending over and abutting both at least a portion of the second surface and at least a portion of the end surface, and

a third sheet, separate from the first and second sheet portions, including a stepped portion extending over and directly abutting a portion of the first sheet portion that extends over at least a portion of the first surface of the sound attenuating sheet,

the third sheet portion further including a planar portion extending over and directly abutting the first surface of the sound attenuating sheet, the planar portion of the third sheet being coplanar with the portion of the first sheet portion,

wherein the third sheet portion includes a transition portion extending between the planar portion and the stepped portion, the stepped, planar, and transition portions all being the same thickness,

wherein the first and the second sheet portions form a contiguous sheet such that a tensile force can be transferred between the first and second sheet portions,

wherein the panel is curved, such that the first surface is a radially outer surface and the second surface is a radially inner surface, the end surface having an annular or arcuate shape.

2. The acoustic panel of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the sound attenuating sheet layers comprises a honeycomb sheet.

3. The acoustic panel of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second sheet portions comprise an inspection hole through which the end surface of the sound attenuating sheet is visible.

4. The acoustic panel of claim 1 , further comprising a seal attached to the first and/or second sheet portion where the respective sheet portion extends over the end surface of the sound attenuating sheet, the seal being arranged to abut an adjacent panel.

5. The acoustic panel of claim 1 , wherein the second sheet portion is air-permeable at a location where it extends over the radially inner surface.

6. The acoustic panel of claim 1 , wherein the end surface is substantially orthogonal to the first and second surfaces.

7. The acoustic panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel is configured for use in an air inlet cowling of an aircraft nacelle.

8. An air inlet cowling for an aircraft nacelle, comprising an acoustic panel according to claim 1 .

9. The air inlet cowling of claim 8 , wherein the end surface of the sound attenuating sheet is arranged at an aft end of the inlet cowling.

10. The air inlet cowling of claim 8 , further comprising a seal arranged to abut the acoustic panel at an aft end of the panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2024
From: KIRK, DAVE; HILL, GRAEME; HEBDEN, DAVE; FURMSTON, SIMON
To: SAFRAN NACELLES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069564/0152 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1906537 · May 9, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220297818A1 · Sep 22, 2022
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