Sound Attenuation Enclosure

Abstract

A sound attenuation enclosure comprising a plurality of panels positioned side by side one another forming an enclosure about an operating device that generates noise. The panels are supported by a plurality of columns, and are separable from the columns so the enclosure and its components are transportable. The panels and columns may have an enclosed inner chamber filled with a sound retardant material.

1 . A modular transportable sound attenuation enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of sound insulating panels and each panel having a first end and a second end;   means, associated with the first end and the second end of each panel, for supporting the plurality of panels wherein each of the panels is positioned beside another panel forming an enclosure wherein the panels are separable from the supporting means so the enclosure can be transported.   
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the supporting means comprises a plurality of columns arranged to support the panels forming the enclosure, and each of the columns having one or more recesses and the first end and second end of each panel are positioned in mating relationship with the one or more recesses on the columns. 
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 2  further comprising a base having a plurality of first recesses spaced apart on the base for receiving in mating relationship a bottom end of each of the columns and supporting the columns thereon in spaced relation to one another and a plurality of second recesses for receiving in mating relationship a bottom of one or more of the panels, and each second recess is disposed between two of the first recesses. 
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 3  further comprising a cover having a plurality of first recesses for receiving in mating relationship a top of each of the columns and a plurality of second recesses disposed thereon and the first and second recesses for receiving a top of one or more of the panels, and each second recess is disposed between two of the first recesses on the cover. 
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure includes at least three panels and the supporting means comprises a first notch formed in the first end of each of the panels and a second notch formed in the second end of each of the panels wherein the first notch of each panel is positioned in mating relationship with the first notch on another panel, and the second notch on each panel is positioned in mating relationship with the second notch on another panel. 
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 1  further comprising a cowling positioned on a top of the panels and the cowling having a surface that bends outward with respect to an interior of the enclosure. 
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein each one or more of the panels has an enclosed inner panel filled with a sound retardant material. 
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein each panel is spaced apart from an adjacent panel forming a gap there between and at least a portion of a panel overlaps a portion of an adjacent panel. 
   
   
       9 . A modular sound attenuation enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of first sound insulating panels aligned with respect to one another to form a first enclosed level; and,   a plurality of second sound insulating panels aligned with respect to one another to form a second enclosed level, and each of the second panels is positioned above one of the first panels, and the first and second panels are arranged with respect to one another to form an enclosure about a device to attenuate sound emanating from the device.   
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 9  wherein each of the first panels has an enclosed inner chamber filled with a sound retardant material and each of the second panels has an enclosed inner chamber filled with a sound retardant material. 
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of columns arranged to support the first and second panels forming the enclosure, and each of the columns having one or more recesses and a first end and a second end of each panel are positioned in mating relationship with the one or more recesses on the columns. 
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 10  wherein the second level of panels is positioned in spaced relation to the first level of panels. 
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 12  further comprising a third level of panels spaced above and aligned with the first level of panels forming a gap there between and the second level of panels is spaced laterally with respect to the first level and second level at least a portion of the second level covering the gap. 
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 9  wherein one or more of the columns has an enclosed inner chamber filled with a sound retardant material. 
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 9  wherein the enclosure includes at least three panels and a first notch formed in the first end of each of the panels and a second notch formed in the second end of each of the panels wherein the first notch of each panel is positioned in mating relationship with the first notch on another panel, and the second notch on each panel is positioned in mating relationship with the second notch on another panel. 
   
   
       16 . A modular sound attenuation enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of first sound insulating panels aligned with respect to one another to form a first enclosed level, and each of the panels having an enclosed inner chamber filled with a sound retardant material;   a plurality of second sound insulating panels aligned with respect to one another to form a second enclosed level, each of the second panels is positioned above one of the first panels and each of the second panels has an enclosed inner chamber filled with a sound retardant material; and,   means, associated with a first end and a second end of each first and second panel, for supporting the first and second wherein the first and second panels are detachable from the enclosure so the enclosure can be transported.   
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the supporting means comprises a plurality of columns arranged to support the first and second panels forming the enclosure, and each of the columns having one or more recesses and the first end and second end of each first and second panel are positioned in mating relationship with the one or more recesses on the columns. 
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 16  further comprising a base having a plurality of first recesses spaced apart on the base for receiving in mating relationship a bottom end of each of the columns and supporting the columns thereon in spaced relation to one another and a plurality of second recesses for receiving in mating relationship a bottom of one or more of the first panels, and each second recess is disposed between two of the first recesses. 
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 16  further comprising a cover having a plurality of first recesses for receiving in mating relationship a top of each of the columns and a plurality of second recesses disposed thereon and the first and second recesses for receiving a top of one or more of the second panels, and each second recess is disposed between two of the first recesses on the cover. 
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the enclosure includes at least three panels and the supporting means comprises a first notch formed in the first end of each of the panels and a second notch formed in the second end of each of the panels wherein the first notch of each panel is positioned in mating relationship with the first notch on another panel, and the second notch on each panel is positioned in mating relationship with the second notch on another panel. 
   
   
       21 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the first panels are spaced apart from the second panels and at least a portion of the first panel overlap a portion of the second panel. 
   
   
       22 . The invention of  claim 16  further comprising a third plurality of sound insulating panels aligned with and spaced apart from the first panels forming a gap there between, and the second panels are spaced laterally with respect to the first and third panels and the second panels covering the gap between the first panels and third panels.