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.

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.