System for reducing acoustic energy

Abstract

A sound insulator, including an assembly of connected particles, wherein the connected particles include particles adjacent to one another that are adhered to one another. The particles that are adhered to one another include particles of random shapes and random sizes and having respective diameters falling within a range from about a quarter of a millimeter to about four millimeters. The particles that are adhered to one another are adhered such that they form a sound suppression blanket.

1 . A method of producing a sound insulator, comprising:
 identifying a first audible frequency range to be suppressed;   performing a first tuning operation by identifying first variables of a first sound suppression blanket comprising first particles that are adhered to one another such that the first sound suppression blanket will suppress first sound waves falling within the identified first audible frequency range,   manufacturing the first sound suppression blanket;   identifying a second audible frequency range to be suppressed, wherein the second audible frequency range falls outside the first audible frequency range;   performing a second tuning operation by identifying second variables of a second sound suppression blanket comprising second particles that are adhered to one another such that the second sound suppression blanket will suppress second sound waves falling within the identified second audible frequency range; and   manufacturing the second sound suppression blanket.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first variables include material, size, shape, density, durometer, adhesion method, adhesion type, porosity and particle mass, wherein the first variables are selected so as to maximize an attenuation of sound waves within the first audible frequency range, and wherein the second variables include material, size, shape, density, durometer, adhesion method, adhesion type, porosity and particle mass, wherein the second variables are selected so as to maximize an attenuation of sound waves within the second audible frequency range. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particles that are adhered to one another of the first and second sound suppression blankets consist essentially of particles having respective diameters falling within a range from about a four-tenths of a millimeter to about four millimeters. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein interstitial space of the particles that are adhered to one another of the first and second sound suppression blankets is not filled with other materials.