The object of the invention is an arrangement, as defined in the preamble of claim 1, in a protective structure reducing sound and noise.

The modular and self-supporting solution according to the invention is suited as a protective structure, such as a fence structure or wall structure, suppressing and reducing all sound and noise, and the solution according to the invention is particularly well suited as a noise barrier e.g. for streets, roads and also railways to reduce and suppress mainly the sounds and noise of traffic and at the same time to function as a surface structure projecting the appearance desired .

Known in the art are fixed fence structures functioning as noise barriers, in which various materials, such as e.g. wood or hemp, are used to suppress and insulate sound. A problem with these noise barriers is that they do not have a very long life because the aforementioned materials are not very durable and wear out over time. In addition, the disassembly and replacement of these types of fixed and solid noise barriers is awkward, time-consuming and expensive. Sometimes a noise barrier, or part thereof, must be temporarily disassembled when there is, for various reasons, a need to do so. In this case the awkward and slow disassembly, as well as assembly, of the fence is again a problem. Many noise barriers known in the art are also heavy, which makes their installation awkward. In addition, robust foundations must be made under heavy fences, which increases the costs.

According to what is known in the art, perforated metal plates are used as a surface structure in traffic noise barriers, the plates being fixed e.g. to the surface of an absorption material that suppresses sounds. This type of solution functions sufficiently well in principle as a structure insulating traffic noise, but the outward appearance of a flat perforated surface is often not satisfactory aesthetically. Therefore this type of surface is decorated with, inter alia, wooden battens, which are fastened to the outer surface of the perforated metal plate. A problem in this solution is again the durability of the wooden battens. Wooden battens are exposed to rain, sunshine and other weather fluctuations, and for this reason they must be replaced at certain intervals, which incurs extra costs in the maintenance of the noise barrier.

The aim of this invention is to reduce and eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks by achieving a new type of lightweight, modular, versatile and self-supporting arrangement in a protective structure reducing sound and noise, which protective structure can easily be modified for different intended uses. Another aim is to achieve an arrangement in which a fence structure suppressing sound and noise is easy and quick to, if necessary, fully disassemble and reinstall. Another aim is to achieve a protective structure that absorbs sound and noise, generally, and traffic noise, particularly well, the structure having side surfaces that are visually easily variable for achieving different projected appearances. The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims . One advantage of the solution according to the invention is, inter alia, the easy assembly and, if necessary, disassembly of the protective structure, i.e. the fence structure, according to the arrangement, owing to its modularity, self- support and lightness. The lightweight nature of the fence structure also gives the advantage that the foundations of the fence do not need to be so robust as with heavier fences, which in turn reduces costs. Another advantage is also the versatile variability of the side surfaces of the fence for achieving different projected appearances. Another advantage is the good weather-resistance of the fence structure, owing to which the fence structure has a long lifetime. Likewise one advantage is the good suppressing capability of all sounds, and in particular of traffic sounds and noise. Overall the advantages of the solution according to the invention are good noise suppression capability and weather- resistance, both of which are easily achievable, as well as good outward appearance and easy maintenance of parts, because the parts of the structure withstand weather well and, if necessary, the modular parts are easily and quickly replaceable. An advantage is also the adaptability and diversified usage possibilities of the fence structure. Yet another advantage is that the arrangement is inexpensive.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of one example of its embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents a simplified front view of a part of the fence structure to be used as a traffic noise barrier, in which an arrangement according to the invention is used,

Fig. 2 presents a simplified side view part of the fence structure to be used as a traffic noise barrier, in which an arrangement according to the invention is used,

Fig. 3 presents a simplified and magnified top view of a part of the fence structure to be used as a traffic noise barrier, in which an arrangement according to the invention is used,

Fig. 4 presents a frame beam, as viewed from the end, a sound insulation element belonging to arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 5 presents the cover plates and noise-damping element, as viewed from the end, that are to be fitted onto a frame beam of a sound insulation element belonging to the arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 6 presents a magnified top part and bottom part of a frame beam, as viewed from the end and without cover plates, of a sound insulation element belonging to the arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 7 presents one magnified top corner of a frame beam, as viewed from the end and with a cover plate fixed into position, of a sound insulation element belonging to the arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 8 presents one magnified bottom corner of a frame beam, as viewed from the end and with a cover plate fixed into position, of a sound insulation element belonging to the arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 9 presents a sound insulation element, as viewed from the end and provided with the cover plates of the sides, belonging to the arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 10 presents a fence part, as viewed from the end, of a noise barrier assembled from sound insulation elements belonging to the arrangement according to the invention, and

Fig. 11 presents a shortened sound insulation element belonging to the arrangement according to the invention as viewed obliquely from the side and from above.

Fig. 1 presents a front view and Fig. 2 an end view of a fence structure to be used as a noise barrier, in which structure the arrangement according to the invention is applied. In the solution in question the fence structure with its sound insulation elements 2 is disposed on both sides of a street, road or e.g. railway track in essentially the direction of the street, road or railway track. The desired number of sound insulation elements 2 are fitted one on top of another to become a wall structure 1 between vertical pillars 3 fixed to the foundations of the fence structure in such a way that the fence achieves the desired height. A protective net 4, which is arranged to prevent spoiling of the fence e.g. with graffiti, is also fitted on both sides of the wall structure 1 outside the sound insulation elements 2. For the sake of clarity, the protective net 4 is drawn partly in Fig. 1 and only in one fence section between vertical pillars 3. The protective net 4 is fastened at its ends, e.g. by means of strip-like fastening means 4a, to vertical pillars 3 composed of profile beams.

From the standpoint of the invention it is essential that the sound-insulating part of the fence is formed from sound insulation elements 2 that are essentially similar to each other and are fitted one on top of another, the elements being fitted at their ends into the grooves on the sides of essentially vertical pillars 3, which vertical pillars 3 are in turn fixed with fixing means 7, such as bolts, into a suitable base that forms a foundation, such as e.g. into a concrete footing 6, the support given by which is further reinforced with e.g. concrete pillars 5 disposed below the ground .

In this embodiment the sound insulation elements 2 are used in a fence structure, which they are well suited to, but the sound insulation elements 2 according to the invention can be used to insulate sound also in other types of structures, such as e.g. in the walls of machine rooms.

Fig. 3 presents a simplified and magnified top view of a part of the fence structure to be used as a traffic noise barrier, in which fence structure an arrangement according to the invention is used. Fig. 3 presents more particularly the fastening of sound insulation elements 2 between the vertical pillars 3. Each vertical pillar 3 is shaped e.g. as an I- beam, as viewed from the end, and is disposed into position in such a way that the center flange of the beam is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fence structure, i.e. with respect to the longitudinal direction of the sound insulation elements 2. In this way a space wider than the thickness of the sound insulation elements 2 remains between the upper and lower flanges of the I-beam, in which space the ends of the sound insulation elements 2 can be disposed. For centering the sound insulation elements 2 in a vertical pillar 3, inside the upper and lower flanges of the I-beam are spring elements 3a, which are adapted to press the ends of the sound insulation elements 2 when an end of a sound insulation element 2 has been situated inside the I- beam . Fig. 4 presents a frame beam 8, as viewed from the end, of a sound insulation element 2 belonging to the arrangement according to the invention. The aforementioned frame beam 8 is an elongated and essentially solid piece that is roughly C-shaped in cross-sectional profile, comprising a back part 8a forming a vertical wall, and a first flange 8b, i.e. a top flange, extending at essentially a right angle to the back part 8a on its first end, i.e. top end, and a second flange 8c, i.e. bottom flange 8c, on the second end, i.e. bottom end, of the back part 8a, which flanges 8b and 8c are essentially as long as each other and extend in the same direction. An essentially rectangular space 8d remains inside the back part 8a and the flanges 8b and 8c for the sound- absorbing insert material 13, with which the space 8d is essentially completely filled with insert material 13. The insert material 13 is presented, inter alia, in Figs. 5 and 9-11.

On both bottom corners of the frame beam 8 is a support & locking means 9 and, correspondingly, on both top corners of a frame beam 8 is a support means 10. In addition, on the top surface of the top flange 8b are two support flanges 11 that extend upwards and are essentially the whole length of the frame beam 8 in their length, which support flanges form a support for the corresponding frame beam 8 of the sound insulation element 2 disposed above it and simultaneously form a locking for the cover plates 12 to be disposed on the sides of the sound insulation element 2. The frame beam 8 is manufactured e.g. from plastic, aluminium or some other suitable metal or material. The shape of the profile of the frame beam 8 is described in more detail in connection with Figs. 6-7.

Fig. 5 presents an end view of the insert material 13 functioning as a noise suppression element, to be fitted inside the frame beam 8 of a sound insulation element 2 belonging to the arrangement according to the invention, and of the cover plates 12 to be disposed on the open side, or on both sides, of the frame beam 8. The cover plates 12 are e.g. thin metal plates and at least the cover plate 12 covering the insert material 13 and disposed on the open side of the frame beam 8 is preferably perforated, so that the sound goes through well to be absorbed by the insert material 13. The cover plate 12 of the second side can be different and it can be painted or it can have e.g. different surface patterns that form the desired type of patterning in the finished fence structure. Preferably the cover plates are similar to each other in their cross-sectional profile and comprise at least an essentially flat center part 12a as well as a locking fold 12b on the top edge of the center part and a locking fold 12c on the bottom edge of the center part. The locking fold 12b is adapted to bend at first at a right angle towards the frame beam 8 and after that obliquely upwards and away from the frame beam 8 when the cover plate is locked onto frame beam 8. Correspondingly, the locking fold 12c is adapted to bend obliquely upwards and towards the frame beam 8 when the cover plate is locked onto frame beam 8.

Figs. 6-8 present the top part and the bottom part of a frame beam 8, magnified and as viewed from the end, of a sound insulation element 2 belonging to the arrangement according to the invention. The structure in Fig. 6 is presented without cover plates 12 and in Figs. 7-8 with cover plates 12. The support & locking means 9 on both bottom corners of the frame beam 8 are essentially similar to each other and mirror images of each other in cross-section and essentially the whole length of the frame beam 8 in their length. On the support & locking element 9 is a first, i.e. outer, wall 9a pointing downwards and obliquely outwards and at a distance from it is a second, i.e. inner, wall 9b pointing downwards and obliquely outwards. Between the walls 9a and 9b remains an empty space 9c for the locking fold 12c of the bottom end of a cover plate 12, which locking fold 12c is adapted to shape-lock into the support & locking means 9 when the cover plate 12 is pressed into its position from the side of the frame beam 8 of a sound insulation element 2.

Correspondingly, the support means 10 on both top corners of the frame beam 8 are essentially similar to each other and mirror images of each other in cross-section and essentially the whole length of the frame beam 8 in their length. In the support means 10 is a first, i.e. outer, wall 10a pointing upwards and obliquely outwards and at a distance from it is a second, i.e. inner, wall 10b pointing at least upwards. An empty space 10c remains between the walls 10a and 10b. The greatest distance from each other of the outer surfaces of the outer walls 10a of the support means 10 on the top corner of the frame beam 8 is essentially as great as the greatest distance from each other of the outer surfaces of the outer walls 9a of the support & locking means 9 on the bottom corner of the frame beam 8, and in addition the outer walls 9a and also 10a are essentially as far as each other from the vertical center line of the frame beam 8. In this case the cover plates 12 settle into position aligned with the line of the wall structure 1 of the fence when they are fastened into a vertical line.

As stated above, on the top surface of the top flange 8b are two support flanges 11 that extend upwards and are essentially similar to each other but are mirror images of each other in the horizontal direction, which support flanges form a support for the corresponding frame beam 8 of the sound insulation element 2 disposed above it and simultaneously form a locking for the cover plates 12 to be disposed on the sides of the sound insulation element 2. On the support flange 11 is a first flange, i.e. a vertical flange 11a, extending upwards from the top surface of the top flange 8b, on the top end of which vertical flange is a second flange, i.e. a horizontal flange lib, that is at essentially a right angle to the vertical flange 11a and that extends towards the edge of the frame beam. On the bottom surface of the outer edge of the horizontal flange lib is a short locking flange 11c extending downwards, i.e. towards the top surface 8b of the frame beam 8, for the locking fold 12b of the top end of a cover plate 12, which locking fold 12b is adapted to shape-lock against the locking flange 11c when the cover plate 12 is pressed into its position from the side of the frame beam 8 of a sound insulation element 2. The support & locking means as well as the support flanges 9-llc form means for fastening the cover plates 12 to the sides of a frame beam 8 of a sound insulation element 2.

Figs. 9-11 present one sound insulation element 2 to be used in the arrangement according to the invention on its own and when assembled as a part of a noise barrier suppressing sound. One sound insulation element 2 comprises e.g. an elongated frame beam 8, inside which is sound-absorbing insert material 13 and on at least one side, preferably on both sides, of which frame beam 8 is a cover plate 12.

The profile of the frame beam 8 with its support & locking means 9-llc is shaped and dimensioned in such a way that when the sound insulation elements 2 provided with cover plates 12 are fitted one on top of another, the bottom surface of the bottom flange 8c of the frame beam 8 of a sound insulation element 2 that is on top rests on the top surface of the horizontal flanges lib of the support flanges 11 of the frame beam 8 below it, as is presented in Fig. 10. In addition, the dimensioning is made in such a way that the bottom corner of a cover plate 12 of an upper sound insulation element 2 rests on the top corner of the cover plate 12 below it on the same side the fence in such a way that horizontal gaps do not remain between the cover plates 12.

A sound insulation element 2 is intended for fitting in an attitude in which the second side of the frame beam 8, i.e. the open side formed by the C-profile, is pointed in the direction from where the sound to be abated originates. As already mentioned above, a perforated plate is fitted as a cover plate 12 onto this side, sound passing through said plate easily owing to the holes in it and being absorbed by the insert material 13 that is inside the frame beam 8.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not limited to the example described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Thus, for example, the structures, lengths, shapes and lockings of the profile elements can also be different to what is presented above.

It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that there can be window structures and door structures in the fence elements, which structures enliven the surface of the fence structure and provide the possibility of seeing through the fence and/or enabling a shorter route.