The Boeing Company

Xin Han

Douglas Dean Maben

Mark M Gmerek

Bryce Avery Vandyke

Christopher E Plass

Bryce A Van Dyke

David William Olson

Sonny Keever Nguyen

Greta Grace Hadford

Rachel Ann Bires

Dale Hastings

James Julius Koch

Apparatuses, systems, and methods comprising acoustically absorptive air ducts comprising an internally positioned structure component as an endoskeleton and an air impervious inner layer, and an acoustically absorptive foam outer layer, environmental control systems comprising such air ducts, and vehicles incorporating such environmental control systems are disclosed with methods for manufacture and installations are disclosed.

Acoustic air duct for environmental control system in vehicle

Described herein are noise attenuating ducts and vehicles using these ducts for environmental control systems. A duct comprises an exoskeleton structure and a sound-absorbing structure, disposed within and conforming to the exoskeleton structure. The exoskeleton structure provides external mechanical support to the sound-absorbing structure thereby helping to maintain the tubular shape of the sound-absorbing structure. This external support does not interfere with the airflow inside the sound-absorbing structure. Furthermore, the external positioning of the exoskeleton structure allows the integration of various support mounting features for the installation of the duct in a vehicle. In some examples, the exoskeleton structure comprises a plurality of enclosed openings to reduce the weight of the exoskeleton structure and provide additional flexibility. Furthermore, additive manufacturing of the exoskeleton structure allows achieving a monolithic structure with various features and characteristics described above.

Ducts comprising exoskeleton and sound-absorbing structures and vehicles using such ducts

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Bothell, WA, United States of America

Xin Han