Gasket

Abstract

The utility model provides a gasket which can ensure stable sealing performance. A gasket (1) formed from an elastomer comprises: a body (2) extending along an axis (x); protrusions (3) protruding from both sides of the main body (2) in a first direction (D1) orthogonal to the axis (x) and extending along the axis (x); and one or more lips (4) protruding from both sides of the main body (2) in a second direction (D2) orthogonal to the first direction (D1) and extending along the axis (x).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present utility model relates to a washer. Background Art

[0002] For example, one of the components assembled in an electric vehicle is an inverter. The inverter converts the current from a battery, which is also assembled in the electric vehicle, from direct current to alternating current. The internal space of the housing of the inverter is sealed by a washer. The washer is an O-ring having a circular cross-section, for example. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] Problems to be Solved by the Utility Model

[0004] The washer is sandwiched between the end faces of the first part and the second part that constitute the housing. When the washer having a circular cross-section is flattened in the direction in which the end faces of the first part and the second part approach each other, it sometimes moves along the end face due to torsion, for example. Such movement affects the sealing performance of the washer.

[0005] The present utility model has been completed in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a washer capable of ensuring stable sealing performance.

[0006] Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, the washer according to the present utility model is formed of an elastomer and includes: a main body extending along an axis; protrusions protruding from both sides of the main body in a first direction orthogonal to the axis and extending along the axis; and one or more lips protruding from both sides of the main body in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and extending along the axis.

[0008] In the washer according to the present utility model, each of the protrusions has an end face parallel to the axis.

[0009] In the washer according to the present utility model, one of the protrusions in the first direction is formed symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the axis with the other protrusion.

[0010] In the washer according to the present utility model, the lips have a tapered shape that gradually tapers as they move away from the axis in the second direction.

[0011] In the washer according to the present utility model, the lips have an end face parallel to the axis.

[0012] The washer according to the present utility model includes a plurality of the lips, and a recess extending along the axis is formed between two adjacent lips in the first direction.

[0013] The washer involved in the present utility model includes a plurality of the said lips, and one of the said lips in the second direction is symmetrically arranged with respect to another lip relative to the plane containing the said axis.

[0014] Effect of the utility model

[0015] According to the present utility model, a washer can be provided to ensure stable sealing performance. Description of the drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a top view schematically showing the structure of the washer 1 involved in one embodiment of the present utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of

[0018] Figure 3 It is a sectional view illustrating the usage mode of the washer 1 involved in one embodiment of the present utility model.

[0019] Figure 4 It is Figure 3 an enlarged view of the part shown at A of

[0020] Figure 5 Corresponding to Figure 2 it is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of the washer 1A involved in another embodiment.

[0021] Figure 6 Corresponding to Figure 2 it is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of the washer 1B involved in other embodiments.

[0022] Description of the reference numerals

[0023] 1, A, 1B washers, 1a straight portion, 1b curved portion, 2 main body, 3 protrusion, 3a end face, 4 lips, 4a end face, 5 recess, 10 housing, 11 first part, 11a first outer peripheral surface, 11b second outer peripheral surface, 11c first end face, 12 second part, 12a first inner peripheral surface, 12b second inner peripheral surface, 12c second end face, D1 first direction, D2 second direction, P1 plane, P2 plane, x axis. Detailed description of the embodiments

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present utility model will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1This is a top view schematically showing the structure of the gasket 1 according to an embodiment of the present utility model. As will be described later, the gasket 1 is configured to seal the internal space of a housing, such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) housing assembled in an electric vehicle inverter, by being applied thereto. However, the gasket 1 can also be applied to the housing of equipment other than IGBTs.

[0025] The gasket 1 extends in a ring shape along the axis x, which is defined along the length direction of the gasket 1. In this example, the gasket 1 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. That is, the gasket 1 has a straight linear portion 1a and a curved portion 1b that connects the linear portions to each other. However, the gasket 1 can also be formed in other shapes such as a circular shape when viewed from above. The gasket 1 is formed of an elastomer. The elastomer includes, for example, fluororubber (FKM), ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), silicone rubber (VMQ), etc. The gasket 1 is formed, for example, by molding using a mold.

[0026] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along Figure 1 the line 2-2. Specifically, Figure 2 it shows a cross-section of the gasket 1 along a plane orthogonal to the axis x. Referring also to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the gasket 1 includes a main body 2 that extends along the axis x. In this example, the main body 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a cross-section orthogonal to the axis x. In the gasket 1, a first direction D1 orthogonal to the axis x and a second direction D2 orthogonal to the axis x and the first direction D1 are defined. In this specification, for convenience, the first direction D1 is the up-down direction, and the second direction D2 is the side direction. Additionally, the up-down here may not be consistent with the up-down in the direction of gravity.

[0027] It also includes a protrusion 3 that protrudes from both sides of the main body 2 in the first direction D1, that is, one side end and the other side end, and one or more lips 4 that protrude from both sides of the main body 2 in the second direction D2, that is, the upper end and the lower end. The protrusion 3 and the lips 4 both extend along the axis x on the main body 2. In this example, both the protrusion 3 and the lips 4 extend continuously along the axis x on the main body 2. In this example, one protrusion 3 is formed at each of the two side ends of the main body 2. On the other hand, two lips 4, 4 are formed at the upper end and the lower end of the main body 2, respectively.

[0028] The protrusions 3, 3 protrude from the main body 2 in opposite directions in the first direction D1. In this example, the thickness of the protrusions 3, 3 defined in the second direction D2 is set uniformly in the first direction D1. In addition, the protruding amounts of the protrusions 3, 3 from the main body 2 in the second direction D2 are set to be the same. Each protrusion 3 defines an end face 3a parallel to the axis x. In this example, the end face 3a is defined to be parallel to the plane P1 including the axis x. The plane P1 is defined at the intermediate position of the washer 1 in the first direction D1. The end faces 3a, 3a are defined to be parallel to each other. As Figure 2 shown, one protrusion 3 is formed symmetrically with respect to the plane P1 with the other protrusion 3.

[0029] Each lip 4 protrudes from the main body 2 in opposite directions in the second direction D2. In this example, each lip 4 has a tapered shape that gradually tapers as it moves away from the axis x in the second direction D2. Rounded corners may be provided at the upper or lower ends of each lip 4 respectively. In other words, in Figure 2 the cross-section, the contours of the upper and lower ends of each lip 4 are defined by curves convex in the direction away from the axis x in the second direction D2. A recess 5 extending along the axis x is formed between the lips 4, 4 adjacent to each other in the first direction D1. The recess 5 has a tapered shape that gradually tapers as it approaches the axis x in the second direction D2.

[0030] As Figure 2 shown, one lip 4, 4 is formed symmetrically with respect to the plane P2 including the axis x with the other lip 4, 4. The plane P2 is defined at the intermediate position of the washer 1 in the second direction D2. The plane P2 is orthogonal to the plane P1. In addition, in this example, one and the other protrusions 3 are respectively formed symmetrically with respect to the plane P2. Similarly, the upper and lower lips 4, 4 are respectively formed symmetrically with respect to the plane P1. That is, one side and the other side divided by the plane P1 are formed symmetrically with each other, and the upper side and the lower side divided by the plane P2 are formed symmetrically with each other.

[0031] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the usage mode of the washer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 3 shown, the washer 1 is applied to, for example, the housing 10 of an IGBT assembled in an inverter of an electric vehicle. In Figure 3 , a longitudinal cross-section of a part of the housing 10 is shown. The housing 10 has a first part 11 and a second part 12 that covers the outside of the first part 11, for example. In this example, both the first part 11 and the second part 12 are formed in a rectangular shape in a top view. The washer 1 is sandwiched between the first part 11 and the second part 12.

[0032] Figure 4 is Figure 3An enlarged view of the portion shown in A of. Refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first part 11 defines a first outer peripheral surface 11a, a second outer peripheral surface 11b that is outside the first outer peripheral surface 11a, and a first end surface 11c that connects the first outer peripheral surface 11a and the second outer peripheral surface 11b to each other. In this example, the first end surface 11c is orthogonal to the first outer peripheral surface 11a and the second outer peripheral surface 11b. The first end surface 11c extends continuously along the outer periphery of the first part 11. In this example, the first end surface 11c faces upward.

[0033] On the other hand, the second part 12 defines a first inner peripheral surface 12a, a second inner peripheral surface 12b that is outside the first inner peripheral surface 12a, and a second end surface 12c that connects the first inner peripheral surface 12a and the second inner peripheral surface 12b to each other. In this example, the second end surface 12c is orthogonal to the first inner peripheral surface 12a and the second inner peripheral surface 12b. The second end surface 12c extends continuously along the inner periphery of the second part 12. In this example, the second end surface 12c faces downward. The first inner peripheral surface 12a faces the first outer peripheral surface 11a, and the second inner peripheral surface 12b faces the second outer peripheral surface 11b. In addition, the second end surface 12c faces the first end surface 11c.

[0034] The gasket 1 is sandwiched between the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c. When assembling the housing 10, the first part 11 and the second part 12 are pressed in the direction in which the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c approach each other. The gasket 1 is compressed between the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c. In this way, the lips 4 at the upper and lower ends of the main body 2 are in close contact with the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c. In this example, a gap is ensured between the recess 5, the protrusion 3 and the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c. In the housing 10, the space between the first part 11 and the second part 12 is sealed by the action of the gasket 1. As a result, it is possible to prevent fluids such as liquids from entering the interior of the housing 10, for example.

[0035] According to the gasket 1 as described above, the protrusions 3, 3 protruding from the main body 2 in opposite directions in the first direction D1, for example, suppress the rotation of the gasket 1 about the axis x, that is, the occurrence of torsion. As a result, it is possible to suppress the movement of the gasket 1 between the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c. And the gasket 1 is in close contact with the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c by the lips 4. In this example, since the two lips 4, 4 are in close contact with the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c respectively along the axis x, the sealing performance of the gasket 1 can be improved.

[0036] And, in the gasket 1, a recess 5 is formed between the lips 4, 4. In addition, a gap is ensured between the recess 5, the protrusion 3 and the first end surface 11c and the second end surface 12c. Then, in Figure 4In the cross-section, it is possible to suppress the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the region surrounded by the contour of the gasket 1 to the cross-sectional area of the rectangular region surrounded by the first end face 11c, the second end face 12c, the first outer peripheral face 11a, and the second inner peripheral face 12b. As a result, for example, extrusion of a part of the gasket 1 toward the space between the first outer peripheral face 11a and the first inner peripheral face 12a and between the second outer peripheral face 11b and the second inner peripheral face 12b is suppressed. In this way, stable sealing performance can be ensured by the gasket 1.

[0037] In the foregoing embodiment, as Figure 4 shown, in a state where the gasket 1 is flattened between the first end face 11c and the second end face 12c, a gap is formed between the end face 3a of the protrusion 3 and the first outer peripheral face 11a and the second inner peripheral face 12b. However, as an alternative, in a state where the gasket 1 is flattened, the end face 3a of one protrusion 3 may be in contact with the first outer peripheral face 11a, and / or the end face 3a of the other protrusion 3 may be in contact with the second inner peripheral face 12b. In addition, the end faces 3a, 3a may not be parallel to each other, and the end face 3a may not be flat. For example, the end face 3a may be formed by curved surfaces that protrude outward from each other in the first direction D1.

[0038] Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 2 FIG. 11, which is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a gasket 1A according to another embodiment. The gasket 1A has three lips 4 at the upper and lower ends of the main body 2, respectively. The height of the lip 4 in the second direction D2 is the same as that of the lip 4 of the gasket 1. However, the depth of the recess 5 in the second direction D2 is smaller than that of the recess 5 of the gasket 1. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same structures as those of the above-described gasket 1, and redundant description thereof is omitted here. According to such a gasket 1A, since the number of lips 4 can be increased at the upper and lower ends of the main body 2, the sealing performance can be further improved.

[0039] Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 2 FIG. 12, which is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a gasket 1B according to another embodiment. The gasket 1B is a modification of the gasket 1A. Specifically, in the gasket 1B, the thickness of each lip 4 defined in the first direction D1 is set uniformly along the second direction D2. In addition, the amount of protrusion of the lip 4 in the second direction D2 from the main body 2 is set to be the same for all the lips 4. End faces 4a are formed at the upper and lower ends of each lip 4. In this example, the end face 4a is defined to be parallel to the axis x, i.e., the plane P2. In addition, the end face 4a of the lip 4 at the upper end of the main body 2 and the end face 4a of the lip 4 at the lower end of the main body 2 are defined to be parallel to each other.

[0040] As Figure 6As shown, in the recess 5 formed between the lips 4, 4 adjacent in the first direction D1, the dimension defined in the first direction D1 is uniformly set along the second direction D2. Further, the depth of the recess 5 in the second direction D2 is uniformly set in all the recesses 5. In this example, the bottom surface of each recess 5 is defined to be parallel to the end surface 4a. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same structures as those of the washers 1, 1A described above, and the repeated description thereof is omitted here. According to such a washer 1B, the lips 4 are in close contact with the end surface 4a, the first end surface 11c, and the second end surface 12c, and thus stable sealing performance can be ensured.

[0041] As described above, the present invention has been described by the above embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. For those skilled in the art, it is obvious that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. According to the description of the claims, the embodiments to which such changes or improvements are made can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0042] The embodiments described above are for easy understanding of the present invention and are not for limiting the interpretation of the present invention. In addition, the above embodiments do not limit the objects to which the present invention is applied, and the present invention can include all objects as its application objects. Each component, its arrangement, material, condition, shape, size, etc. included in the above embodiments are not limited to the illustrated content and can be appropriately changed. For example, the present invention includes the differences generated in the implementation of manufacturing tolerances and the like. In addition, within the scope where there is no technical contradiction, the components shown in different embodiments can be partially replaced or combined with each other. In addition, each structure can be appropriately selectively combined to achieve at least a part of the above problems and effects.

Claims

1. A gasket formed of an elastomer, characterized in that: include: The main body, extending along the axis; protrusions, protruding from both sides of the main body in a first direction orthogonal to the axis and extending along the axis; as well as One or more lips protrude from both sides of the body in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and extend along the axis.

2. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that Each of the protrusions has an end surface parallel to the axis.

3. The gasket according to claim 2, characterized in that One of the protrusions in the first direction is formed in plane symmetry with the other protrusion with respect to a plane including the axis.

4. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that The lip portion has a tapered shape that gradually becomes thinner as it moves away from the axis in the second direction.

5. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that The lip has an end surface parallel to the axis.

6. The gasket according to claim 1, characterized in that The gasket includes a plurality of lips, A recessed portion extending along the axis is formed between two of the lip portions adjacent to each other in the first direction.

7. The gasket according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The gasket includes a plurality of lips, One of the lip portions in the second direction is formed in plane symmetry with the other of the lip portions with respect to a plane including the axis.

8. The gasket according to claim 6, characterized in that One of the lip portions in the second direction is formed in plane symmetry with the other of the lip portions with respect to a plane including the axis.

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