Seal structure

Abstract

To provide a seal structure capable of preventing a seal function of a bushing from being deteriorated by high-temperature steam.SOLUTION: A seal structure 10 comprises a hood 20, a bushing 30 consisting of an elastic body and a holder 40. The hood 20 includes a mounting part 24. The bushing 30 includes a flange 34 and a tapered part 36. The holder 40 includes a mounted part 46 and a cover part 49. In a state where a cable 60 passes the inside of the seal structure 10 in a vertical direction, when the bushing 30 is received inside of the holder 40, the mounted part 46 is opposed to the mounting part 24 and the holder 40 is fixed to the hood 20, the seal structure 10 is brought into an assembled state and the bushing 30 is elastically deformed and pressed to the holder 40, the hood 20 and the cable 60. At such a time, the cover part 49 of the holder 40 encloses the cable 60 on a horizontal plane and covers an upper end 49 of the bushing 30 from an upper side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 22

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seal structure attached to a cable. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses this type of seal structure.

[0003] Referring to FIG. 23, the seal assembly (seal structure) 90 of Patent Document 1 is attached to a cable 99. More specifically, the seal structure 90 includes a housing (hood) 92, a rubber sealing sleeve (bushing) 94, a metal sealing cover (holder) 96, and a plastic bushing 98. An end of the cable 99 is fitted into a hole formed in the bushing 94. The bushing 94 holding the cable 99 as described above is inserted into a hole formed in the hood 92, and is fastened via the plastic bushing 98 by a holder 96 attached to the hood 92. As a result, the bushing 94 is elastically deformed, and the end of the cable 99 is received and sealed inside the hood 92. The cable 99 is connected to an apparatus (not shown) via the seal structure 90, which provides sealing functions such as waterproofing and preventing the intrusion of foreign matter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-102114 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For example, when the seal structure is used in a food processing factory, the seal structure may be sterilized with high-temperature steam. According to the conventional technology such as Patent Document 1, the sealing function of the bushing may be deteriorated by the high-temperature steam.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a seal structure capable of preventing deterioration of the sealing function of a bushing due to high-temperature steam. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a first seal structure, A seal structure attached to a cable, comprising: The device includes a hood, a bushing, and a holder. The hood has an attachment portion, The mounting portion has an introduction hole formed therein, The introduction hole penetrates the mounting portion in the up-down direction, The bushing is made of an elastic body and has a flange and a tapered portion. The flange has an upper surface and a lower surface, The tapered portion extends upward from the flange while tapering, The bushing has a retaining hole formed therein, The retaining hole penetrates the bushing in the up-down direction, the holder has a mounting portion, a first pressure portion, a second pressure portion, and a cover portion, The holder has a cavity and a through hole formed therein, The passage hole penetrates the cover portion in the up-down direction and communicates with the cavity, The first pressure member and the second pressure member are provided on an inner surface of the cavity, When the bushing is received in the cavity of the holder with the cable passing through the passage hole of the holder, the retaining hole of the bushing, and the introduction hole of the hood, and the mounted portion of the holder is brought to face the mounting portion of the hood in the up-down direction, the seal structure is in an intermediate assembly state, When the holder in the partially assembled state is fixed to the hood, the seal structure is in an assembled state, In the assembled state, the first pressure portion of the holder is pressed against the upper surface of the flange of the bushing, the lower surface of the flange is pressed against the mounting portion of the hood, the second pressure portion of the holder is pressed against the tapered portion of the bushing, and an inner wall of the retaining hole of the bushing is pressed against the cable, The cover portion of the holder in the assembled state surrounds the cable in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction and covers an upper end of the bushing from above. A seal structure is provided.

[0008] The present invention provides a second seal structure, which is a first seal structure, The bushing has an upper cylindrical portion, the upper cylindrical portion extends upward from the tapered portion, The cavity of the holder has a receiving portion; The upper cylindrical portion is received in the receiving portion in the assembled state. A seal structure is provided.

[0009] The present invention provides a third seal structure, which is the second seal structure, In the mid-assembly state, a gap is formed in the up-down direction between the cover portion of the holder and the upper cylindrical portion of the bushing. A seal structure is provided.

[0010] The present invention provides a fourth seal structure, which is the second or third seal structure, In the assembled state, the upper cylindrical portion is in contact with the cover portion. A seal structure is provided.

[0011] The present invention provides a fifth seal structure, which is the first seal structure, The bushing has a lower cylindrical portion, the lower tubular portion extends downward from the flange, The lower tubular portion is received in the inlet hole of the hood in the assembled state. A seal structure is provided.

[0012] The present invention provides a sixth seal structure, which is the first seal structure, The upper edge of the introduction hole of the hood is provided with a chamfer. A seal structure is provided.

[0013] The present invention provides a seventh seal structure, which is the first seal structure, A rib is provided on a lower surface of the flange of the bushing, The rib has an annular shape and protrudes downward, The mounting portion of the hood has a screw hole formed therein, The holder in the partially assembled state is fixed to the hood by screwing a screw into the screw hole, In the assembled state, the rib is pressed against a portion of the mounting portion that is located between the screw hole and the introduction hole on the horizontal plane. A seal structure is provided.

[0014] The present invention provides an eighth seal structure, which is a first seal structure, The inner wall of the retaining hole of the bushing is provided with an internal rib, The internal rib is located at a position corresponding to the tapered portion in the vertical direction and protrudes inwardly from the horizontal surface, The internal rib is pressed against the cable in the assembled state. A seal structure is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, in an assembled state in which the seal structure attached to the cable is assembled, the bushing is elastically deformed and pressed against the holder, the hood, and the cable. This structure allows the end of the cable received inside the hood to be sealed. In addition, the cover part of the holder in the assembled state surrounds the cable in the horizontal plane and covers the upper end of the bushing from above. This structure prevents the bushing from being directly exposed to high-temperature steam even when the seal structure is sterilized with high-temperature steam. According to the present invention, a seal structure capable of preventing deterioration of the sealing function of the bushing due to high-temperature steam can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a seal structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the seal structure being attached to a cable and an object; [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the seal structure of FIG 1, the seal structure being attached to a cable and spaced from an object; [Diagram 3] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the seal structure of FIG 1. The outline of a cable is drawn by a dashed line. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view showing a hood of the seal structure of Fig. 3. Screw holes of the hood of a modified example are drawn by dashed lines. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the hood of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the hood of FIG. 5, with the outline of a hidden screw hole drawn in dashed lines. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a bushing of the seal structure of FIG. 3. [Figure 8] 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the bushing of FIG 7. Imaginary boundaries between parts are drawn with dashed lines. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a front view of the bushing of FIG. [Figure 10] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the bushing of FIG 8. Imaginary boundaries between the portions are drawn with dashed lines. [Figure 11] Fig. 8 is a bottom view showing the bushing of Fig. 7. The positions of the introduction holes and the screw holes of the hood relative to the bushing in the seal structure in the assembled state of Fig. 1 are drawn with dashed lines. [Figure 12] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the bushing in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front view of the bushing of FIG. 12. [Figure 14] 8 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the bushing of FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a front view of the bushing of FIG. 14. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a holder of the seal structure of FIG. 3. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing the holder of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the holder of FIG. 16. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the holder of FIG. 18. [Figure 20] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the holder in FIG. [Figure 21] 4 is a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the seal structure of Fig. 3 along a plane that includes the central axis of the cable and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the seal structure being in an intermediate assembly state. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of the seal structure of Figure 21, the seal structure being in an assembled state. [Diagram 23] 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the seal structure of Patent Document 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] 1 and 2, a seal structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a seal structure attached to a cable 60. The cable 60 in this embodiment extends along the vertical direction and has a circular shape in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction. The vertical direction in this embodiment is the Z direction. In this embodiment, "upward" is the +Z direction and "downward" is the -Z direction. The horizontal plane is the XY plane. Terms such as vertical direction and horizontal plane do not indicate an absolute positional relationship with respect to the ground, but merely indicate a relative positional relationship when the direction in which the cable 60 attached to the seal structure 10 extends is defined as the vertical direction.

[0018] The cable 60 of this embodiment includes an outer sheath 62 made of an insulator and a plurality of electric wires (not shown). Each of the electric wires has a core wire (not shown) made of a conductor and a coating (not shown) made of an insulator that covers the core wire. The electric wires are surrounded by the outer sheath 62 in the horizontal plane. At the lower end of the cable 60, the outer sheath 62 is stripped, and the electric wires are exposed from the outer sheath 62. The outer sheath 62 of this embodiment is made of a flexible material. That is, the cable 60 of this embodiment is relatively soft and easily deforms when subjected to a force.

[0019] The cable 60 of this embodiment is a so-called cabtyre cable having the above-mentioned structure. However, the cable 60 of the present invention is not limited to a cabtyre cable. The structure of the cable 60 can be modified as necessary. For example, the jacket 62 may be made of a hard material. The number of electric wires is not particularly limited.

[0020] 2, the seal structure 10 of the present embodiment incorporates a connector 70 having a plurality of terminals 72. The seal structure 10 is attached to the cable 60 so as to cover the lower end of the cable 60 on a horizontal surface. When the seal structure 10 is attached to the cable 60, the electric wires (not shown) at the lower end of the cable 60 are connected to the terminals 72 of the connector 70, respectively.

[0021] 1 and 2, the seal structure 10 is fixed to an object 80 in a state where it is attached to a cable 60. The object 80 of this embodiment includes a board 82 mounted on a mating device (not shown), and a mating connector 84. The mating connector 84 is fixed to the board 82. The mating connector 84 includes a plurality of mating terminals (not shown) and a plurality of mating electric wires 88 respectively connected to the mating terminals. The object 80 of this embodiment has the above-mentioned structure. However, the structure of the object 80 of the present invention is not particularly limited.

[0022] The seal structure 10 of this embodiment is fixed to a mating connector 84. When the seal structure 10 is fixed to the mating connector 84, the connector 70 fits with the mating connector 84, and the electric wire (not shown) of the cable 60 is electrically connected to the mating electric wire 88 via the terminal 72 and the mating terminal (not shown). At this time, the lower end of the seal structure 10 is pressed against the upper surface of the mating connector 84 and comes into close contact, and the lower end of the cable 60 is sealed inside the seal structure 10. In other words, the cable 60 is connected to a mating device (not shown) via the seal structure 10, and the seal structure 10 provides sealing functions such as a waterproof function and a function to prevent intrusion of foreign matter.

[0023] The seal structure 10 of the present embodiment is attached to the cable 60 and the object 80 as described above. For example, the object 80 is part of a counterpart device (not shown) used in a food processing factory. In this case, the counterpart device and the seal structure 10 may be sterilized with high-pressure, high-temperature steam. As described later, the seal structure 10 of the present embodiment is suitable for such applications. However, the applications of the seal structure 10 of the present invention are not particularly limited. The structure of the seal structure 10 can be modified depending on the application of the seal structure 10.

[0024] 3, the seal structure 10 of this embodiment includes a hood 20, a bushing 30, and a holder 40 in addition to the connector 70. The seal structure 10 is assembled by arranging the hood 20, the bushing 30, and the holder 40 in this order from below, combining them with each other, and fixing the hood 20 to the holder 40 using two screws 52. In the assembled state (the state in FIGS. 1 and 2) in which the seal structure 10 attached to the cable 60 is assembled, the bushing 30 is located inside the hood 20 and the holder 40 and cannot be seen from the outside. The seal structure 10 in the assembled state can be fixed to an object 80 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) using two screws 54.

[0025] The seal structure 10 of the present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connector 70 (see FIG. 2) may be provided as necessary. Furthermore, the seal structure 10 may further include other members in addition to the above-mentioned members.

[0026] The hood 20 of this embodiment will now be described.

[0027] 4 and 5, the hood 20 of this embodiment is made of a hard material such as resin, and has a main portion 21 and an attachment portion 24. The main portion 21 and the attachment portion 24 are molded integrally with each other. The hood 20 is formed with a storage portion 23. The storage portion 23 is a space in which the connector 70 (see FIG. 2) is disposed. The storage portion 23 is surrounded by the main portion 21 without any gaps in the horizontal plane, and opens downward.

[0028] The mounting portion 24 in this embodiment is located at the upper end of the hood 20 and has a rectangular flat plate shape parallel to the horizontal plane. The mounting portion 24 covers the storage portion 23 from above. However, the mounting portion 24 has an introduction hole 26 formed therein. The introduction hole 26 is located at the middle part of the horizontal plane of the mounting portion 24 and has a circular shape in the horizontal plane. The introduction hole 26 penetrates the mounting portion 24 in the vertical direction. That is, the introduction hole 26 communicates with the storage portion 23 in the vertical direction. In other words, the storage portion 23 opens upward through the introduction hole 26. Referring to FIG. 3, the introduction hole 26 has a size larger than the cable 60 in the horizontal plane.

[0029] 4 and 5, the upper edge of the introduction hole 26 of the hood 20 in this embodiment is provided with a chamfered portion 27. The chamfered portion 27 surrounds the introduction hole 26 in the horizontal plane and extends upward while spreading outwardly from the horizontal plane.

[0030] Two screw holes 28 are formed in the mounting portion 24 of the hood 20 of this embodiment. The screw holes 28 are located in two of the four corners of the mounting portion 24 that are not adjacent to each other. That is, the two screw holes 28 are located on opposite sides of the introduction hole 26 in the horizontal plane. With reference to FIG. 6, each of the screw holes 28 is a hole with a bottom. In other words, each of the screw holes 28 is not connected to the storage portion 23.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the main portion 21 of this embodiment is provided with two protrusions 22. The protrusions 22 are located at the lower end of the main portion 21 in the up-down direction, and are located on both sides of the main portion 21 in the lateral direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The protrusions 22 are located at the middle of the main portion 21 in the front-rear direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the lateral direction. Each of the protrusions 22 protrudes outward in the lateral direction from the main portion 21. The lateral direction in this embodiment is the Y direction. The front-rear direction in this embodiment is the X direction. In this embodiment, the "forward" is the +X direction, and the "backward" is the -X direction.

[0032] A fixing hole 29 is formed in each of the protrusions 22. Each of the fixing holes 29 penetrates the protrusions 22 in the up-down direction. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5 together with Fig. 1, the hood 20 is fixed to the object 80 by screwing the screw 54 through the fixing hole 29 into the mating connector 84 of the object 80. The lower end of the hood 20 fixed in this manner is in close contact with the mating connector 84. The fixing method using the screw 54 is simple and strong. However, the method of fixing the hood 20 to the object 80 in the present invention is not particularly limited.

[0033] The hood 20 of this embodiment has the structure described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the hood 20 is provided with the mounting portion 24 in which the introduction hole 26 is formed, the structure of the hood 20 can be modified as necessary.

[0034] The bushing 30 of this embodiment will now be described.

[0035] 7 to 10, the bushing 30 of this embodiment is made of an elastic body such as rubber, and has a lower cylindrical portion 33, a flange 34, a tapered portion 36, and an upper cylindrical portion 38. That is, when a force is applied to the bushing 30, the bushing 30 easily elastically deforms. The elastically deformed bushing 30 generates a restoring force that tries to return it to its original shape.

[0036] The lower cylindrical portion 33 is the lower end of the bushing 30 and has a cylindrical shape. The lower cylindrical portion 33 extends downward from the flange 34. In other words, the flange 34 is located above the lower cylindrical portion 33. The flange 34 has an annular shape and extends beyond the outer periphery of the lower cylindrical portion 33 in the horizontal plane to the outside of the horizontal plane. The tapered portion 36 has a hollow truncated cone shape. The tapered portion 36 extends upward from the flange 34 while tapering. The upper cylindrical portion 38 is the upper end of the bushing 30 and has a cylindrical shape. The upper cylindrical portion 38 extends upward from the tapered portion 36. An upper end 39 of the upper cylindrical portion 38 is located at the upper end of the bushing 30.

[0037] The bushing 30 of this embodiment has the above-mentioned parts. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the lower cylindrical part 33 and the upper cylindrical part 38 may be provided as necessary. As long as the tapered part 36 tapers upward and the flange 34 protrudes from the lower end of the tapered part 36 in the horizontal plane, the shapes of the flange 34 and the tapered part 36 are not particularly limited. Furthermore, the bushing 30 may further have other parts in addition to the above-mentioned parts.

[0038] 7, 8 and 10, the bushing 30 is formed with a retaining hole 31. The retaining hole 31 is a cylindrical space and is located in the middle of the bushing 30 in the horizontal plane. The retaining hole 31 is surrounded by the lower cylindrical portion 33, the flange 34, the tapered portion 36 and the upper cylindrical portion 38 without any gaps in the horizontal plane, and is open upward and downward. That is, the retaining hole 31 penetrates the bushing 30 in the up-down direction. Referring to FIG. 3, the retaining hole 31 has the same size as the cable 60 in the horizontal plane.

[0039] 8 and 10, two internal ribs 32 are provided on the inner wall of the retaining hole 31 in this embodiment. Each of the internal ribs 32 has a ring shape parallel to the horizontal plane and surrounds the retaining hole 31 in the horizontal plane. The two internal ribs 32 are lined up one above the other. The upper internal rib 32 is located at a position corresponding to the tapered portion 36 in the vertical direction and protrudes inwardly in the horizontal plane. The lower internal rib 32 is located at a position corresponding to the flange 34 in the vertical direction and protrudes inwardly in the horizontal plane.

[0040] 8 and 11, the flange 34 has an upper surface 342 and a lower surface 344. Each of the upper surface 342 and the lower surface 344 in this embodiment is a plane parallel to the horizontal plane. With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, two ribs 35 are provided on the lower surface 344 in this embodiment. Each of the ribs 35 has a ring shape and protrudes downward. More specifically, each of the ribs 35 has a ring shape centered on the retaining hole 31 in the horizontal plane. One of the ribs 35 surrounds the other of the ribs 35 in the horizontal plane.

[0041] The bushing 30 of this embodiment has the structure described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the bushing 30 is provided with the flange 34 in which the retaining hole 31 is formed and the tapered portion 36, the structure of the bushing 30 can be modified as necessary.

[0042] The holder 40 (see FIG. 3) of this embodiment will be described below.

[0043] 16, 18 and 19, holder 40 of this embodiment is made of a hard material such as resin, and has an attachment portion 46, an enclosing portion 48, and a cover portion 49. Attachment portion 46, enclosing portion 48, and cover portion 49 are molded integrally with one another. Holder 40 is formed with a cavity 42. Cavity 42 is a space that receives bushing 30 (see FIG. 3). Cavity 42 is surrounded by attachment portion 46 and enclosing portion 48 without any gaps in the horizontal plane, and is open downward.

[0044] In this embodiment, the mounting portion 46 is located at the lower end of the holder 40, and has a flat plate shape parallel to the horizontal plane. The surrounding portion 48 has a hollow truncated cone shape, and extends upward from the mounting portion 46 while tapering. The cover portion 49 is located at the upper end of the holder 40, and has a circular ring shape parallel to the horizontal plane. The cover portion 49 extends from the upper end of the surrounding portion 48 toward the inside of the horizontal plane.

[0045] The cover portion 49 covers the cavity 42 from above. However, the cover portion 49 has a through hole 41 formed therein. That is, the holder 40 has the through hole 41 formed therein. The through hole 41 in this embodiment is located at the middle of the cover portion 49 in the horizontal plane, and has a circular shape in the horizontal plane. The through hole 41 penetrates the cover portion 49 in the vertical direction, and communicates with the cavity 42. In other words, the cavity 42 opens upward through the through hole 41. Referring to FIG. 3, the through hole 41 has the same size as the cable 60 in the horizontal plane.

[0046] 16 to 19, two fixing holes 47 are formed in the mounting portion 46. Each of the fixing holes 47 penetrates the mounting portion 46 in the up-down direction. The two fixing holes 47 are located on opposite sides of each other in the horizontal plane with the surrounding portion 48 therebetween. More specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the two fixing holes 47 are located at positions corresponding to the two screw holes 28 of the hood 20, respectively, in the horizontal plane. As will be described later, the fixing holes 47 and the screw holes 28 are portions for fixing the holder 40 to the hood 20.

[0047] As shown in Figs. 17 to 19, the holder 40 has a first pressure portion 44 and a second pressure portion 45. The first pressure portion 44 and the second pressure portion 45 are each a wall surface of an inner wall surrounding the cavity 42. That is, the first pressure portion 44 and the second pressure portion 45 are provided on the inner surface of the cavity 42. The first pressure portion 44 is the lower surface of a portion of the mounting portion 46 that is located between the surrounding portion 48 and the fixing hole 47 in the horizontal plane. The first pressure portion 44 is a plane parallel to the horizontal plane. The second pressure portion 45 is the inner surface of the mounting portion 46 in the horizontal plane. The second pressure portion 45 has a truncated cone shape and extends upward from the inner edge of the first pressure portion 44 in the horizontal plane while tapering.

[0048] 19, the cavity 42 of the holder 40 of this embodiment has a receiving portion 43. That is, the holder 40 is formed with the receiving portion 43. The receiving portion 43 is an upper portion of the cavity 42, and is located above the second pressurizing portion 45. Referring to FIG. 19 together with FIG. 10, the receiving portion 43 is a space that receives the upper cylindrical portion 38 of the bushing 30, and has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the upper cylindrical portion 38. The receiving portion 43 has a size slightly larger than the upper cylindrical portion 38 in the horizontal plane.

[0049] The holder 40 of this embodiment has the structure described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the holder 40 has the attached portion 46, the first pressure portion 44, the second pressure portion 45, and the cover portion 49, and the cavity 42 and the passage hole 41 are formed in the holder 40, the structure of the holder 40 can be modified as necessary. For example, the receiving portion 43 and the fixing hole 47 may be provided as necessary.

[0050] A method of assembling the seal structure 10 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. The assembly method described below is merely one example, and can be modified as necessary.

[0051] First, the hood 20, the bushing 30, and the holder 40 are arranged in this order from the bottom up in the vertical direction, and the cable 60 is passed through the passage hole 41 of the holder 40, the holding hole 31 of the bushing 30, and the introduction hole 26 of the hood 20. At this time, the lower end of the cable 60 is positioned inside the housing portion 23 of the hood 20 (see FIG. 4).

[0052] Next, referring to FIG. 21 together with FIG. 3, the bushing 30 is received in the cavity 42 of the holder 40. At this time, the upper cylindrical portion 38 of the bushing 30 is inserted into the receiving portion 43 of the cavity 42. By inserting the upper cylindrical portion 38 into the receiving portion 43, the bushing 30 can be positioned relative to the holder 40. In addition, the lower cylindrical portion 33 of the bushing 30 is inserted into the introduction hole 26 of the hood 20. By inserting the lower cylindrical portion 33 into the introduction hole 26, the bushing 30 and the holder 40 can be positioned relative to the hood 20. As a result of the above-mentioned positioning, the cable 60 extends straight in the vertical direction. At this time, the attached portion 46 of the holder 40 faces the attachment portion 24 of the hood 20 in the vertical direction, and the seal structure 10 is in the mid-assembly state shown in FIG. 21.

[0053] To summarize the above explanation with reference to Figure 21, with the cable 60 passing through the passage hole 41 of the holder 40, the retaining hole 31 of the bushing 30, and the introduction hole 26 of the hood 20, the bushing 30 is received in the cavity 42 of the holder 40 and the mounting portion 46 of the holder 40 is brought opposite the mounting portion 24 of the hood 20 in the vertical direction, and the seal structure 10 is in a partially assembled state.

[0054] In the mid-assembly state, the lower end of the rib 35 of the bushing 30 is in contact with the upper surface of the mounting portion 24 of the hood 20. Therefore, the flange 34 of the bushing 30 is located above the mounting portion 24 at a distance equal to the vertical size of the rib 35. In addition, the tapered portion 36 of the bushing 30 is in contact with the second pressure portion 45 of the holder 40. The holder 40 thus positioned is located above the mounting portion 24 at a distance in the vertical direction.

[0055] Various gaps (spaces) are formed in the seal structure 10 in the mid-assembly state. For example, in the mid-assembly state, a gap 12 is formed in the up-down direction between the cover portion 49 of the holder 40 and the upper cylindrical portion 38 of the bushing 30. According to this embodiment, the entire upper end 39 of the upper cylindrical portion 38 is spaced downward from the lower surface of the cover portion 49. Also, gaps 14 are formed above, below, and on the outside in the horizontal plane of the flange 34 of the bushing 30. Furthermore, a gap 16 is formed between the lower cylindrical portion 33 of the bushing 30 and the mounting portion 24 of the hood 20. These gaps can become paths through which water or foreign matter can enter the inside of the hood 20.

[0056] 21 and 22, next, the holder 40 is pressed against the hood 20 in the vertical direction, and the lower surface of the attached portion 46 of the holder 40 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the attachment portion 24 of the hood 20. When the holder 40 thus pressed is fixed to the hood 20, the seal structure 10 is in the assembled state shown in Fig. 22. That is, when the holder 40 in the mid-assembly state is fixed to the hood 20, the seal structure 10 is in the assembled state.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 21 together with FIG. 3, according to this embodiment, the holder 40 in the mid-assembly state is fixed to the hood 20 by screwing the screw 52 passed through the fixing hole 47 of the holder 40 into the screw hole 28 of the hood 20. By this screw fixing, the holder 40 can be easily and firmly fixed to the hood 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Referring to FIG. 22, as long as the lower surface of the attached portion 46 of the holder 40 is pressed against the upper surface of the attachment portion 24 of the hood 20 in the assembled state and is in close contact with it, the method of fixing the holder 40 to the hood 20 is not particularly limited. For example, the holder 40 may be fixed to the hood 20 by a so-called snap lock without using the screw 52. In that case, it is not necessary to provide the fixing hole 47.

[0058] 21 and 22, in an assembled state (the state of FIG. 22) in which the seal structure 10 attached to the cable 60 is assembled, the bushing 30 is elastically deformed. In detail, the first pressure portion 44 of the holder 40 presses the upper surface 342 of the flange 34 of the bushing 30 downward, thereby elastically deforming the bushing 30. In addition, the second pressure portion 45 of the holder 40 presses the tapered portion 36 of the bushing 30 inward and downward toward the horizontal plane, thereby elastically deforming the bushing 30. The elastically deformed bushing 30 is pressed against the holder 40, the hood 20, and the cable 60 by a restoring force.

[0059] When the bushing 30 is elastically deformed, the tapered portion 36 of the bushing 30 is compressed in the vertical direction and in the horizontal plane. As a result, the upper cylindrical portion 38 of the bushing 30 is stretched in the vertical direction. The upper cylindrical portion 38 elastically deformed in this manner fills the gap 12. More specifically, the upper cylindrical portion 38 is received in the receiving portion 43 of the holder 40 in the assembled state and fills the receiving portion 43. That is, in the assembled state, the upper cylindrical portion 38 contacts the cover portion 49 of the holder 40. Also, in the assembled state, the upper cylindrical portion 38 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the holder 40 and the cable 60. In addition, in the assembled state, the internal rib 32 of the bushing 30 is pressed against the cable 60. More specifically, the internal rib 32 is pressed against the cable 60 while being crushed. As a result, the intrusion path of water and foreign matter along the outer peripheral surface of the cable 60 in the horizontal plane is blocked.

[0060] When the bushing 30 is elastically deformed, the flange 34 of the bushing 30 is compressed in the vertical direction and expanded in the horizontal plane. The flange 34 elastically deformed in this way fills the portion of the gap 14 located between the flange 34 and the attached portion 46 of the holder 40 in the horizontal plane. More specifically, the flange 34 is received in the lower end of the cavity 42 of the holder 40 in the assembled state, and fills the lower end of the cavity 42. The lower surface 344 of the flange 34 is pressed against the upper surface of the attachment portion 24 of the hood 20. In addition, the rib 35 of the flange 34 is pressed against the upper surface of the attachment portion 24 while being crushed. As a result, the intrusion path of water and foreign matter passing between the attachment portion 24 and the lower surface 344 of the bushing 30 is blocked.

[0061] When the bushing 30 is elastically deformed, the lower cylindrical portion 33 of the bushing 30 is expanded in the vertical direction and in the horizontal plane. The elastically deformed lower cylindrical portion 33 fills the gap 16. More specifically, in the assembled state, the lower cylindrical portion 33 is received in the introduction hole 26 of the hood 20, and expands due to compression of the tapered portion 36 and the flange 34, filling the introduction hole 26. In addition, the elastically deformed flange 34 and lower cylindrical portion 33 fill the chamfered portion 27 formed in the introduction hole 26.

[0062] To summarize the above explanation, in the assembled state, the first pressure portion 44 of the holder 40 is pressed against the upper surface 342 of the flange 34 of the bushing 30, the lower surface 344 of the flange 34 is pressed against the mounting portion 24 of the hood 20, the second pressure portion 45 of the holder 40 is pressed against the tapered portion 36 of the bushing 30, and the inner wall of the retaining hole 31 of the bushing 30 is pressed against the cable 60. With this structure, the lower end of the cable 60 received inside the hood 20 can be sealed. In addition, the cable 60 can be firmly held and extended straight in the vertical direction.

[0063] According to this embodiment, the gaps 12, 14, and 16 that occur during assembly are filled in the assembled state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the gap 12 may already be filled in the intermediate assembly state. However, according to this structure, if the cable 60 is hard, an excessively large force is required to elastically deform the bushing 30. Therefore, unless there is a special reason, this embodiment is preferable.

[0064] According to this embodiment, the gaps 12, 14, and 16 are completely filled in the assembled state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the intrusion paths of water and foreign matter are sufficiently blocked in the assembled state, the gaps 12, 14, and 16 may be partially filled in the assembled state. For example, in the assembled state, the upper end 39 of the upper cylindrical portion 38 may be spaced downward from the cover portion 49 of the holder 40.

[0065] According to this embodiment, since two internal ribs 32 and two ribs 35 are provided, the lower end of the cable 60 can be sealed more reliably. Referring to FIG. 22 together with FIG. 11, the rib 35 is pressed against a portion of the mounting portion 24 located between the screw hole 28 and the introduction hole 26 in the horizontal plane in the assembled state. According to this structure, the rib 35 can be pressed against the mounting portion 24 more firmly, and the lower end of the cable 60 can be sealed more reliably. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of the internal ribs 32 may be one or three or more. One of the internal ribs 32 may be located at a position corresponding to the tapered portion 36 in the vertical direction. Similarly, the number of the ribs 35 may be one or three or more. Moreover, the internal ribs 32 and the ribs 35 may be provided as necessary.

[0066] 6, the screw holes 28 of the hood 20 in this embodiment are not connected to the housing portion 23 which is the internal space of the hood 20. Therefore, the screw holes 28 do not affect the sealing function of the seal structure 10.

[0067] 21 and 22, the chamfered portion 27 in this embodiment not only functions as a guide portion when the lower cylindrical portion 33 of the bushing 30 is inserted into the introduction hole 26 of the hood 20, but also functions as a space that partially receives the elastically deformed flange 34 and lower cylindrical portion 33. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the chamfered portion 27 may be provided as necessary.

[0068] 22, the cover portion 49 of the holder 40 in the assembled state surrounds the cable 60 in the horizontal plane and covers the upper end 39 of the bushing 30 from above. This structure can prevent the bushing 30 from being directly exposed to high-temperature steam even when the seal structure 10 is sterilized with high-temperature steam. In addition, by closing the gap 12, even if there is a gap between the cover portion 49 and the outer peripheral surface of the cable 60, the portion of the bushing 30 that can be directly exposed to high-temperature steam can be limited. According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a seal structure 10 that can prevent deterioration of the sealing function of the bushing 30 due to high-temperature steam.

[0069] According to this embodiment, the cover portion 49 of the holder 40 is in contact with the cable 60 on the horizontal surface. This structure can more reliably prevent the deterioration of the sealing function of the bushing 30 due to high-temperature steam. However, this structure makes it difficult to pass the hard cable 60 through the passage hole 41 of the holder 40. On the other hand, if a large gap is formed between the cover portion 49 and the cable 60 on the horizontal surface, the upper end 39 of the bushing 30 may be partially deteriorated by high-temperature steam. However, even if the upper end 39 of the bushing 30 is partially deteriorated, the sealing function does not substantially deteriorate. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing the deterioration of the bushing 30 as much as possible while making it easy for the cable 60 to pass through the passage hole 41, it is preferable to provide a gap as small as possible between the cover portion 49 and the cable 60.

[0070] In addition to the various modifications already described, this embodiment can be modified in various ways as described below.

[0071] 12 and 13 with FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the bushing 30A according to the first modified example has the same structure as the bushing 30, except that it does not have the upper cylindrical portion 38. According to this modified example, the upper end 39 of the tapered portion 36 is the upper end of the bushing 30A. Referring to FIG. 12 together with FIG. 22, even if the bushing 30A is used instead of the bushing 30, it is possible to provide a seal structure 10 that can prevent deterioration of the sealing function of the bushing 30A due to high-temperature steam. However, when the bushing 30A is used, it is necessary to modify other members as well, such as by eliminating the receiving portion 43 of the holder 40.

[0072] 14 and 15 with FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the bushing 30B according to the second modified example has the same structure as the bushing 30, except that it does not have the lower cylindrical portion 33. Referring to FIG. 14 together with FIG. 22, even if the bushing 30B is used instead of the bushing 30, it is possible to provide a seal structure 10 that can prevent deterioration of the sealing function of the bushing 30B due to high-temperature steam. However, when the bushing 30B is used, it is necessary to modify other members as well, such as by providing a mechanism for positioning the bushing 30B with respect to the hood 20.

[0073] 7 together with FIGS. 12, 14, and 22, instead of deleting the upper cylindrical portion 38, the size of the upper cylindrical portion 38 may be reduced in the up-down direction. Also, instead of deleting the lower cylindrical portion 33, the size of the lower cylindrical portion 33 may be reduced in the up-down direction. Also, both the upper cylindrical portion 38 and the lower cylindrical portion 33 may be deleted.

[0074] Comparing Fig. 20 with Fig. 16, the holder 40C according to the third modified example has the same structure as the holder 40, except that it has a rectangular mounting portion 46C in which four fixing holes 47 are formed instead of the mounting portion 46. Referring to Fig. 20 together with Fig. 22, even if the holder 40C is used instead of the holder 40, it is possible to provide a seal structure 10 that can prevent deterioration of the sealing function of the bushing 30 due to high-temperature steam. Referring to Fig. 20 together with Fig. 4, when the holder 40C is used, it is necessary to form four screw holes 28 in the hood 20 as well. However, the sealing function can be further strengthened by screwing the holder 40C to the hood 20 at four points.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 3, according to this embodiment, only one cable 60 is attached to the seal structure 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Two or more cables 60 may be attached to the seal structure 10. More specifically, two or more introduction holes 26 may be formed in the hood 20. In this case, the holder 40 may also be formed with two or more passage holes 41 corresponding to the introduction holes 26, respectively, and two or more bushings 30 each having one retaining hole 31 formed therein may be provided. In this case, the holder 40 may be formed with two or more cavities 42 each corresponding to the bushing 30. On the other hand, two or more holders 40 each having one passage hole 41 formed therein may be provided, and two or more bushings 30 each having one retaining hole 31 formed therein may be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10. Seal structure 12,14,16 Gap 20. Food 21 Main Section 22 Protrusion 23 Storage unit 24 Mounting part 26 Introduction hole 27 Chamfer 28 screw holes 29 Fixing hole 30,30A,30B Bushing 31 Retaining hole 32 Internal ribs 33 Lower cylindrical part 34 Flange 342 Top 344 Bottom surface 35 Ribs 36 Tapered section 38 Upper cylindrical part 39 Upper end 40,40C Holder 41 Passing hole 42 Cavity 43 Receptor 44 First pressure section 45 Second pressure section 46 Mounting part 47 Fixing hole 48 Enclosure 49 Cover part 52,54 Screw 60 Cable 62 Outer cover 70 Connector 72 Terminals 80 Objects 82 Substrate 84 Mating Connector 88 Counterpart Wire

Claims

1. A seal structure attached to a cable, comprising: The device includes a hood, a bushing, and a holder. The hood has an attachment portion, The mounting portion has an introduction hole formed therein, The introduction hole penetrates the mounting portion in the up-down direction, The bushing is made of an elastic body and has a flange and a tapered portion. The flange has an upper surface and a lower surface, The tapered portion extends upward from the flange while tapering, The bushing has a retaining hole formed therein, The retaining hole penetrates the bushing in the up-down direction, The holder has a mounting portion, a first pressure portion, a second pressure portion, and a cover portion, The holder has a cavity and a through hole formed therein, The passage hole penetrates the cover portion in the up-down direction and communicates with the cavity, The first pressure member and the second pressure member are provided on an inner surface of the cavity, When the bushing is received in the cavity of the holder with the cable passing through the passage hole of the holder, the retaining hole of the bushing, and the introduction hole of the hood, and the mounted portion of the holder is brought to face the mounting portion of the hood in the up-down direction, the seal structure is in an intermediate assembly state, When the holder in the partially assembled state is fixed to the hood, the seal structure is in an assembled state, In the assembled state, the first pressure portion of the holder is pressed against the upper surface of the flange of the bushing, the lower surface of the flange is pressed against the mounting portion of the hood, the second pressure portion of the holder is pressed against the tapered portion of the bushing, and an inner wall of the retaining hole of the bushing is pressed against the cable, The cover portion of the holder in the assembled state surrounds the cable in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction and covers an upper end of the bushing from above. Seal structure.

2. The seal structure according to claim 1, The bushing has an upper cylindrical portion, the upper cylindrical portion extends upward from the tapered portion, The cavity of the holder has a receiving portion; The upper cylindrical portion is received in the receiving portion in the assembled state. Seal structure.

3. The seal structure according to claim 2, In the mid-assembly state, a gap is formed in the up-down direction between the cover portion of the holder and the upper cylindrical portion of the bushing. Seal structure.

4. The seal structure according to claim 2 or 3, In the assembled state, the upper cylindrical portion is in contact with the cover portion. Seal structure.

5. The seal structure according to claim 1, The bushing has a lower cylindrical portion, the lower tubular portion extends downward from the flange, The lower tubular portion is received in the inlet hole of the hood in the assembled state. Seal structure.

6. The seal structure according to claim 5, The upper edge of the introduction hole of the hood is provided with a chamfer. Seal structure.

7. The seal structure according to claim 1, A rib is provided on a lower surface of the flange of the bushing, The rib has an annular shape and protrudes downward, The mounting portion of the hood has a screw hole formed therein, The holder in the partially assembled state is fixed to the hood by screwing a screw into the screw hole, In the assembled state, the rib is pressed against a portion of the mounting portion that is located between the screw hole and the introduction hole on the horizontal plane. Seal structure.

8. The seal structure according to claim 1, The inner wall of the retaining hole of the bushing is provided with an internal rib, The internal rib is located at a position corresponding to the tapered portion in the vertical direction and protrudes inwardly from the horizontal surface, The internal rib is pressed against the cable in the assembled state. Seal structure.

Images