Actuator Housing with Partitioned Chambers for Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current box-like containers for electrical actuators used in automating doors or windows are complex and costly due to their multi-shell structure, requiring extensive assembly time and resources, which complicates production and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A simplified box-like container design using two shell portions with internal partitions to create separate chambers for the electric motor, electronic components, and the push-pull element, along with a gasket and annular seals for hermetic sealing, reducing the number of components and assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a multi-shell structure with three shell portions is used to accommodate motor and push-pull element separately, then the hermetic seal and functional separation are improved, but the device complexity and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehermetic seal qualityVSAvoidnumber of shell portions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple shell portions into a single unitary shell structure. The shell integrates the motor chamber and push-pull element chamber into one piece, eliminating the need for separate intermediate and outer shell portions while maintaining hermetic sealing through integrated sealing surfaces and gasket arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unitary shell is designed with internal partitions that segment the interior space into distinct chambers for the motor and push-pull element. This segmentation achieves functional separation and hermetic isolation without requiring multiple external shell components, thus reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple shell portions and threaded elements are assembled, then the structural integrity and hermetic seal are achieved, but the productivity decreases due to extensive assembly time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple assembled shell portions into a single unitary shell structure. This eliminates numerous assembly steps involving screws and threaded elements, significantly reducing assembly time and improving productivity while maintaining structural integrity through the monolithic construction of the shell itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If three shell portions are molded and assembled, then the hermetic chamber is formed, but the manufacturing cost increases due to multiple components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber hermetic sealVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates three separately molded and assembled shell portions into a single unitary shell that can be manufactured as one piece. This reduction in component count directly lowers manufacturing costs by eliminating multiple molding operations, assembly steps, and associated labor, while the integrated design maintains hermetic sealing through built-in sealing surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If a unitary shell with internal partitions is used, then the assembly is simplified and productivity increases, but achieving ideal hermetic seal becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidhermetic seal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The unitary shell integrates multiple chamber boundaries into a single molded structure with built-in sealing surfaces. This design achieves both simplified assembly and hermetic sealing by incorporating gasket receptacles and sealing features directly into the shell geometry during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate sealing components while maintaining water and moisture protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1970517B1Box-like container for electrical actuators for automating doors or windows
Publication Date: 2010.09.15 TOPP
  • EP1970517B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1970517B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1970517B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A box-like container for electrical actuators for automating doors or windows, containing internally an electric motor (14), the associated electronic components (15), at least part of a push-pull element (12) for moving the leaf of the door or window, and a gear train (16) for reduction and torque transmission. The box-like container is constituted by two shell portions, a first one (17) and a second one (18), which form the outer enclosure and have corresponding internal partitions (24), which when juxtaposed when the shell portions (17, 18) are closed onto each other, provide a first chamber (20) for the motor (14), the electronic components (15) and at least part of the gear train (16), and a second chamber (21) for at least part of the push-pull element (12), a gasket (23) being interposed between the two shell portions (17, 18) and being shaped so as to cover the facing perimetric edges (17a, 18a) of the two shell portions (17, 18) and the edges (24a) of the juxtaposed partitions (24) which divide the first chamber (20) from the second chamber (21).