Adjustable Sealing Assembly for Cable Size Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing devices for elongate objects like cables in enclosures often fail to provide a consistent and reliable seal against water ingress and contaminants, particularly when dealing with varying cable sizes and environments.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly comprising a resilient seal member with an inner channel and a loading mechanism that includes pressure members, a biasing member, and an adjustable displacement mechanism to apply compressive loads, ensuring effective sealing pressure on elongate objects, with features like anti-rotation and customizable fit for different cable sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing device is used to seal about elongate objects, then water ingress and contaminant protection is provided, but the seal consistency and reliability deteriorates when dealing with varying cable sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device incorporates an adjustable loading mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment of the sealing force applied to the elongate object. The loading mechanism can be adjusted to accommodate different cable sizes while maintaining consistent sealing pressure, thereby resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and adaptability to varying sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for adjustment of sealing parameters (such as compression force and positioning) to match different cable diameters. By changing these parameters based on the specific cable size, the device maintains reliable sealing across various elongate object dimensions without compromising seal consistency.
2Reliability
If a sealing device provides protection against water ingress, then enclosure security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is divided into distinct functional components: a sealing member, a loading mechanism, and an adjustable component. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently while simplifying the overall design and maintenance of the waterproof sealing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing device is designed with multi-functional components that can adapt to different sealing requirements. The adjustable loading mechanism serves both to apply sealing force and to accommodate varying cable sizes, reducing the need for multiple separate devices and thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining waterproof protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a consistent, reliable, and customizable seal against water and contaminants for a range of cable sizes, enhancing the security and durability of the seal while allowing for easy installation and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member on the second side of the seal member and interposed between the seal member and the second pressure member
Implementation Method 2
the inner wall surface is expanded inwardly to exert a sealing pressure on the elongate object
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly for forming a seal about an elongate object includes a resilient seal member and a loading mechanism. The resilient seal member includes an inner wall surface defining a channel to receive the elongate object. The seal member has first and second opposed sides. The loading mechanism includes a first pressure member on the first side of the seal member; a second pressure member on the second side of the seal member; a biasing member on the second side of the seal member and interposed between the seal member and the second pressure member; and an adjustable displacement mechanism accessible and operable from the first side of the seal member to displace the first and second pressure members relative to one another to selectively apply a compressive load to the seal member such that the inner wall surface is expanded inwardly to exert a sealing pressure on the elongate object.