Angled Mating Face Panel Connector Moisture Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panel mount electrical connectors require costly sealing members at both terminal and mating faces to prevent moisture ingress, leading to increased mating force and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A panel mount electrical connector with a dielectric housing and flange seal, where the forward mating face is angled relative to the flange, preventing condensation without the need for a sealing member at the mating face, using a dielectric housing with a flange seal that captures the mounting panel between the flange and mounting projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing members are provided at both terminal receiving face and mating face, then moisture ingress is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sealing member from the mating face while retaining it at the terminal receiving face. The angled configuration of the mating face (10-80 degrees relative to the flange) inherently prevents moisture accumulation, eliminating the need for a sealing member at that location. This extraction of the unnecessary sealing component simplifies the overall sealing structure while maintaining moisture prevention effectiveness.
2Reliability
If sealing members are provided at both terminal receiving face and mating face, then moisture ingress is prevented, but mating force increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the sealing member from the mating face, the patent eliminates the additional compression force that would be required to deform and seal against the mating connector. The angled mating face design prevents moisture ingress through geometric configuration rather than mechanical sealing, thereby reducing the mating force requirement while maintaining moisture prevention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If forward mating face is angled relative to flange, then condensation is prevented, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies an angular range of 10-80 degrees for the mating face relative to the flange, providing design flexibility that accommodates manufacturing tolerances. This parameter range allows manufacturers to achieve effective condensation prevention without requiring extremely tight angular tolerances, as any angle within this range provides the necessary moisture drainage capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A panel mount electrical connector including a dielectric housing (10) with a forward mating portion (14), a flange (18) and a rear portion (16). The forward mating portion (14) is receivable in a cutout (22) in a mounting panel (24). The flange (18) extends from the housing (10) and is dimensioned larger than the cutout (22). The rear portion (16) has a rear face (70) with terminal-receiving cavities (20) extending inwardly through the rear face (70). A top surface (32) of the forward mating portion (14) extends from the flange (18) at an obtuse angle (48), the top surface (32) is substantially perpendicular to a forward mating face (40) of the forward mating portion (14) of the housing (10). The terminal-receiving cavities (20) extend from the rear face (70) to the forward mating face (40), with the longitudinal axis (86) of each terminal-receiving cavity (20) extending in a straight line. The forward mating face (40) of the housing (10) is angled relative to the flange (18) and the mounting panel (24) to prevent condensation from occurring on the forward mating face (40).