Angled Side Flanges for Electrical Panel Door Water Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical panel enclosures face challenges in meeting safety standards for water ingress, particularly due to the limitations of existing door designs that do not effectively manage water entry and pressure at the seal interfaces.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates angled side flanges on the doors that extend rearwardly from the edge margins, forming beveled sides which increase the maximum open angle and direct water laterally outward, combined with a baffle that creates a tortuous path for water flow, reducing pressure on the seals and enhancing the liquid-tight seal integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional door designs are used, then the enclosure structure is simple, but water ingress occurs at seal interfaces due to insufficient water deflection capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater ingress resistanceVSAvoiddoor structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door structure is segmented into multiple functional components: door panel, side flanges, front flanges, and integrated baffles. Each segment performs a specific water deflection function, dividing the water protection task into manageable parts that work together to prevent ingress at seal interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side flanges extend laterally outward from the door panel at angles between 30-60 degrees, adding a dimensional element that projects water away from the seal interface before it can contact the seal. This lateral extension creates a three-dimensional water deflection path that conventional flat doors lack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If angled side flanges are added to deflect water, then water ingress resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal interface protectionVSAvoiddoor fabrication difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The side flanges and baffles are merged into a single integrated door assembly, eliminating the need for separate water deflection components. This integration reduces the number of parts to manufacture and assemble while maintaining the water deflection functionality, thereby improving ease of manufacture despite the angled geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The side flanges are designed with specific angle parameters (30-60 degrees) that optimize water deflection while considering manufacturing capabilities. These parameter choices balance the need for effective water projection with the practical constraints of fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If baffles are integrated into the door, then water pressure on seals is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal pressure resistanceVSAvoiddoor assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The baffles are nested within or integrated with the door structure, with front flanges extending from the door panel and baffles positioned behind them. This nesting arrangement allows multiple water deflection functions to be contained within a single door assembly, reducing the need for separate external components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This configuration significantly reduces water ingress by deflecting water away from the seal interfaces and reducing the energy of water before it contacts the seals, thereby enhancing the enclosure's resistance to water and meeting safety standards like UL 508A.

Implementation Method 1

The first side door flange extends at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the planar door panel body... direct water laterally outward

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeflection:

Implementation Method 2

a baffle that creates a tortuous path for water flow, reducing pressure on the seals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTortuous flow path:

Implementation Method 3

reducing the energy of water before it contacts the seals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy reduction:

Data Source

PatentUS10947773B2One or more doors with one or more angled side flanges for electrical panel enclosure

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

An electrical panel enclosure includes a door hingedly secured to an enclosure body at the front side of the enclosure body. The door includes a door panel having a planar door panel body with opposite first and second side edge margins, and a first side door flange extending rearwardly from the first side edge margin of the door panel body. The first side door flange extends at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the planar door panel body.