Blind Plug With Alternating Soft-Hard Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind plugs for housing perforations face difficulties in allowing easy cable installation due to their hard material composition, which prevents easy opening, and cannot accommodate threaded nipples for secure connections.
Innovation Solution
A blind plug design featuring alternating soft-elastic and hard-plastic casing zones with a predominantly flexible base and internal threaded hard-plastic sections, allowing for sealing and threaded nipple installation, along with snap-in lugs for secure latching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the blind plug is made of hard material, then dimensional stability and structural strength are improved, but ease of operation for cable installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blind plug is divided into multiple circumferential zones with alternating material properties: hard-plastic zones provide structural strength and dimensional stability, while soft-elastic zones enable easy deformation for cable installation. This segmentation allows different regions to fulfill different functional requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the blind plug are assigned different material qualities: the hard-plastic zones provide rigidity where structural support is needed, while the soft-elastic zones provide flexibility where cable insertion and sealing are required. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the blind plug is made of elastomeric material, then ease of operation for cable installation is improved, but ability to accommodate threaded nipples deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blind plug is segmented into hard-plastic zones containing internal threaded sections and soft-elastic zones. The hard-plastic segments provide the structural integrity and threaded interfaces needed for nipples, while the soft-elastic segments maintain ease of cable installation and sealing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind plug uses a composite structure combining hard-plastic and soft-elastic materials in alternating circumferential zones. This composite design integrates the advantages of both materials: the hard-plastic provides thread formation and structural support for nipples, while the soft-elastic material provides flexibility for cable installation and sealing.
3Reliability
If the blind plug uses soft-elastic material, then sealing capability is improved, but dimensional stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blind plug is divided into alternating soft-elastic and hard-plastic zones. The soft-elastic zones provide sealing capability by deforming to conform to the housing opening, while the hard-plastic zones maintain dimensional stability and prevent excessive deformation. This segmentation allows both sealing and stability requirements to be met simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the blind plug have different material qualities tailored to local functional requirements: soft-elastic zones are positioned where sealing contact with the housing is needed, while hard-plastic zones are positioned to maintain overall dimensional stability and structural form. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between sealing and stability.
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
Enables easy cable installation with sealing and secure threaded connections, ensuring the blind plug is captive and removable while allowing for secure fitting within housing perforations.
Implementation Method 1
part of the casing and the base are made of flexible material, for example elastomer material, a good seal is achieved and it is also possible to pierce the base for the purpose of installing cables or the like
Implementation Method 2
the hard-plastic second shell zones are provided on the inside with threaded sections, the threaded sections of all second shell zones form a continuous thread
Implementation Method 3
at least some of the second casing zones have snap-in lugs on the outside, which, in the desired assembly position in the perforation of the housing or housing part, engage under the perforation edge on the side facing away from the flange edge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The plug (1) has a pot-like base portion that is provided with an opening-side circulating flange edge portion that is inserted into an appropriate perforation. Cladding of base portion is alternately provided with soft-elastic and hard-plastic cladding zones (2,3) along circumferential direction. Bottom (4) of base portion formed of soft-elastic material is made fluid tight connection with cladding zones. An inner side of hard-plastic cladding zone is provided with threaded sections to form a constant screw thread.