Blower Connector Cover for Under-Seat Water Damage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blower devices in vehicles, particularly those with centrifugal fans, are prone to malfunction due to water adhesion on electrical connectors when liquid spills occur, leading to potential damage from water droplets falling onto the blower device.
Innovation Solution
A blower device design incorporating a water damage prevention cover that covers the connector housing, preventing water droplets from adhering to the connector pins by directing them to fall from the ends of the cover, thus protecting the electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the blower device is disposed below a seat in a vehicle, then it saves space and allows flexible installation, but water droplets falling from the seat may adhere to the connector housing and cause motor malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
A water damage prevention cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the water droplets (harmful factor) and the connector housing (electrical component). The cover redirects water droplets away from the connector, preventing direct contact while allowing the blower to remain installed below the seat. This mediator structure resolves the contradiction by protecting the connector without requiring relocation of the blower device.
2Ease of operation
If the connector housing is exposed to protect electrical connections, then ease of assembly and maintenance is improved, but water droplets can adhere to electrode parts and cause malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The water damage prevention cover applies local protection specifically to the connector housing area that requires protection from water, while leaving other parts of the blower device accessible. The cover is positioned to shield only the electrode parts and connector housing, maintaining ease of assembly and maintenance for other components while locally preventing water adhesion where it causes harm.
3Reliability
If a water damage prevention cover is added to protect the connector housing, then reliability against water damage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water damage prevention cover is designed as a thin, simple protective shell that overlays the connector housing without adding complex mechanical structures. This thin-film approach provides effective water protection while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the cover can be a simple molded piece that integrates easily with the existing blower device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A blower device includes a blower casing, an impeller accommodated inside the blower casing, a motor provided at one end side in an axial direction of the blower casing and configured to rotate the impeller, and a connector housing including a plurality of connector pins configured to supply electric power to the motor. A water damage prevention cover configured to cover an upper side of the connector housing is fixed to the connector housing.