Bracket-Integrated Vent Cover for Electronic Enclosure Venting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electric apparatus designs require a dedicated lid member to cover ventilation holes, increasing the number of components and production costs, while also being vulnerable to foreign materials and temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
An electric apparatus design where the protective member is integrated into the bracket or external connector, which also serves as a communication path, eliminating the need for a dedicated lid member and allowing air circulation to maintain pressure balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a dedicated lid member is provided to cover the ventilation hole, then the ventilation hole is protected from foreign materials, but the number of components increases and production cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective member with either the bracket or external connector, integrating the protection function into an existing component. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated lid member, reducing component count while maintaining protection against foreign materials entering through the ventilation hole.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket or external connector is designed to serve multiple functions: its original structural/electrical function plus the additional function of covering the ventilation hole. This multi-functionality approach allows a single component to provide both structural support and protection against foreign materials.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ventilation hole is covered with a protective member, then foreign materials are blocked, but air circulation is restricted affecting pressure balance
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is designed with a specific local structure that allows air to pass through while blocking foreign materials. The communication path between the outer opening portion of the ventilation hole and the outside is provided through the protective member, creating a localized air passage that maintains pressure balance while providing protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a dedicated lid member is used to cover the ventilation hole, then protection is provided, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the protective function with an existing bracket or external connector, the patent eliminates the need for a separate dedicated lid member. This merging of functions reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and inventoried, thereby reducing production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket or external connector is designed to perform multiple functions including protection against foreign materials. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and simplifies the manufacturing process, leading to lower production costs compared to using a dedicated single-function lid member.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an electric apparatus that can suppress the number of components from increasing and hence can suppress the production cost from rising, while providing a mechanism for covering a ventilation hole. The electric apparatus includes a case provided with a ventilation hole penetrating an outer wall, a protective member for covering outside of the ventilation hole, and one or both of a bracket for mounting the case to an external object and an external connector for electrically connecting an electronic component with outside; the protective member is a part of the bracket or a part of the external connector; a communication path for making the outer opening portion of the ventilation hole communicate with outside is provided between the outer wall and the protective member.