Cable Grommet Structure for Low-Force Sealing and Angled Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grommets for cable passage through component openings are difficult to assemble, require high assembly forces, are costly due to multiple materials, and often fail to provide adequate sealing and cable guidance at desired angles.
Innovation Solution
A grommet apparatus with inner and outer stiffening walls, connected by radially circumferential struts, allows for easy assembly by distributing force evenly and providing a stable seal, while being made from a single thermoplastic elastomer material, and featuring a flexible guiding portion for angled cable output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a high proportion of material is used in EPDM grommets to ensure stability during assembly, then assembly stability is improved, but manufacturing cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is divided into distinct functional regions: a softer sealing portion (first region) and a harder assembly portion (second region). This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire grommet to use excessive material.
Solution Approach 2:
Different hardness properties are applied to different regions of the grommet. The sealing portion uses softer material for effective sealing, while the assembly portion uses harder material for improved assembly behavior. This local differentiation eliminates the need for uniformly high material proportion throughout the entire grommet.
2Ease of operation
If a second harder component is used together with a softer component to improve assembly behavior, then assembly ease is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The softer sealing portion and harder assembly portion are merged into a single integrated grommet component. This combination achieves the benefits of both material properties (good sealing and improved assembly behavior) while eliminating the complexity of assembling multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The grommet utilizes composite material construction with at least two different material properties within a single component. This allows the grommet to exhibit both soft sealing characteristics and hard assembly characteristics without requiring separate components for each function.
3Reliability
If repeated pressing is applied during assembly to achieve sealing effect, then sealing quality is improved, but assembly force requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hardness parameter of the grommet material is changed in the assembly portion to be harder than traditional soft grommets. This parameter change enables the grommet to withstand assembly forces better and achieve sealing with reduced repeated pressing, thereby lowering the overall assembly force requirement.
4Stability of the object's composition
If grommets are designed with high material proportion for stability, then assembly stability is improved, but assemblability deteriorates due to difficulty in positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The harder second region is specifically positioned in the assembly portion of the grommet to provide structural support and improve positioning during assembly. This local quality enhancement addresses the positioning difficulty without requiring excessive material throughout the entire grommet.
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
The grommet apparatus simplifies assembly, reduces material costs, ensures reliable sealing, and allows for cable guidance at predetermined angles without complex manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
The bending portion (16) has flexible structures (18) configured such that the bending portion (16) and the guiding portion (17) are hinged in radial direction (23)
Implementation Method 2
The main task of these grommets is to seal the respective body portions or housings against environmental factors (dust, moisture, noise)
Implementation Method 3
The connecting portion (2) has an inner and an outer stiffening wall (12, 10), which are arranged substantially concentrically with respect to one another
Data Source
AI summary
A grommet apparatus for cable passage is provided at a component opening. It includes a radially circumferential connecting portion for connecting the grommet apparatus to an edge region of a component opening in an assembly direction and a cable passage portion.