Cable Seal With Rigid Support Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable seals for electrical connectors require lateral compression to form a seal, which can cause unwanted longitudinal movement, leading to intermittent electrical disconnections and fretting corrosion due to longitudinal compression.
Innovation Solution
A seal with a compliant material body and radially arranged, rigid support elements that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, preventing longitudinal compression while allowing lateral compression, thereby reducing vibration and displacement transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seal body is made of compliant material to allow lateral compression, then sealing capability is improved, but longitudinal compression causes fretting corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The seal combines compliant material (for sealing) with rigid reinforcement elements (support ribs made of rigid polymeric material). This composite structure allows the compliant material to provide sealing capability while the rigid reinforcement elements prevent excessive longitudinal compression that would cause fretting corrosion.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid support ribs are pre-installed within the seal body to provide structural support before compression occurs. These ribs act as a cushioning element that limits the maximum longitudinal compression, preventing the seal from being compressed too much and causing fretting corrosion of the terminal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seal allows longitudinal compression to accommodate cable movement, then cable installation flexibility is improved, but terminal displacement occurs causing intermittent disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed to be dynamic in the lateral direction (allowing compression for sealing and cable installation flexibility) but static in the longitudinal direction (resisting compression to prevent terminal displacement). The rigid support ribs provide this directional constraint, allowing movement in one direction while preventing movement in another.
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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates longitudinal compression, minimizing the risk of electrical disconnections and fretting corrosion, ensuring a stable and secure seal.
Implementation Method 1
a seal body that is formed of a compliant material... Lateral compression of the seal is necessary for forming a seal between the wire cable and the connector housing
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of support elements that are formed of a rigid material and extend through the seal body in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis... preventing longitudinal compression
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A seal (10) that is configured to engage an elongate element, such as a wire cable (38), and a cavity wall (48) is presented. The seal (10) includes a seal body (12) that is formed of a compliant material such as a silicone rubber. The seal (10) has an outer surface (14) that engages the cavity surface. The seal body (12) defines a gallery (16) extending therethrough and surrounded by an inner surface (18) of the seal body (12). The seal body (12) has a forward surface (20) extending from a forward edge (22) of the outer surface (14) to a forward edge (22) of the inner surface (18) and a rearward surface (26) extending from a rearward edge (28) of the outer surface (14) to a rearward edge (28) of the inner surface (18). The seal (10) further includes a support element (32) formed of a rigid material, such as glass filled polyester or NYLON, extending through the seal body (12) in a direction substantially parallel to the inner surface (18).