Cable Sealing Plug Locking Structure for High-Force Easy Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable sealing solutions require laborious movement of sealing elements along electric cables, especially with large cable diameters, due to the high sealing force needed, which complicates assembly and depends on the assembler's skills.
Innovation Solution
A cable sealing plug with a compression seal that can be transferred to a compressed state, combined with a locking part forming a unitary component, allowing for easy assembly and maintaining a high sealing force without relying on assembler skills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing element is attached to the electric cable and pressed against the cable surface with high sealing force, then the sealing effect is improved, but the assembly process becomes extremely laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into two independent parts: a sealing element that remains attached to the cable and a compression element that is inserted into the housing. The compression element applies sealing force only after the cable assembly is complete, separating the sealing function from the assembly process and enabling easy installation without manual positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is pre-attached to the cable in a relaxed state before insertion. The actual compression and sealing action is delayed until the cable assembly is positioned in the housing, allowing the sealing force to be applied at the optimal moment when the cable is already in its final position.
2Reliability
If a sealing element presses against the cable surface with high sealing force, then the desired sealing effect is achieved, but the assembly process becomes dependent on assembler skills
Solution Approach 1:
The compression element is designed to automatically apply the correct sealing force once inserted into the housing. The geometry and material properties of the compression element ensure that it self-adjusts to apply sufficient sealing force on the pre-attached sealing element, eliminating the need for assembler skill in controlling the sealing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression element acts as an intermediary between the housing and the sealing element. It translates the insertion motion into controlled compression force, mediating the interaction between the rigid housing and the flexible sealing element, and ensuring consistent sealing performance regardless of assembler technique.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing element is moved along the electric cable during assembly, then positioning is achieved, but the process becomes extremely laborious particularly with large cable diameters
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the sealing element along the cable to position it, the approach is inverted: the sealing element remains fixed on the cable, and the housing with the compression element is moved onto the cable. This reversal eliminates the need for manual positioning of the sealing element during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is extracted from the sealing element and transferred to the housing assembly process. The housing serves as the reference frame for positioning, and the cable with pre-attached sealing element is simply inserted into the housing, eliminating the need to manually position the sealing element along the cable surface.
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
Facilitates easier assembly by allowing the cable sealing plug to be moved along the cable without static friction, while achieving a higher sealing force and improved vibration resistance compared to prior art solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The cable sealing plug 1 has a compression seal 14 extending around the cable pass through opening 12 and being transferable to a compressed state 16 in which an inner diameter 18 of the compression seal 14 is smaller than the predetermined cable diameter 10
Data Source
AI summary
A cable sealing plug includes a cable pass through opening extending through the cable sealing plug in an axial direction, a compression seal extending around the cable pass through opening, and a locking part having a locking system. The compression seal is transferable to a compressed state in which an inner diameter of the compression seal is smaller than a predetermined cable diameter of an electric cable extending through the cable pass through opening. The locking part and the compression seal are formed as a unitary component.