Cable Sealing Sleeve Ring for Vibration-Resistant Water Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing solutions for electrical connectors fail to prevent water ingress due to relative movements and vibrations, leading to potential short circuits.
Innovation Solution
A cable system with a core and sheath, featuring a ring between the sheath and core, creating a 'roof tile' effect to divert water away from the connector, and a more rigid ring to enhance sealing, optionally with a clamping collar for reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing sleeve is arranged around a wire to increase the diameter and ensure a seal between the wire and connector housing, then the sealing capability is improved, but water can still penetrate between the sleeve and wire or sleeve and housing during movement or vibration, leading to potential short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a new dimensional element by adding a sealing flange extending radially outward from the sealing sleeve, creating a multi-layer sealing architecture that blocks water penetration paths in multiple directions, not just radially inward but also along the length of the wire
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is divided into multiple functional segments: the sealing sleeve for radial sealing, the sealing flange for axial sealing, and the adhesive layer for bonding. This segmentation allows each component to address specific sealing requirements and work together to prevent water penetration comprehensively
2Ease of manufacture
If the sealing sleeve is made with a single material, then the manufacturing process is simple, but it cannot simultaneously provide both rigidity for structural support and flexibility for conforming to the wire surface
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure uses composite construction with a rigid sealing flange (thermoplastic or thermosetting material) combined with a flexible adhesive layer (polymer-based adhesive). This composite approach provides both structural rigidity and conformability to the wire surface, achieving properties that neither material could provide alone
3Reliability
If the ring is inserted by force between the sheath and core, then the ring creates pre-stress in the sheath to improve sealing, but the insertion process becomes more complex and may damage the core or sheath
Solution Approach 1:
The ring is pre-formed with a slightly smaller inner diameter than the sheath outer diameter, allowing it to be inserted and automatically expand to create pre-stress in the sheath. This preliminary preparation of the ring geometry enables the stress application to occur during assembly rather than requiring a separate stress application step
Solution Approach 2:
The ring's dimensional parameters are specifically designed with a controlled interference fit - the inner diameter is slightly smaller than the sheath outer diameter, and the ring material properties are selected to allow elastic deformation during insertion. This parameter optimization enables automatic pre-stress creation without complex insertion mechanisms or risk of damage
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
Effectively prevents water penetration, maintaining a seal even under movement and vibration, ensuring electrical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the part of the connector receiving the core is oriented upwards, so that a liquid in contact with the sheath of the cable flows by gravity along the cable to the connector
Implementation Method 2
the ring moving the sheath away from the core as it is pushed in over the predetermined length. This ring is thus pre-stressed in the sheath, which has the effect of improving the seal while holding the ring in place by adhesion
Implementation Method 3
This collar has the advantage of reinforcing the connection between the ring and the sheath, by increasing the bearing force between the sheath and the ring and therefore the friction
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a system comprising: - a cable (1) comprising a core (3) and a sheath (2) encircling the core (3), one end of this core (3) being intended to be connected to a connector (4), - a sealing sleeve (5, 6) encircling the core (3), comprising a first end (i1) fixed to the cable (1) and a second end (i2), opposite to the first end (i1), intended to cover at least a part of the connector (4) that receives the core (3), the first end (i1) comprising a ring (5) disposed between the sheath (2) and the core (3) along a predetermined length (L3).