Capped Electronic Control Unit Sealing Without Gaskets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic module designs using plastic housings and rubber gaskets for sealing are expensive and have shortcomings, necessitating a cost-effective and efficient sealing solution for electronic control units.
Innovation Solution
A capped electronic control unit design featuring a housing with multiple openings, a connector with pins, and a cap that seals the openings, allowing for assembly without screws and accommodating various connector types, while using a comb tool to support pin insertion and ensuring a completely sealed unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic housings and rubber gaskets are used for sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rubber gasket component entirely from the sealing system. Instead of using a gasket between the housing and cap, the design relies on the connector itself to provide the sealing function, eliminating the need for separate sealing materials and reducing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connection between components and acts as the sealing element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sealing components, reducing part count and manufacturing cost while maintaining sealing effectiveness
2Reliability
If connectors are sealed with dispensed seals or gaskets, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the separate sealing components (gaskets and dispensed seals) from the assembly. The connector housing itself is designed to provide the sealing interface, simplifying the overall structure by eliminating additional sealing layers and their associated installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is merged into the connector structure itself. The connector housing and cap form an integrated sealed enclosure that houses the electrical contacts, combining the electrical connection function and sealing function into a single unified component rather than separate elements
3Ease of operation
If multiple openings are provided in the housing for connector access, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector serves as both the access point for electrical connection and the sealing element. By making the connector itself the sealed component rather than sealing around it, the design allows multiple openings for connector access while maintaining sealing integrity through the connector's own sealed enclosure structure
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into separate sealed compartments, each containing a connector. Each connector forms its own sealed enclosure that can be accessed independently through openings in the housing, allowing multiple access points while maintaining individual sealing integrity for each connector assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a housing, a connector, a circuit board and a cap. The housing may have a first opening, a second opening and a third opening. The connector (i) may be configured to seal the first opening of the housing and (ii) may have one or more pins. The circuit board (i) may be disposed inside the housing and (ii) may have one or more vias configured to receive the pins. The second opening may be configured to transfer the circuit board into the housing. The third opening may be configured to receive a comb tool that presses the pins into the vias. The comb tool may be removed from the third opening after the pins are disposed in the vias. The cap may be configured to seal the third opening.