Circumferential Sealing Lips for Electrical Connector
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High power electrical connectors face challenges in maintaining reliable mechanical and electrical connections in harsh environments with high temperatures, pressures, and corrosive fluids, particularly in subsea and submersible pump applications, where sealing of electrical conductors from surrounding fluids is critical.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with an elastomer seal element having axial passages and circumferential sealing lips that provide compression seals for cable elements, ensuring effective sealing against high pressure and corrosive fluids, and a gripping contact assembly with conical fingers for secure electrical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sealing methods are used in high power connectors, then the connector can maintain basic sealing, but the sealing reliability deteriorates under high pressure and corrosive fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is divided into multiple circumferential sealing lips spaced apart along the axial passage, creating multiple discrete sealing zones rather than a single continuous seal. This segmentation allows each lip to independently seal against the cable element, providing redundant sealing paths that prevent fluid incursion even if one seal fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing lips are positioned at specific locations along the axial passage to create localized compression seals at critical points where fluid penetration is most likely. Each sealing lip provides focused sealing pressure on the cable element at its specific position, enhancing sealing effectiveness in high-pressure and corrosive environments.
2Reliability
If multiple sealing lips are added to the seal element, then sealing effectiveness improves, but the complexity of the seal element increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple circumferential sealing lips are integrated into a single monolithic elastomer seal element rather than using separate seal components. This merging of multiple sealing functions into one unified part achieves effective multi-point sealing while simplifying assembly and reducing the total number of components required.
Solution Approach 2:
The single seal element performs multiple sealing functions simultaneously through its circumferential sealing lips, which seal against the cable element at different axial positions. This multi-functional design provides comprehensive sealing protection without requiring multiple separate seal components.
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 ensures reliable and repeatable mechanical and electrical connections in high-pressure and corrosive environments by providing effective sealing and secure gripping of electrical conductors, preventing fluid incursion and maintaining electrical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of circumferential sealing lips are spaced apart along the axial passage and sized such that each of the plurality of circumferential sealing lips provides a compression seal along a cable element inserted through the axial passage
Implementation Method 2
an elastomer seal element having an axial passage therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A connector comprises a housing having a seal element located within the housing. The seal element has an axial passage therethrough. A plurality of circumferential sealing lips are spaced apart along the axial passage and sized such that each of the plurality of circumferential sealing lips provides a compression seal along a cable element inserted through the axial passage. A seal for an electrical connector comprises an elastomer seal element having an axial passage therethrough. A plurality of circumferential sealing lips are spaced apart along the axial passage and sized such that each of the plurality of circumferential sealing lips provides a compression seal along a cable element inserted through the axial passage.