Electric Connection Box Groove Water Ingress Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric connection boxes are prone to water ingress due to grooves on the lid portions, which can lead to water accumulation and entry into the housing, especially during high-pressure cleaning in engine rooms.

Innovation Solution

The electric connection box design includes a housing with a first lid portion featuring a groove and a protrusion that covers the groove's opening, along with water stop walls to prevent water from entering, forming a labyrinth structure and using a rib to deflect water away from the groove.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a groove is provided on the periphery of the lid portion for attachment box mounting, then the attachment box can be securely mounted, but water accumulates in the groove and enters the housing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment box mountingVSAvoidwater ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protrusion is provided on the lid portion that protrudes into the groove before water can accumulate and enter the housing. This preliminary structural feature prevents water ingress by blocking the groove's opening toward the housing, while still allowing the attachment box to be mounted in the groove.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lid portion has a peripheral structure for attachment, then mounting functionality is improved, but water accumulation and entry into the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment box compatibilityVSAvoidwaterproofing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lid portion is segmented into functional zones: a groove for attachment box mounting and a protrusion that segments the groove's opening. This segmentation allows the groove to maintain its mounting function while the protrusion creates a separate barrier zone that prevents water from reaching the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water stop walls are added to prevent water entry, then waterproofing is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater ingress preventionVSAvoidlid portion structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion serves multiple functions: it acts as a water stop barrier preventing water ingress, maintains the groove's attachment box mounting capability, and integrates seamlessly with the lid portion's existing structure. This multi-functionality achieves waterproofing without significantly increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11380508B2Electric connection box

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

An electric connection box includes a housing, a first lid portion, a groove, and a protrusion. The housing includes an opening. The first lid portion includes a first body wall that closes the opening of the housing and a first peripheral wall extending from a periphery of the first body wall toward the housing. The groove is provided between the first peripheral wall and a wall portion arranged to be spaced apart from the first peripheral wall. The groove includes an opening in a side of the first body wall in an extending direction of the first peripheral wall. The protrusion is provided on the first lid portion and protruding toward the wall portion. The protrusion covers the opening of the groove.