Electrical Connection Box Cover With Thermal and Elastic Resin Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
The concentration of heat-generating components in electrical connection boxes for automobiles leads to heat trapping, risking overheating and damage to components, while using thermally conductive resin covers can compromise the lock mechanism's durability due to lack of flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connection box features a cover member with a top wall made of a thermally conductive resin and an elastic lock portion made of a more elastic resin, ensuring effective heat dissipation and maintaining the lock mechanism's durability by allowing sufficient bending deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cover member is made of a resin material with good thermal conductivity to promote heat dissipation, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but the elastic lock portion cannot bend sufficiently and may break
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is constructed with different resin materials in different regions: the top wall portion uses a thermally conductive resin (thermal conductivity 0.25 W/m·K or higher) for heat dissipation, while the peripheral wall portion uses a highly elastic resin for lock mechanism durability. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member employs a composite structure combining two different resin materials with distinct properties. The top wall portion utilizes a thermally conductive resin for heat dissipation efficiency, while the peripheral wall portion uses an elastic resin to ensure sufficient bending capability for the lock mechanism. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between thermal performance and mechanical flexibility.
2Volume of stationary object
If heat-generating components are concentrated in the electrical connection box to reduce size, then spatial efficiency is improved, but heat trapping occurs and local overheating risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is constructed with different resin materials in different regions: the top wall portion uses a thermally conductive resin (thermal conductivity 0.25 W/m·K or higher) for heat dissipation, while the peripheral wall portion uses a highly elastic resin for lock mechanism durability. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member employs a composite structure combining two different resin materials with distinct properties. The top wall portion utilizes a thermally conductive resin for heat dissipation efficiency, while the peripheral wall portion uses an elastic resin to ensure sufficient bending capability for the lock mechanism. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between thermal performance and mechanical flexibility.
3Reliability
If the elastic lock portion is made of a highly elastic resin to ensure sufficient bending deformation, then lock mechanism reliability is improved, but heat dissipation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is constructed with different resin materials in different regions: the top wall portion uses a thermally conductive resin (thermal conductivity 0.25 W/m·K or higher) for heat dissipation, while the peripheral wall portion uses a highly elastic resin for lock mechanism durability. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member employs a composite structure combining two different resin materials with distinct properties. The top wall portion utilizes a thermally conductive resin for heat dissipation efficiency, while the peripheral wall portion uses an elastic resin to ensure sufficient bending capability for the lock mechanism. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between thermal performance and mechanical flexibility.
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
This configuration reduces heat trapping, prevents lock mechanism failure, and enhances the heat dissipation properties of the electrical connection box while maintaining the durability of the lock mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a top wall portion made of a resin material with a greater thermal conductivity than the elastic lock portion
Implementation Method 2
an elastic lock portion provided in a cantilever shape on the cover member... due to the elastic lock portion going past the locked portion and elastically returning, the elastic lock portion engages with the locked portion
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrical connection box that includes: a box main body having one surface on which a plurality of component mounting portions in which electrical components are to be mounted are provided; a cover member covering the one surface of the box main body; a lock mechanism including a locked portion provided on a peripheral wall portion of the box main body and an elastic lock portion provided in a cantilever shape on the cover member. The top wall portion of the cover member is made of a resin material with a greater thermal conductivity than the elastic lock portion provided on the peripheral wall portion of the cover member, whereas the elastic lock portion provided on the peripheral wall portion of the cover member is made of a resin material with a greater elasticity than the top wall portion of the cover member.