Electric Connection Box Water Stop Wall Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric connection boxes are prone to water ingress due to grooves on the lid portions, which can accumulate water and allow it to enter the housing, especially during high-pressure cleaning, leading to potential electrical issues.
Innovation Solution
The electric connection box incorporates a housing with a first lid portion featuring a groove and a water stop wall that covers the groove's openings, creating a labyrinth structure and using a rib to prevent water entry, with water stop walls positioned to deflect and discharge any entering water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering 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
Solution Approach 1:
A water stop wall is introduced as an intermediary element between the groove and the housing opening. This water stop wall protrudes into the groove from the lid portion and blocks water accumulation, preventing water from entering the housing while allowing the groove to remain functional for attachment box mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is segmented by the water stop wall into different zones. The water stop wall divides the continuous groove space into a water collection zone (away from housing) and an attachment mounting zone, preventing water from reaching the housing opening while maintaining attachment functionality
2Strength
If the lid portion is designed with peripheral walls for structural integrity, then the lid strength is improved, but water can accumulate and enter through gaps between walls
Solution Approach 1:
The water stop wall acts as an intermediary barrier within the peripheral wall structure. It blocks water pathways that would otherwise travel along the gaps between peripheral walls and enter the housing, while maintaining the structural integrity of the lid portion
Solution Approach 2:
The water stop wall adds a new dimensional element (protrusion into the groove space) to the existing peripheral wall structure. This creates a three-dimensional water blocking feature that prevents water ingress without compromising the two-dimensional structural strength of the lid
Data Source
AI summary
An electric connection box includes a housing, a first lid portion, a groove and a water stop wall. 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 water stop wall is provided on the first lid portion and configured to cover an opening of two ends of the groove in a longitudinal direction.