Connector Cable Cover Water Drain Passage Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional connectors with cable covers fail to effectively drain water that enters the housing from cables or corrugated tubes, leading to water accumulation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a water drain passage in the housing that communicates from the rear surface to the lower surface, allowing water to be directed outside through strategically positioned water drain holes and recesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional connector housing is used without a water drain passage, then the housing structure remains simple, but water accumulates in the hollow groove and cannot be removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage capabilityVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into functional zones: a water drain passage is created by forming water drain holes through the rear surface and water drain recesses in the lower surface, separating the water drainage function from the main housing structure. This allows water to be channeled through specific pathways without complicating the overall housing design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A rib structure is introduced as an intermediary element to reinforce the water drain holes. The rib provides structural support to the drainage passages, ensuring they maintain their shape and functionality while preventing water accumulation, thus mediating between the drainage requirement and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water drain holes are formed in the rear surface, then water can be drained to the outside, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater accumulation preventionVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water drain holes and water drain recesses are merged into an integrated drainage system. The water drain passage connects the rear surface holes to the lower surface recesses, combining multiple drainage features into a unified structure that efficiently channels water outward without requiring separate complex components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure is modified locally at specific positions: water drain holes are formed at predetermined locations on the rear surface, and water drain recesses are created on the lower surface. These localized modifications provide drainage functionality without altering the overall housing design, maintaining simplicity while preventing water accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the housing structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but water entering from cables cannot be effectively drained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidwater drainage function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The water drain passage is pre-formed during housing manufacturing by creating water drain holes through the rear surface and water drain recesses on the lower surface before final assembly. This preliminary formation of drainage pathways ensures water drainage capability is built into the housing structure itself, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while guaranteeing reliable water ejection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11043772B2Connector with cable cover
Publication Date: 2021.06.22 YAZAKI CORP
  • US11043772B2 patent drawing
  • US11043772B2 patent drawing
  • US11043772B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A connector with cable cover includes a housing including a terminal accommodation chamber configured to accommodate a terminal connected to a cable and a rear surface having an opening of the terminal accommodation chamber configured to draw out the cable from the housing; and a cable cover formed in a tubular shape and attached to a side of the rear surface. The housing is provided with a water drain passage communicating from a part of the rear surface positioned below the opening on the rear surface to a rear side of a lower surface of the housing.