Connector Housing Through-Hole Layout for Cap Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector units with openable and closable caps for discharging water become complex due to the need for multiple drain passages and attachment holes, complicating their structure.
Innovation Solution
A connector unit design featuring a cap that is attached to a connector housing with two through-holes positioned on a diagonal line, where one hole serves as a cap attachment point and the other as a drain hole, simplifying the structure while allowing for effective water discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple drain passages and attachment holes are formed in the front plate portion, then water discharge capability and cap attachment are ensured, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the through-holes to serve dual purposes: as attachment holes for securing the cap and as drain holes for water discharge. This is achieved by positioning two through-holes on a diagonal line of a rectangular surrounding the opening portion, where one hole functions as attachment hole and the other as drain hole, allowing a single structural feature to fulfill multiple functions and thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of attachment holes and drain passages into a unified through-hole structure. Instead of having separate attachment holes and drain passages, the design combines these functions into two through-holes that serve both purposes depending on their position and orientation, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple attachment holes are formed for different orientations, then cap attachment is ensured in any position, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the two through-holes to serve multiple functions: attachment holes when positioned upward and drain holes when positioned downward. This dual functionality allows the same structural feature to adapt to different orientations and uses, ensuring cap attachment capability in various positions without requiring separate holes for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing the functional role of the through-holes to change based on the orientation and position of the connector unit. The through-holes dynamically switch between serving as attachment holes or drain holes depending on which end of the unit is positioned upward, providing adaptability to different installation scenarios without structural modification
Data Source
AI summary
A connector unit includes a connector housing that has a front plate portion and two or more through-holes penetrating the front plate portion and communicating with an inside of the connector housing, two through-holes of the two or more through-holes are separately positioned at two vertexes, opposed to each other, of a rectangular surrounding an opening portion in the front plate portion, and when the connector unit is disposed, one of the two through-holes is situated on an upper side from the opening portion and serves as a cap attachment hole, and the other of the two through-holes is situated on a lower side from the opening portion and serves as a drain hole.