Waterproof Connector With Circular Detection Piece Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face challenges in ensuring good sealability due to non-uniform resilient restoring forces in seal members, leading to increased costs and potential errors in assembly detection.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a deflectable locking lance, a detection piece with a circular cross-sectional base end, and a front seal portion with detection-side seal holes of elliptical shape, ensuring uniform resilient restoring forces and effective sealability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal member is made of gel, then sealability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive gel seal member with a rubber seal member that has a limited service life. The rubber seal member is designed to be replaced after a certain number of connection/disconnection cycles or when signs of wear appear, providing a cost-effective alternative while maintaining adequate sealability for the intended usage period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal member from gel to rubber, and also modifies the geometric parameters by providing specific grooves and protrusions that create sealing contact points. This parameter change allows the use of less expensive rubber material while achieving functional equivalence through optimized structural design.
2Ease of manufacture
If the seal member is made of rubber, then cost is reduced, but sealability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function into multiple contact points created by grooves and protrusions on the seal member. Instead of relying on a continuous gel seal, the sealing action is divided into discrete contact zones where the protrusions press against corresponding surfaces, providing effective sealing with rubber material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced sealing features at specific locations rather than uniformly across the entire seal member. The grooves and protrusions concentrate the sealing function at critical contact points, ensuring adequate sealability at key locations while using cost-effective rubber material throughout.
3Ease of manufacture
If the double lock piece has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, then manufacturing is simplified, but resilient restoring force distribution becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by providing a circular cross-sectional shape to the lock piece instead of a rectangular shape. This curved geometry allows the resilient restoring force to be distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction, improving force distribution uniformity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard circular machining or molding processes.
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
The design ensures reliable sealability and detection of incomplete terminal fitting insertion, maintaining electrical connection reliability and meeting miniaturization requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient restoring force (tension) of the seal member is applied in a biased manner
Data Source
AI summary
A connector is provided with a housing 10, a front seal portion 36 to be arranged to face a front surface of the housing 10, and a front wall portion 41 to be arranged to face a front surface of the front seal portion 36. The housing 10 includes cavities 17, deflectable locking lances 19 projecting into the cavities 17, and space portions 20 located in a deflection direction of the locking lances 19. The front wall portion 41 includes detection pieces 44 projecting rearward, tip sides of the detection pieces 44 being arranged in the space portions 20. The front seal portion 36 includes detection-side seal holes 40 to be held in close contact with base end sides of the detection pieces 44. The base end sides of the detection pieces 44 have a circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the detection-side seal holes 40.