Connector Seal Ring Protection via Reverse Tapered Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors are prone to sealability impairment due to external matter entering the recessed groove and damaging the seal ring, which compromises the connection's sealing integrity.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a reverse tapered groove on the housing's peripheral wall to guide external matter away from the seal ring, combined with a retaining member that includes a pressing surface to prevent seal ring detachment and a front holder with a groove system to accommodate ribs from the mating connector, ensuring secure engagement and preventing external interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a forwardly open recessed groove is provided on the outer surface of the peripheral wall to receive the rib of the mating housing, then the connection between housings is secured, but external matter can enter the groove and damage the seal ring, impairing sealability
Solution Approach 1:
The groove's back surface is inverted from a forward-tapering shape to a reverse-tapering shape that slopes backward toward the groove opening. This inversion causes external matter to be guided away from the seal ring by the inclined back surface, converting the groove from a potential damage pathway into a protective feature that maintains both connection stability and seal integrity
2Reliability
If a retaining member with deformation restricting portions is mounted into the housing main body to lock locking lances, then terminal fittings are retained securely, but the configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides deformation restricting portions to lock locking lances, includes a pressing portion to prevent seal ring detachment, and features a groove to receive the rib of the mating housing. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent achieves secure terminal fitting retention while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate parts
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 effectively prevents external matter from damaging the seal ring, maintains seal integrity, and simplifies the configuration by combining functions within the retaining member, while ensuring reliable connection and easy disengagement with a jig.
Implementation Method 1
A seal ring is mounted on the outer surface of the main body and is sandwiched resiliently between the main body and the receptacle when the housing is connected to the mating housing
Implementation Method 2
A reverse tapered surface is formed on the back surface of the groove substantially at a side facing and opposite to the pressing surface and inclines toward the pressing surface to approach the main body
Implementation Method 3
A retaining member is mounted into the housing main body and includes at least one pressing surface for contacting the seal ring and preventing detachment of the seal ring
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly has first and second housings (10, 300). Ribs (305, 306) project from an inner surface of a receptacle (301) of the second housing (300). The first housing (10) has a main body (11) that can fit into the receptacle (301), a seal ring (50) is mounted externally on the housing main body (11) and a retaining member is mounted into the main body (11). The retaining member includes a pressing surface (67, 90) for preventing detachment of the seal ring (50) and grooves (68, 86) that receive the ribs (305, 306) when the housings are connected. Reverse tapered surfaces (74, 91) are formed on the back surfaces of the grooves (68, 86) at a side facing and opposite to the pressing surface (67, 90) of the retaining member and incline toward the housing main body (11) to approach the pressing surface (67, 90).