Vehicle Connector Waterproofing via Multi-Directional Packing Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for vehicles face issues with waterproofness due to gaps formed between the connector and counterpart devices under vibrational forces, leading to potential water ingress.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes an outer housing with extended flanges and a shield shell with spring-loaded packings that compress in intersecting directions, creating airtight spaces between the outer housing, shield shell, and inner housing to prevent water entry, even under force applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connector structure with outer packing and inner packing is used, then basic waterproofing is achieved, but gaps form between connector and counterpart device under vibrational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The packing member is designed to be movable in the insertion-and-extraction direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to external forces such as vibrations. This dynamic capability enables the packing to maintain continuous contact and sealing effectiveness under varying operational conditions, resolving the contradiction between basic waterproofing and contact stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into multiple functional segments including the movable packing member, the spring mechanism, and the housing structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the packing provides sealing, the spring provides restoring force, and the housing provides structural support - thereby maintaining both waterproofness and contact stability under vibrational forces.
2Reliability
If packing member is made compressible in insertion-and-extraction direction, then waterproofness is improved, but additional structure complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The packing member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the primary sealing function to prevent water ingress, acts as a movable element to maintain contact under vibrations, and works in conjunction with the spring to provide both sealing pressure and positional adjustment. This multi-functionality improves waterproofness without proportionally increasing structure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring and packing member are combined into an integrated assembly where the spring is positioned to directly act on the packing member. This merging of components allows the elastic restoring force of the spring to continuously maintain the packing's compressive seal, achieving enhanced waterproofness through a unified structure rather than separate mechanisms.
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
This configuration ensures appropriate waterproofness by maintaining compression and contact between components, preventing foreign substances from entering the terminal receptacles even when force is applied, enhancing both waterproofness and mountability of the connector.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned between the counterpart device and the first shell flange, and, while compressed in the insertion-and-extraction direction, disposed inside the unit packing in the intersection direction
Implementation Method 2
the outer packing and the inner packing, each having compressed in the direction of insertion and extraction of the terminal, prevent water from entering into a terminal receptacle
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A connector (1) includes terminals (11, 12, and 13), an inner housing (2), a shield shell (3), an outer housing (4), a unit packing (7), an inner packing (5), and an outer packing (6). The unit packing (7) is annularly formed in a virtual plane perpendicular to an insertion-and-extraction direction (X), and positioned between a counterpart device (19) and the outer housing (4) while compressed in the insertion-and-extraction direction (X). The inner packing (5) is annularly formed in a virtual plane perpendicular to the insertion-and-extraction direction (X), and positioned between the shield shell (3) and the inner housing (2) while compressed in an intersection direction intersecting the insertion-and-extraction direction (X). The outer packing (6) is annularly formed in a virtual plane perpendicular to the insertion-and-extraction direction (X), and positioned between the outer housing (4) and the shield shell (3) while compressed in the intersection direction.