Continuous Gasket for Electronic Enclosure Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic enclosure designs face challenges in achieving a reliable and continuous sealing without damaging the components, particularly when using glue or multiple gaskets, which can lead to weak bonding and assembly complexity, and do not allow for easy disassembly or proper alignment of electronic equipment.

Innovation Solution

An electronic enclosure device utilizing a continuous gasket with multiple sections to create distinct sealing areas between enclosure sections and electrical connectors, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without damaging components, ensuring a secure and aligned fit throughout the equipment's lifetime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glue is used to seal the transition of enclosure sections and electrical conductors, then sealing is achieved, but disassembly becomes impossible and bonding strength decreases due to cured glue preventing proper sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiddisassembly capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is divided into multiple independent gasket sections (first gasket section, second gasket section, third gasket section) that can be separately positioned and removed. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained while enabling disassembly of the enclosure sections without damaging the components, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable sealing and disassembly capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple gaskets are used to seal different areas, then sealing coverage is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to unwanted transitions and alignment challenges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing coverageVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple gasket sections are merged into a single continuous gasket structure that provides seamless sealing across all transition areas (first sealing area, second sealing area, third sealing area). This merging eliminates unwanted transitions between separate gaskets and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining comprehensive sealing coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a continuous sealing solution is implemented for both enclosure sections and electrical conductors, then sealing reliability is improved, but assembly process becomes more difficult due to cured glue interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous sealingVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The chemical bonding mechanism of glue is replaced with a mechanical sealing mechanism using a flexible gasket. The gasket can be elastically deformed during assembly to accommodate the connector and enclosure sections, then returns to its original shape to provide continuous sealing. This mechanical approach eliminates the problem of cured glue preventing proper sealing while maintaining continuous sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution enables a fast, reliable, and easy assembly process while maintaining a secure seal for the electronic equipment's entire lifetime, preventing environmental pollution and ensuring correct alignment of components within the enclosure.

Implementation Method 1

a sealing device comprising one, continuous gasket comprising: a first gasket section configured to seal the first sealing area; a second gasket section configured to seal the second sealing area; a third gasket section configured to seal the third sealing area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2858469B1Electronic enclosure device
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 VALEO POWERTRAIN ENERGY CONVERSION
  • EP2858469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2858469B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2858469B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a electronic enclosure device (1), comprising a enclosure, an electric circuit device (30) and a sealing device. The sealing device is provided as one, continuous gasket (50) comprising a first gasket section configured to seal a first sealing area, a second gasket section configured to seal the second sealing area and a third gasket section configured to seal the third sealing area.