Electronic Control Device Venting with Protection Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic control devices for vehicles face damage to air-permeable waterproof membranes due to high-pressure water during steam washing, compromising both air permeability and waterproofness.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control device design featuring a housing with a vent hole and a protection wall, where the protection-wall vent hole is positioned apart from the housing vent hole to form a bent vent passage, reducing the pressure of entering water and protecting the membrane from direct impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an air-permeable waterproof membrane is fixed in a vent hole of the housing, then air permeability and waterproofness are ensured, but the membrane gets damaged by high-pressure water during steam washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protection wall as an intermediary structure between the high-pressure water and the air-permeable waterproof membrane. The protection wall has a through hole that allows air passage but blocks direct contact between water and the membrane, thereby protecting the membrane from damage while maintaining air permeability and waterproofness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension by introducing a protection wall with a through hole positioned offset from the housing vent hole. This creates a multi-dimensional air passage that bypasses the direct line of water impact, allowing air to flow through while preventing water from reaching the membrane
2Reliability
If a protection wall is added to protect the membrane, then damage from high-pressure water is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection wall is integrated with the housing structure, merging the protective function into the existing housing design. This combination approach adds the necessary protection while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity
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 both air permeability and waterproofness within the housing while preventing damage to the air-permeable membrane, maintaining durability and reliability without increasing the device's size or cost.
Implementation Method 1
an air-permeable waterproof membrane fixed to an inner opening of the housing vent hole
Implementation Method 2
a vent passage between the air-permeable waterproof membrane and the protection-wall vent hole is bent in shape
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control device (10) includes a housing having a plurality of housing members (1) joined together, a housing vent hole (2) formed through the housing member (1) so as to extend in a thickness direction of the housing member, a protection wall (3) covering an outer opening (2b) of the housing vent hole (2), with a gap (3b) left between the protection wall (3) and the outer opening (2b), a protection-wall vent hole (3a) formed in the protection wall (3) at a position apart from the housing vent hole (2) so as to extend from the gap (3b) in a radial direction of the housing vent hole (2), and an air-permeable waterproof membrane (5) fixed to an inner opening (2a) of the housing vent hole (2). A vent passage (6) with a bent part (6a) is formed between the air-permeable waterproof membrane (5) and the protection-wall vent hole (3a).