ECU Dust Cover With Integrated Retaining Portion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

ECU assemblies in dusty environments face issues with dust clogging mechanisms, leading to difficulties in connector removal and increased bulkiness when protective covers are used for protection.

Innovation Solution

A protective cover for ECU assemblies that includes an introduction aperture for connector insertion and a retaining portion to secure the cover to the ECU, allowing for easy assembly and sealing without additional steps, while maintaining heat dissipation and reducing dust ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective cover is added to protect connectors from dust, then dust protection is improved, but assembly complexity and bulkiness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the protective cover with the connector assembly by integrating the retaining portion directly into the cover structure. The cover is retained to the ECU through the retaining portion that engages with the connector body, merging multiple functions (protection, retention, and assembly) into a single integrated component rather than requiring separate fastening operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining portion is configured to automatically retain the cover to the ECU when the connector is connected. The spring-loaded or elastic retaining portion self-adjusts to engage with the ECU housing, eliminating the need for additional assembly steps or separate fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective cover is added to protect connectors from dust, then dust protection is improved, but the assembly becomes bulkier

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust protectionVSAvoidassembly bulkiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is designed as a thin-walled structure that provides adequate dust protection while minimizing volume increase. The cover material and thickness are optimized to provide sufficient protection against dust ingress without adding excessive bulk to the overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If lever-operated mechanisms are used to assist connector connection, then ease of operation is improved, but dust clogging of mechanisms occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector connection assistanceVSAvoiddust clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lever-operated mechanism from the protected environment by positioning it outside the sealed connector housing. The lever mechanism operates on the external connector body rather than internal components, preventing dust from entering and clogging the mechanical linkage while maintaining the ease of operation benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11374352B2Dust cover for an electrical connector in an electronic control unit (ECU) assembly

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 PERKINS ENGINES

AI summary

An ECU assembly includes one or more electrical connectors received in a protective cover. The cover includes an introduction aperture through which the connector or connectors can be introduced into the cover, and at least one connection aperture through which the or each connector is connected to the ECU. A retaining portion of the cover at each connection aperture is interposed between the respective connector and the ECU to retain the cover to the ECU in its use position.