ECU Housing Sealing Groove Layout for Clean Bracket Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The electronic control device faces challenges with the outflow of sealing material to the outside, leading to defective bracket attachment, especially in high vibration environments. The existing solutions, such as PTL 1 and PTL 2, either fail to prevent sealing material from flowing out to the outside or do not provide a suitable shape for bracket attachment.
Innovation Solution
The proposed electronic control device incorporates a first housing and a second housing with specific flange and groove configurations. The first housing includes a first flange and a first groove filled with sealing material, while the second housing has a second flange overlapping the first flange and a protrusion fitted into the first groove. Additionally, a second groove is provided closer to the outside than the first groove, and a third groove is connected to the second groove to allow the sealing material to overflow without affecting bracket attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the case and cover are made flush with each other to provide a large contact area for bracket attachment, then the bracket attachment area is improved, but the sealing material flows out to the side surface causing defective attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing groove is divided into two segments: a first sealing groove positioned deeper inside the contact portion and a second sealing groove positioned closer to the outer end surface. This segmentation allows the sealing material to be contained in the first groove while preventing outflow to the side surface through the second groove, thus resolving the contradiction between providing adequate contact area and controlling sealing material outflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a depth dimension to the sealing structure by creating grooves at different depths within the contact portion. The first sealing groove is positioned deeper while the second sealing groove is closer to the surface, utilizing the depth dimension to control sealing material behavior without affecting the horizontal contact area needed for bracket attachment.
2Reliability
If the sealing groove is provided on the inner side of the contact surface to prevent sealing material outflow, then the sealing is improved, but visual confirmation of sealing material presence becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing groove is segmented into two parts at different depths and positions. The first sealing groove is positioned deeper for effective sealing, while the second sealing groove is positioned closer to the outer end surface where sealing material can visually protrude. This segmentation allows both reliable sealing and visual confirmation to be achieved simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sealing groove acts as an intermediary element between the primary sealing function (first groove) and the visual confirmation requirement. It provides a visible indication of sealing material presence without compromising the sealing effectiveness achieved by the first groove, thus mediating between conflicting requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If the electronic control device size is increased to meet functionality requirements, then the functionality is improved, but the sealing material application becomes difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing groove is divided into two segments at different positions and depths. This segmentation provides clear visual indicators (sealing material in the second groove) that make it easier to manage and verify sealing material application on the larger device, thus improving ease of manufacture despite the increased device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sealing groove provides visual feedback about the sealing material application status. Operators can visually confirm whether sealing material has been properly applied and is present in the correct amount, making the sealing process easier to manage and control on the larger electronic control device.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic control device capable of suppressing outflow of a sealing material to the outside and reducing defective attachment of a bracket.The electronic control device 1 to be attached to a bracket 2 includes a cover 4 (first housing) and a case 3 (second housing) fitted to the cover 4. The cover 4 (first housing) includes a first flange 4F and a first groove portion 31 filled with a sealing material 5. The case 3 (second housing) includes a second flange 3F overlapping the first flange 4F, and a case protrusion 33 (protrusion) fitted to the first groove portion 31 and embedded in the sealing material 5. The first flange 4F of the cover 4 (first housing) has a second groove portion 41 present at a position that is closer to the outside than the first groove portion 31 is.