Elastomeric Gasket Assembly With Integral Electrical Connectors

Solution Overview

Problem

Current electric vehicle component assemblies, such as battery coolant heaters, face issues with large packaging requirements and additional leak paths due to the need for separate harness connectors and wiring, which complicate assembly and increase complexity.

Innovation Solution

An elastomeric gasket with integral electrical connectors is used to provide power or signals directly through the gasket, eliminating the need for separate harness connectors and reducing the cover depth, thereby simplifying assembly and reducing potential leak points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate harness connector is installed in a hole in the cover, then electrical power can be provided to the electric component, but the cover depth increases and additional leak paths are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidcover depth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sealing gasket and electrical connector into a single integrated component. The gasket includes an elastomeric body with a bore that receives the connector, eliminating the need for separate harness connector installation in the cover. This merging reduces cover depth while maintaining both sealing and electrical connection functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate harness connector is installed in a hole in the cover, then electrical power can be provided to the electric component, but additional leak paths are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidleak paths

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sealing gasket and electrical connector into a single integrated component. The gasket includes an elastomeric body with a bore that receives the connector, eliminating the need for separate harness connector installation in the cover. This merging reduces cover depth while maintaining both sealing and electrical connection functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If wiring is threaded through the cover and connector installed, then electrical connection is achieved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sealing gasket and electrical connector into a single integrated component. The gasket includes an elastomeric body with a bore that receives the connector, eliminating the need for separate harness connector installation in the cover. This merging reduces cover depth while maintaining both sealing and electrical connection functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical connector is pre-installed within the gasket bore before final assembly. This preliminary action allows the connector and gasket to be assembled together as a unit, simplifying the overall assembly process and reducing the number of steps required to achieve both sealing and electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240405310A1Assembly with electrical connection through elastomeric gasket

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYST GRP LLC

AI summary

A gasket with at least one integral electrical connector adapted for an assembly includes an elastomeric gasket main body adapted to seal a joint between one or more assembly components and a cover, and at least one electrical connector extending through and formed integrally with the elastomeric gasket main body so as to provide power or electric signals to at least one electrical component of the assembly.