Electric control box, outdoor unit, and heating and ventilation device

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electric control boxes suffer from poor sealing performance due to gaps between the wire harness and the wire outlet hole, allowing external dust, liquids, and refrigerant leakage, posing safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

An electric control box with an elastic wire outlet seal and a wire outlet hole that undergoes compression via mutual engagement between the main body and cover, reducing the gap and enhancing the interference fit to improve sealing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wire outlet hole is formed on the electric control box body to allow wire harness passage, then wire outlet function is achieved, but sealing performance deteriorates due to gaps between wire harness and wire outlet hole

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire outlet functionVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A wire outlet seal is introduced as an intermediary component between the wire harness and the wire outlet hole. The seal includes a sealing portion that contacts the wire harness and a wire outlet portion that passes through the wire outlet hole, effectively bridging the gap and preventing dust and refrigerant from entering through the outlet while maintaining wire passage functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wire outlet seal is made of elastic material that can deform flexibly. The sealing portion elastically contacts the wire harness to prevent dust and refrigerant entry, while the wire outlet portion flexibly passes through the wire outlet hole, achieving both sealing and wire passage functions through elastic deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If gaps are left between wire harness and wire outlet hole for wire passage, then wire installation is facilitated, but harmful factors can easily enter the electric control box

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire installationVSAvoiddust and refrigerant ingress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wire outlet seal serves as a mediator that fills the gap between the wire harness and wire outlet hole. The sealing portion elastically contacts the wire harness to prevent dust and refrigerant from entering through the gap, while still allowing the wire harness to be installed and pass through the wire outlet hole

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic material of the wire outlet seal changes its physical parameters (deformation) under compression from the cover. The seal deforms to elastically contact the wire harness and fill the gap, preventing harmful factors from entering while maintaining the wire passage function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If traditional wire outlet structure is used without sealing, then device complexity is reduced, but safety hazards increase due to refrigerant leakage risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidsafety against refrigerant leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire outlet seal is a simple intermediary component that is disposed on the wire outlet hole. It includes a sealing portion and a wire outlet portion, adding minimal structural complexity while effectively preventing refrigerant from entering through the wire outlet hole, thus improving safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic wire outlet seal provides an simple yet effective sealing solution. The seal deforms under compression to contact the wire harness and prevent refrigerant leakage, achieving safety improvement without significant increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 effectively prevents dust, liquids, and refrigerant ingress, reducing safety hazards by improving the sealing performance of the electric control box.

Implementation Method 1

the wire outlet seal may undergo the elastic deformation, which can reduce the gap between the wire harness assembly and the inner wall of the wire outlet hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4694592A1Electric control box, outdoor unit, and heating and ventilation device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP4694592A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4694592A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4694592A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An electric control box, an outdoor unit, and a heating and ventilation device. The electric control box (100) comprises an electric control box body (1), an electric control assembly, and a wire outlet sealing member (2); the electric control box body (1) comprises a box main body (12) and a box cover (11) which are connected to each other; the box main body (12) and the box cover (11) are both independently formed members; the electric control assembly is disposed in the electric control box body (1); the wire outlet sealing member (2) is disposed on at least one of the box main body (12) and the box cover (11); wire outlet holes (24) are formed in the wire outlet sealing member (2), and the wire outlet sealing member (2) is an elastomer; and a wire harness assembly (3) electrically connected to the electric control assembly is discharged from the wire outlet holes (24). The wire outlet sealing member (2) is extruded by means of the mutual cooperation between the box main body (12) and the box cover (11), so as to reduce a gap between the wire harness assembly (3) and the inner wall of each wire outlet hole (24).