Electro-Optical Wall Fitting With Ratcheted Compression Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for mounting components through a product wall require additional components and access from both sides, leading to increased costs and complexity, especially when a seal is necessary, as they often rely on clamping mechanisms that need separate parts for sealing and fixing.
Innovation Solution
An electro-optical component with a barrel and radially projecting lugs that can be inserted and twisted to engage with a stepped thickness portion in the wall, providing a ratchet-like clamping mechanism for a compression seal without the need for additional parts, allowing for a one-sided installation and eliminating the requirement for separate O-ring seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional clamping mechanisms with separate sealing parts are used, then reliable sealing is achieved, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function and clamping function are merged into a single integrated structure. The cover portion extends over the flange and provides both the sealing interface against the wall and the clamping action through its deformation during installation, eliminating the need for separate O-rings or gaskets.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the head part, provides the sealing interface against the wall, and enables the clamping action through its elastic deformation. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components needed.
2Strength
If traditional two-sided access installation is used, then proper clamping is achieved, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring access from both sides of the wall to install the component, the design inverts the installation approach by enabling one-sided access. The cover portion is deformed and clamped from the front side only, eliminating the need for back-side access and reducing installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion performs the clamping action automatically through its elastic deformation during installation. The deformation of the cover portion itself provides the clamping force, eliminating the need for separate fastening operations or additional components.
3Reliability
If additional sealing components are used, then seal reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the cover portion itself rather than being a separate component. The cover portion's material and structure provide the sealing capability, eliminating the need for additional sealing components and reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion is designed to provide multiple functions including protection, sealing, and clamping. This universal design reduces the total bill of materials and manufacturing complexity while maintaining seal integrity.
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 solution simplifies the installation process, reduces handling and costs, and ensures a reliable seal through a compression mechanism that can be performed from one side, enabling efficient mounting of electrical, optical, or sensing components with a gas-tight, liquid-tight, or dust-proof barrier.
Implementation Method 1
the cover portion is arranged to extend over the flange and to provide a compression seal between the electro-optical component and the wall
Data Source
AI summary
A design is provided for a component and for an opening in a wall of a product which is to receive the component. The component has a barrel for passing through the opening with a set of lugs at the end of the barrel. Each lug has a clamping surface facing a head part of the component, and the region between the clamping surface and the head part forms a clamping zone. The opening is for example circular. A stepped thickness portion of the wall follows an arc from a locally thinnest portion to a locally thickest portion. The steps and/or the lugs are sloped upwardly towards the locally thickest end of the arc. To fit the component, it is inserted through the opening (for example with the lugs deforming inwardly) and then twisted. The twisting engages the lugs with the stepped thickness portion, providing a progressive ratcheted clamping function.