Electronic Assembly Glide Surfaces to Reduce Seal Shearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic assembly designs face challenges with seal shearing and complexity in implementing the VITA 48.8 AFT standard, leading to reliability issues and increased SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) concerns due to compromised gaskets during module insertion and extraction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sealing retainer with a retainer glide surface and a module glide surface featuring cooperating protrusions and valleys, maintaining a spaced relation with the gas sealing gasket during insertion, reducing seal shearing and wear, and using a biasing member to facilitate smooth module seating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If precision tapers and gaskets are used to interface components in VITA 48.8 AFT standard, then thermal performance is improved, but device complexity increases and gaskets are compromised during insertion and extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing retainer is divided into distinct functional zones: a sealing surface that interfaces with the module housing, a body portion, and cooling passages. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while reducing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the module housing and transferred to a separate sealing retainer component. This allows the housing to focus on structural and cooling functions while the retainer handles sealing, reducing the complexity requirements for precision tapers on the module itself
2Temperature
If gaskets are used to seal cooling passages, then thermal performance is improved, but reliability decreases due to gasket compromise during insertion and extraction cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing retainer incorporates a biasing member that applies continuous elastic force to maintain the sealing surface in contact with the module housing. This pre-applied cushioning force ensures the gasket remains compressed and sealed throughout insertion and extraction cycles, preventing compromise
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from relying on precise mechanical interference fits to using elastic deformation of the gasket material. The biasing member dynamically adjusts the compression parameter of the gasket to maintain sealing under varying operational conditions
3Temperature
If forced air cooling is used to transport heat, then thermal performance is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system uses natural convection currents created by temperature differences within the chassis to drive airflow through the cooling passages. The system serves itself by utilizing the heat being transported to create the driving force for cooling, eliminating the need for external fans or pumps
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 enhances reliability by minimizing seal degradation, supports up to 500 insertion cycles, and reduces SWaP by ensuring a durable, cost-effective, and efficient cooling system with reduced gasket wear and improved thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member is coupled between the retainer body and a respective electronic module mounting position
Implementation Method 2
The ANSI/VITA 48.8 mechanical form-factor standard leverages air-flow-through (AFT) cooling for chassis architectures to provide increased thermal performance
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic assembly (100) includes a chassis (101) having electronic module mounting positions (102a-102f). The electronic assembly also includes a respective electronic module (104) received in each electronic module mounting position and having a module cooling gas passageway (105). Each electronic module has a module glide surface (107). The electronic assembly includes a respective sealing retainer (110a-110b) coupled between the chassis and each electronic module. The sealing retainer has a cooling gas passageway (111) aligned with a chassis cooling gas passageway (103a-103f) and the module cooling gas passageway. The sealing retainer includes a retainer body (112) having a retainer glide surface (113), and a gas sealing gasket (114) carried by the retainer body. The module glide surface and the retainer glide surface have respective cooperating features so that the respective electronic module is maintained in spaced relation from the sealing gasket as the respective electronic module is slidably inserted into a seated position.