Extendable Housing for Electrical Components with Modular Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing housing devices for electrically contactable components, such as printed circuit boards, lack flexibility in arrangement, size adaptation, easy assembly and disassembly, and adequate environmental sealing, especially in harsh outdoor conditions with temperature fluctuations and precipitation.
Innovation Solution
A housing composed of two interlocking parts with recesses for electrical plug feedthroughs, allowing independent arrangement and contact of components, with receiving means for defined component placement and optional intermediate housing parts for expansion, ensuring compactness, accessibility, and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple printed circuit boards are arranged one above the other in a housing, then the housing can accommodate multiple components, but the housing size increases and accessibility for electrical contact becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple levels, with each level capable of accommodating printed circuit boards. The housing includes first, second, and third levels with corresponding receiving means, allowing components to be segmented across different vertical positions for improved accessibility and organization
Solution Approach 2:
The housing utilizes vertical stacking arrangement where printed circuit boards are positioned at different heights (first, second, and third levels) rather than only horizontal placement. This three-dimensional arrangement increases component capacity while maintaining accessibility through the feedthrough structure
2Quantity of substance
If the housing size is increased to accommodate more components, then more components can be arranged, but the compactness and space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure employs nested levels where multiple printed circuit boards are stacked vertically within the same horizontal footprint. The first, second, and third levels are arranged one above the other, allowing maximum component density within the housing volume
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from two-dimensional horizontal arrangement to three-dimensional vertical stacking, utilizing the height dimension to accommodate additional components without proportionally increasing the housing's horizontal footprint
3Ease of manufacture
If the housing is designed as a single integrated part, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability for different component configurations and environmental sealing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple separable parts that can be assembled together. Each housing part can be manufactured independently and then coupled to form the complete housing, allowing for modular design, easier manufacturing, and adaptability to different component configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The housing parts are designed with universal coupling mechanisms and standardized receiving means that can accommodate different types and numbers of printed circuit boards. The modular structure allows the same housing parts to be reconfigured for various application requirements
4Ease of operation
If electrical contact is provided through the housing wall for each component, then each component can be contacted independently, but the sealing capability against environmental influences deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Electrical feedthroughs are used as intermediary elements that pass through the housing wall to provide electrical contact with printed circuit boards while maintaining the sealing integrity of the housing. The feedthroughs act as mediators between the internal components and external electrical connections without compromising environmental protection
Solution Approach 2:
The housing includes sealing elements such as gaskets or flexible sealing membranes that accommodate the feedthrough penetrations while maintaining environmental sealing. These flexible sealing structures allow electrical contacts to pass through without creating leakage paths for environmental influences
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
Many components have to be arranged in a housing, not least in order to protect them against environmental conditions and environmental influences. In this case, it is important for the components to remain easily accessible and for it to be possible for electrical contact to be made with said components, in particular without the housing having to be removed in a complicated manner. This is also important when a relatively large number of components have to be arranged in the housing. At the same time, it is desirable to arrange the components such that the housing can be designed to have a small volume as far as possible. To this end, the invention proposes constructing a housing from a plurality of housing parts 10, 20; 30; 40 in which in each case at least one component can be arranged in the same manner. Furthermore, the housing parts can be connected to one another to form a sealed housing 1. In this case, the housing can be extended by further housing parts 30, 40 being provided, it being possible for said housing parts to each accommodate components.