External Cooling Housing for Contamination-Safe Connectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector systems face contamination issues due to coolant impurities, leading to corrosion and reduced service life, while requiring active cooling that does not significantly increase installation space or cost.
Innovation Solution
A separate cooling fluid guidance housing is attached to the electrical connector system, guiding cooling fluid along the outer wall to absorb heat and transport it to a heat sink, avoiding internal contamination and using minimal additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid is guided through the interior of the connector housing, then heat is transported away from the electrical connector system, but impurities in the cooling fluid deposit on contact elements causing corrosion and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into two separate spatial zones: an external cooling fluid guidance housing that surrounds the connector housing, and the internal connector components. The cooling fluid flows only in the external housing, segmented from the internal contact elements, thus preventing impurity deposition while maintaining heat transport functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fluid guidance housing is extracted as a separate external component from the connector housing. By taking out the cooling fluid pathway from the internal connector structure and placing it in an external housing, the patent eliminates the harmful interaction between cooling fluid impurities and contact elements while preserving the cooling function.
2Reliability
If a separate cooling fluid guidance housing is added to guide cooling fluid around the connector system, then heat management efficiency is improved and contact elements are protected from contamination, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling fluid guidance function with the protective housing structure. The cooling fluid guidance housing simultaneously serves as both the cooling system component and the protective enclosure, combining multiple functions into a single integrated structure that reduces overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fluid guidance housing performs multiple functions: it guides cooling fluid around the connector system for heat management, protects internal contact elements from contamination, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity.
3Temperature
If cooling fluid guidance housing is attached to the electrical connector system, then heat is absorbed and transported to heat sink, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is nested within the cooling fluid guidance housing, with the cooling housing forming an outer shell that surrounds the internal connector components. This nesting arrangement allows the cooling system to envelop the connector efficiently, minimizing the overall volume required for heat absorption and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fluid guidance housing utilizes the external surface area of the connector housing by following its outer wall contours. By transitioning from internal to external cooling pathways and utilizing three-dimensional space around the connector, the patent achieves effective heat absorption without significantly increasing installation footprint.
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 provides efficient heat management and energy transfer, ensuring the connector system's reliability and longevity without increasing space or cost, using air or nitrogen as cooling fluid.
Implementation Method 1
guiding cooling fluid along the outer wall to absorb heat and transport it to a heat sink
Implementation Method 2
absorb heat and transport it to a heat sink
Implementation Method 3
guiding cooling fluid along the outer wall to absorb heat and transport it to a heat sink
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling fluid guidance housing for guiding a cooling fluid around an electrical connector system as well as to an electrical connector system comprising a connector and a mating connector and a cooling fluid guidance housing. The cooling fluid guidance housing (106) comprises a first section in which at least one support element (130) is arranged with which the cooling fluid guidance housing (106) can be made to contact a connector housing (110) of the connector (102), and a second section in which an inner wall of the cooling fluid guidance housing (106) is adapted such that the inner wall of the cooling fluid guidance housing (106) follows an outer wall (140) of the connector housing (110) at a predefined distance after reception of the connector (102). The inner wall of the cooling fluid guidance housing in the second section defines at least one cooling channel which surrounds at least in part the outer wall (140) of the connector housing (110). Furthermore, the cooling fluid guidance housing (106) comprises at least one cooling fluid connection (108) by way of which the cooling fluid (114) can be introduced into the at least one cooling channel.