Fluidtight Connector With Integrated Resilient Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluidtight connectors require multiple parts to achieve both sealing and backlash prevention, leading to increased complexity and potential for abrasion of terminal contact parts, especially in environments with vibration.
Innovation Solution
A fluidtight connector design that integrates a resilient member with both sealing and backlash prevention functions, using a flange, pass-through openings, and inclined surfaces to compress and position the inner housing, reducing the number of separate parts and enhancing operational reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate coil springs and waterproof packing are used for backlash prevention and sealing, then both functions are achieved, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and backlash prevention function into a single integrated resilient member. The resilient member includes a sealing portion that contacts the receptacle for sealing, and backlash preventing portions that engage with the receptacle to prevent backlash. This merging eliminates the need for separate coil springs and waterproof packing, reducing the number of parts while maintaining both sealing and backlash prevention functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs sealing, backlash prevention, and biasing functions. The sealing portion provides fluidtight sealing, the backlash preventing portions suppress connector backlash, and the resilient restoring force biases the inner housing toward the mating connector. This universal design reduces part count while achieving multiple objectives.
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for sealing and backlash prevention, then both functions are achieved, but terminal abrasion risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating sealing and backlash prevention into a single resilient member, the patent reduces the number of interfaces and contact points between components. This minimizes potential sources of vibration and mechanical stress that could lead to terminal abrasion, while maintaining reliable terminal connection through the combined functions.
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 integrated solution effectively seals and prevents backlash between connectors, improving terminal connection reliability even in high-vibration environments by using a single resilient member for both sealing and backlash prevention, thus simplifying the connector assembly and reducing the risk of terminal abrasion.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient member compressed resiliently between the flange and the facing wall when the two connectors are connected properly
Data Source
AI summary
A watertight connector has a rubber member (40) mounted on an inner housing (13), and this rubber member (40) includes a sealing portion (41) substantially in the form of a tube fittable on the outer circumferential surface of the inner housing (13) before a flange (23), legs (43) integral to the sealing portion (41) and shaped to be insertable backward through pass-through openings (26), and backlash preventing portions (44) integral to the legs (43), shaped to be engageable with the peripheral edges of the pass-through openings (26) from behind and arranged between the flange (23) and a facing wall (32).