Galvanized Steel Cabinet Riveted Sealing for Railway IPX6

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing boxes for electrical equipment in railway vehicles lack effective and economical solutions for protection against dust and humidity while being easy to produce and assemble.

Innovation Solution

A box for electrical equipment with a frame formed from galvanized steel metal plates assembled by riveting, using a sealant between overlapping regions and blind rivets for assembly, providing a secure seal without the need for painting or additional mechanical fixing, achieving IPX6 protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal plates are assembled by welding or screwing, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The box structure is divided into multiple metal plate components that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual plates while maintaining overall structural integrity through the assembly system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A sealing element acts as an intermediary component between overlapping metal plates. This intermediary not only provides sealing functionality but also facilitates the assembly process by enabling simple mechanical connection (such as riveting or clipping) while maintaining both strength and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If complex sealing methods are used, then protection against dust and humidity is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against dust and humidityVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible sealing element (such as a rubber or polymer profile) is used to create the seal between metal plates. This flexible seal can be easily installed in grooves or channels on the metal plates, providing effective dust and humidity protection while requiring minimal manufacturing steps and time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element serves as an intermediary that simplifies the sealing process. Instead of requiring complex welding, gasket systems, or multi-step sealing procedures, the intermediary seal provides effective protection against dust and humidity through a single, easy-to-install component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If additional mechanical fixing and painting are applied, then structural integrity and corrosion resistance are improved, but production cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The box utilizes composite construction combining metal plates with polymer or rubber sealing elements. This composite approach provides both structural integrity from the metal components and corrosion resistance from the naturally resistant properties of the sealing materials, eliminating the need for additional protective coatings while reducing overall production cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary manufacturing steps such as painting and complex mechanical fixing. By using metal plates with integrated sealing elements and simple assembly methods (like riveting or clipping), the design removes redundant processes while maintaining structural integrity and corrosion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 offers effective protection against dust and humidity, is economical to produce, and easy to assemble, ensuring reliable operation in railway environments with reduced manufacturing time and cost.

Implementation Method 1

a sealant 28 being interposed between the overlap regions 24, 26

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

The two metal plates 20, 22 are assembled together by means of rivets 30

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRiveting: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

The metal plates are preferably made of super-galvanized steel, that is to say covered with a coating based on zinc, aluminum and magnesium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGalvanization: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentEP3239013B1Cabinet for electrical equipment and rail vehicle comprising such a cabinet
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3239013B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3239013B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This box delimits a volume for receiving electrical equipment, and is formed by an assembly of galvanized steel metal plates (20, 22). The metal plates of each pair of metal plates (20, 22) assembled together have overlapping regions (24, 26) which overlap each other and are assembled by means of rivets (30) passing through the overlapping regions (24, 26), a sealing mastic (28) being interposed between the overlapping regions (24, 26).