Gradient Sealing Member for Automotive Electrical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opening sealing members for electrical devices in automotive vehicles allow water to intrude between the cover body and the sealing ring holding member, leading to potential corrosion due to the open insertion hole design.
Innovation Solution
An opening sealing member with a cover plate and plug body featuring gradients on their upper surfaces to direct water away from the opening, preventing it from accumulating and causing corrosion, where the cover plate's surface is designed to slope downwards to discharge splashed water and the plug body's surface slopes to direct intruding water outside the opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the insertion hole is left open to allow assembly operations, then ease of operation is improved, but water intrusion and corrosion risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient surfaces are designed in advance to redirect water away from the insertion hole and assembly areas before water can cause corrosion. This preliminary protective action is built into the structure itself, automatically preventing water accumulation without interfering with assembly operations when the hole is open.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful open insertion hole into a beneficial feature by using the gradient surfaces to guide water flow away from critical areas. The open hole allows assembly access, while the gradients ensure that any water entering the area is actively directed outward, transforming the opening from a vulnerability into a controlled feature.
2Reliability
If the cover body and sealing ring holding member are fixed together, then sealing performance is improved, but water can still intrude into the gap between them
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient surfaces on both the cover body and sealing ring holding member work together to convert the gap between these components from a water trap into a water drainage path. Water that enters the gap is redirected by the gradients toward the outer periphery and discharged, transforming the potential harm of the gap into a beneficial drainage channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses water intrusion in the gap between components by introducing a dimensional solution - the gradient surfaces create a three-dimensional water flow path that directs water from the interior gap area toward the exterior, adding a directional flow dimension to the otherwise static gap structure.
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
Effectively prevents water from staying on the cover plate and between the cover plate and plug body, thereby suppressing corrosion and ensuring efficient discharge of splashed water, reducing the risk of electrical device damage.
Implementation Method 1
an upper surface of the cover plate is provided with a gradient to cause water adhering to the cover plate to flow down to outside of the cover plate
Implementation Method 2
an upper surface of the plug body is provided with a gradient to cause water adhering to the upper surface of the plug body to flow down to outside of the opening
Data Source
AI summary
An opening sealing member 10 is for closing an opening 91 for work open in a vertical direction and includes a cover plate 20 configured to cover the opening 91 from above and a plug body 40 held on the cover plate 20 and including a sealing member 45 to be held in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the opening 91 by the plug body being fit into the opening 91. An upper surface 21A of the cover plate 20 is provided with a gradient to cause water adhering to the cover plate 20 to flow down to outside of the cover plate 20. An upper surface 51A of the plug body 40 is provided with a gradient to cause water adhering to the upper surface 51A of the plug body 40 to flow down to outside of the opening 91.