Housing with Integrated Conductive Layer for Shielded Power Cables

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing systems for connecting motor vehicle power lines struggle to maintain sufficient shielding and electromagnetic compatibility, especially when high voltages and currents are involved, leading to laborious manual work and reduced efficiency in assembly.

Innovation Solution

A housing with an integrated electrically conductive layer overmoulded on both sides with plastic, which continues the shielding of the motor vehicle power line, allowing for efficient assembly and improved electromagnetic compatibility by balancing potentials and reducing electromagnetic interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a housing is used to connect conductors of motor vehicle power lines, then the connection function is achieved, but the shielding is interrupted and electromagnetic compatibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the housing structure with an integrated electrically conductive layer to continue the shielding function. The conductive layer is embedded within the housing body, combining the mechanical support function of the housing with the electromagnetic shielding function in a single integrated component, thereby maintaining shielding continuity without requiring separate manual shielding processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is constructed as a composite structure with an electrically conductive layer integrated within an insulating housing material. This composite design allows the housing to simultaneously provide mechanical support, electrical insulation where needed, and continuous electromagnetic shielding through the conductive layer, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and electromagnetic compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If manual work is used to continue the shielding of the power line, then the shielding continuity is maintained, but the assembly process becomes laborious and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding continuityVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding function is merged into the housing structure itself through the integrated conductive layer. This eliminates the need for separate manual shielding continuation steps, as the housing automatically provides continuous shielding when assembled, thereby maintaining shielding reliability while dramatically improving assembly efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing with integrated conductive layer performs the shielding function automatically through its own structure. The conductive layer is pre-integrated into the housing, allowing the housing to self-provide shielding continuity without requiring external manual intervention or additional separate shielding components to be manually installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the shielding is continued manually in the housing area, then the electromagnetic compatibility is maintained, but the number of work steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of work steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing and shielding layer are merged into a single integrated component. The conductive layer is embedded within the housing structure during manufacturing, so that when the housing is assembled, the shielding is automatically continued without requiring separate manual work steps. This reduces device complexity by eliminating multiple independent components and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If an electrically conductive layer is integrated into the housing, then the shielding is continued efficiently, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive layer is merged with the housing structure during manufacturing, creating an integrated component. While this adds complexity to the housing structure itself, it eliminates the need for separate shielding components and manual assembly steps, resulting in net simplification of the overall system and improved assembly efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances electromagnetic compatibility and simplifies the assembly process by maintaining shielding through the electrically conductive layer, reducing manual labor and ensuring effective protection against electromagnetic influences.

Implementation Method 1

the housing is made of plastic and has an electrically conductive layer integrated into the housing, with the electrically conductive layer being overmoulded with plastic on both sides for continuing the shielding of the motor vehicle power line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentEP3176883B1Housing with integrated electrically conductive layer and system
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 AUTO KABEL MANAGEMENT GMBH
  • EP3176883B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3176883B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3176883B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates, among other things, to a housing for a motor vehicle power cable (1a) comprising a conductor (8a) and a shield (4a), the housing having a first connection area (22a, 22a') for the motor vehicle power cable (1a) and at least one further connection area (22b, 22b') for a further conductor (8b, 30'), wherein the housing allows an electrically conductive connection between the conductor (8a) of the motor vehicle power cable (1a) and the further conductor (8b, 30') within the housing (20, 20'). The objective of mounting shielded motor vehicle power cables as efficiently as possible while simultaneously achieving high electromagnetic compatibility is achieved by the housing (20, 20') having an electrically conductive layer (26, 26') integrated into the housing (20, 20') for extending the shield (4a) of the motor vehicle power cable (1a).