Housing Protective Wall Deflects Water From Connector Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connectors used in vehicles experience reduced sealing performance when exposed to high-pressure water from washing machines, leading to deterioration of the sealing member and compromised sealing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a protective wall in the housing design that deflects high-pressure water away from the sealing member, combined with an elastic arm mechanism that enhances locking and sealing functionality while minimizing interference with the locking mechanism, ensuring effective sealing even under high-pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing member is used to seal the fitting portion between housings, then sealing performance is improved, but the sealing member deteriorates when exposed to high-pressure water spray
Solution Approach 1:
A protective wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the high-pressure water spray and the sealing member. The protective wall deflects the water spray away from the sealing member, preventing direct exposure and deterioration, thereby extending the sealing member's service life while maintaining sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective wall is positioned to intercept and deflect high-pressure water spray before it reaches the sealing member. This preliminary protective action prevents water from directly impacting the sealing member, avoiding deterioration before it occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective wall extends to reach the bent portion of the elastic arm, then water spray protection is improved, but the locking function is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The protective wall is designed with localized extent - it extends only to a position that does not reach the bent portion of the elastic arm portion. This local protection approach provides adequate shielding for the sealing member while leaving the bent portion exposed to ensure the elastic arm can swing freely for locking and unlocking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective wall's extension is segmented to stop before reaching the bent portion, creating distinct functional zones: a protected zone for the sealing member and an unobstructed zone for the elastic arm's bending action. This segmentation allows both protection and operational freedom.
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 maintains good sealing performance by preventing direct water pressure on the sealing member, reducing the risk of deterioration and ensuring reliable sealing without the need for complex designs or costly materials.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic arm portion including the strut portion connected to the housing main body, the bent portion bent from the strut portion toward the fitting side with the mating housing, and the extending portion extending from the bent portion toward the fitting side with the mating housing swings mainly by elastic deformation at the bent portion
Implementation Method 2
the high-pressure water hits the protective wall and is not sprayed directly onto the gap
Data Source
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AI summary
A female terminal (95) includes a housing main body (51), a sealing member (98) mounted to the fitting protrusion (53) of the housing main body (51) and sealing between the fitting protrusion (53) and the fitted hood portion (21) of a male housing (13), and a lock arm (55) including a cantilever-shaped elastic arm portion (71) extending from an outer peripheral surface of the housing main body (51) to a fitting side with the male housing (13) and having a locking portion (79) engaged with and/or disengaged from a locking protrusion (23) formed on the male housing (13). A protective wall (87) integrally provided at a base of the elastic arm portion (71) is formed on an outer surface of the housing main body (51), and is provided over the housing main body (51) at a position in the housing main body (51) facing a gap between the hood portion (21) and the housing main body (51) when the fitting protrusion (53) of the housing main body (51) is fitted to the hood portion (21).