Electronic Control Device Housing Sealing and Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control devices face challenges in maintaining desired sealing properties and preventing positional displacement between housing members, particularly when using elastic packings or sealing materials, which can be affected by fastening forces and handling processes.
Innovation Solution
The electronic control device incorporates a sealing groove on one housing member and a protruding rib on the other, combined with a spring hook portion that spans between outer peripheral surfaces, engaging with recessed portions to secure the housing members before the sealing material hardens, ensuring precise positioning and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic packing is used for sealing joining surfaces, then sealing property is improved, but durability against fastening force is insufficient causing positional displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The joining structure is segmented into multiple functional elements: sealing grooves for sealing, protruding ribs for positioning, and spring hook portions for mechanical fastening. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between sealing property and positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding rib acts as an intermediary element between the sealing groove and the spring hook portion. It provides a stable positioning reference that prevents direct transmission of fastening forces to the sealing interface, thereby maintaining both sealing property and positional stability.
2Reliability
If sealing material is applied instead of elastic packing, then sealing property is improved, but positional displacement occurs before hardening
Solution Approach 1:
The spring hook portion is designed to perform preliminary mechanical fastening and positioning before the sealing material hardens. This preliminary action secures the joining surfaces in the correct position, preventing displacement during assembly and ensuring manufacturing precision before the sealing material takes effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring hook portion provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing and distributing fastening forces before they reach the sealing material. This protective mechanism prevents positional displacement and protects the sealing interface during the critical period before the sealing material hardens.
3Ease of manufacture
If housing members are simply fastened together, then assembly is simplified, but desired sealing property cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into an integrated joining structure: the sealing groove and protruding rib are combined for sealing and positioning, while the spring hook portion combines mechanical fastening with positioning. This merging achieves reliable sealing without significantly complicating the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring hook portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical fastening, positional positioning, and force distribution. This multi-functionality achieves reliable sealing and positional stability without requiring separate components for each function, maintaining assembly simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic component unit (20) is received in inside of housing (1) prepared by joining base (2) and cover (3). Sealing groove (24) for sealing material (24a) is formed on joining surface (21) of base (2). Protruding rib (35) fittable into seal groove (24) is formed on joining surface (33) of cover (3). Furthermore, spring hook portion (4) is provided to be positioned outside of the joining surfaces (21, 33) on an outer peripheral side of housing (1). Spring hook portion (4) is structured to include flexible portion (41) that extends to span between outer peripheral surfaces of base (2) and cover (3) and that is formed into a beam supported at only one end thereof on the outer peripheral surface of cover (3), and engaging portion (40) that is formed on a tip end side of flexible portion (41) and is engaged with the outer peripheral surface of base (2).