Impact-Damped Housing for Lightweight Shock and Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing housings for electrical/electronic equipment used in potentially explosive areas require thick materials for shock resistance, leading to increased cost, weight, and reduced heat dissipation, necessitating additional cooling measures.

Innovation Solution

The integration of protruding impact absorbers on the side surfaces that absorb shock energy, allowing for reduced material thickness while maintaining strength and enabling effective heat dissipation without additional cooling devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If thick material is used for shock resistance, then impact resistance is improved, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidhousing weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a base structure and separate impact dampers that can be attached to specific areas requiring shock protection. This allows impact resistance to be concentrated where needed rather than requiring the entire housing to be thick and heavy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the base housing material with impact damper materials that have superior shock absorption properties. This composite approach allows the housing to achieve high impact resistance at critical points without increasing overall material thickness and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If thick material is used for shock resistance, then impact resistance is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the shock protection function into separate impact dampers, the base housing walls can be made thinner, thereby improving heat dissipation capabilities while still providing adequate impact protection at critical locations through the attached dampers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Weight of stationary object

If material thickness is reduced, then cost and weight are reduced, but impact resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing weightVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is divided into a thin-walled base structure and separately attached impact dampers. This segmentation allows the main housing to be lightweight while the dampers provide concentrated impact protection where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Impact dampers serve as intermediary elements between the external impact environment and the internal housing components. These dampers absorb and dissipate impact energy before it can reach the housing structure, allowing the housing itself to be thinner and lighter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If plastic material is used, then cost is reduced, but low-temperature brittleness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidlow-temperature performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite material system where the base housing can be made from cost-effective plastic while impact dampers are made from materials with superior low-temperature toughness. This combination maintains overall reliability in cold environments while keeping manufacturing costs low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different material properties are applied to different parts of the housing system. The base housing uses economical plastic material, while the impact dampers use specialized materials optimized for low-temperature shock absorption, creating local quality enhancement where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 provides enhanced shock resistance and improved heat dissipation, reducing material thickness and costs, while ensuring the housing remains effective across various temperatures, including low ambient temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of impact dampers are arranged projecting from the side surface. In the event of corresponding impacts or during the described impact test, an impact occurs on one or more of these impact dampers. These project from the side surface and absorb a large portion of the corresponding impact energy.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The use of impact absorbers allows for a thinner housing wall, thus improving heat dissipation to the external environment.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3219179B1Housing

Publication Date: 2023.12.27 EATON PROTECTION SYST IP GMBH & CO

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~12

AI summary

The invention relates to a housing of an electric/electronic operating element such as a luminaire, terminal box, control device, switching distribution system or the like, comprising at least one lateral surface facing the outside environment. In order to improve a housing of said type in such a way that the housing is sufficiently sturdy even with a relatively low material thickness and that no additional cooling measures are required, a plurality of impact dampers that protrude at least from the lateral surface is arranged on the lateral surface.