Integrated Connector Seal for Wire and Housing Waterproofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waterproof connectors requiring multiple sealing elements, such as a family seal and a seal ring, are costly and inefficient in sealing moisture intrusion paths along electric wires and between connector housings.
Innovation Solution
A single, integral sealing element with a family seal portion surrounding electric wires and a seal ring portion between connector housings, integrated into a continuous component, reduces the need for separate sealing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate sealing elements (family seal and seal ring) are used to seal moisture intrusion paths, then waterproofing performance is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the family seal and seal ring into a single integrated sealing element made of elastomer. This sealing element includes a family seal portion that seals around electric wires and a seal ring portion that seals between connector housings, both formed as one continuous component. This merging reduces the number of separate sealing elements from two to one, simplifying the device while maintaining comprehensive waterproofing performance for both moisture intrusion paths.
2Reliability
If two separate sealing elements (family seal and seal ring) are used to seal moisture intrusion paths, then waterproofing performance is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the family seal and seal ring into a single integrated sealing element made of elastomer. This sealing element includes a family seal portion that seals around electric wires and a seal ring portion that seals between connector housings, both formed as one continuous component. This merging reduces the number of separate sealing elements from two to one, simplifying the device while maintaining comprehensive waterproofing performance for both moisture intrusion paths.
3Device complexity
If a single integral sealing element is used to seal both moisture intrusion paths, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but sealing effectiveness must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the family seal and seal ring into a single integrated sealing element made of elastomer. This sealing element includes a family seal portion that seals around electric wires and a seal ring portion that seals between connector housings, both formed as one continuous component.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sealing element features different portions with specialized geometries optimized for their respective sealing functions. The family seal portion has a configuration designed to seal around electric wires, while the seal ring portion has a configuration designed to seal between connector housings. This local differentiation of geometry within the unified elastomer structure ensures that each portion maintains its specific sealing effectiveness while being part of a single component.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
A waterproof connector (1) including an inner housing (30), an outer housing (40) and a continuous integral sealing element (20) which includes a family seal portion (20A) which waterproofs peripheries of wires extending therethrough and a seal ring portion (20B) which provides waterproofing between the sealing element (20) and a mating housing (2A) of a mating connector (2) by means of a third waterproof portion (24) of the sealing element (20). The family seal portion (20A) is sandwiched between the inner and outer housings (20A, 20B). Catch portions (31) of the inner housing (30) extend sealingly through holes (22) which extend through the family seal portion (20A) and include catch protrusion portions (311) which catch an upper wall (43) of the outer housing (40) to hold the inner housing (30) to the outer housing (40).