Electric Junction Box Drainage Structure for Water Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-vehicle electric junction boxes face issues with water accumulation and entry during high-pressure washing due to drain holes, which can lead to water ingress and damage.
Innovation Solution
The electric junction box design includes a fitting component with a drain hole and a cylindrical drain portion that protrudes downward, and a housing with a surrounding wall and second drain hole positioned to prevent water entry, allowing effective drainage while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drain hole is provided in the bottom wall to prevent water accumulation, then water drainage is improved, but water entry during high-pressure washing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The drain portion is inserted into the housing, creating a nested structure where the drain hole is positioned inside the housing cavity rather than directly on the outer bottom wall. This nesting allows the drain function to be separated from the water exposure surface, enabling drainage while preventing direct water entry through the drain hole during high-pressure washing
Solution Approach 2:
The drain hole is repositioned from the outer bottom surface to an inner dimension within the housing cavity. By moving the drain hole to a different spatial dimension (inside the housing rather than on the exterior), the design achieves drainage functionality while the exterior surface remains sealed against water intrusion during washing
Data Source
AI summary
An electric junction box includes a fitting component to which an electronic component and an electric wire electrically connected to the electronic component are assembled, and a housing in which the fitting component is fitted and held. The fitting component includes a first peripheral wall forming an outer side face of the fitting component, a first bottom wall covering a lower opening of the first peripheral wall, a first drain hole provided in the first bottom wall, and a cylindrical drain portion protruding downward from an edge portion of the first drain hole in the first bottom wall.