Junction Box Sealing Groove Layout for Saltwater Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The diversification of vehicle architectures in electric vehicles necessitates a high-voltage junction box with waterproof performance to prevent saltwater ingress and crystallization, which can damage internal components.
Innovation Solution
A junction box design featuring a housing with a sealing groove and drain grooves formed outside the housing chamber, utilizing a sealing member compressed by overlapping housing members to prevent saltwater entry and facilitate drainage, with grooves extending along the entire circumference to intersect the entry direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional housing structure without drain grooves is used, then the structure is simple, but saltwater can enter the housing chamber and cause component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is segmented by adding drain grooves that divide the sealing member's contact surface into multiple regions. These grooves create a segmented drainage path that channels saltwater away from the housing chamber while maintaining the overall simplicity of the housing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain grooves act as an intermediary structure between the sealing member and the housing chamber. They provide a dedicated pathway for saltwater to drain away before it can penetrate into the housing chamber, thus protecting internal components without requiring a completely complex housing redesign.
2Reliability
If the sealing member is compressed strongly to prevent saltwater entry, then waterproof performance improves, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain grooves are strategically positioned in the sealing member's contact surface to create localized drainage channels. This allows the sealing member to maintain strong compression for waterproofing while the grooves provide localized relief paths for saltwater, enabling effective sealing without excessive compression forces that would complicate assembly.
3Reliability
If the drain groove is positioned to effectively drain saltwater, then waterproof performance improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drain grooves are designed to extend in multiple directions (radially and circumferentially) across the sealing member's contact surface. This multi-dimensional groove pattern creates redundant drainage paths, reducing the precision requirements for individual groove positions while maintaining effective saltwater drainage capability.
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
Effectively prevents saltwater from entering the junction box, prolongs ingress time, and facilitates easy assembly while maintaining airtightness, thereby protecting internal components from salt damage.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member disposed outside the housing chamber when viewed from the first direction and compressed in the first direction by the first housing member and the second housing member
Implementation Method 2
a drain groove formed on a face being in contact with the sealing member is formed in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member
Data Source
AI summary
A junction box includes: a housing including a first housing member and a second housing member, the second housing member overlapping the first housing member in a first direction and forming a housing chamber together with the first housing member, the housing chamber housing an electronic component; and a sealing member disposed outside the housing chamber when viewed from the first direction and compressed in the first direction by the first housing member and the second housing member. A sealing groove that is formed outside the housing chamber when viewed from the first direction, that opens in the first direction, and in which the sealing member is disposed is formed in the first housing member. A drain groove formed on a face being in contact with the sealing member is formed in at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member.