Lighting Device Seal Rib Notch for Water Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water stagnation between the seal and the housing of motor vehicle lighting devices leads to weakened joints and compromised tightness, as existing designs with perpendicular support walls trap water, causing deterioration of the seal's technical characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device element featuring a cavity with a freely supported edge for a flat seal and integral ribs with notches along the side wall, allowing water to flow via the notch, reducing residual water thickness and promoting evacuation without compromising the seal's support function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support walls are provided on the housing to take control against the seal, then the seal holding is improved, but water stagnation occurs between the walls and the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The support wall is segmented by introducing notches that divide the continuous support surface into discrete segments. This allows water to drain through the notches while the remaining support surfaces maintain sealing contact, thus preventing water stagnation while preserving seal holding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The notches act as intermediary drainage paths between the seal and the external environment. These notches provide a controlled pathway for water to escape, mediating between the need for seal contact and the need to prevent water accumulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the support edge of the rib extends from the free edge of the cavity, then water evacuation is possible, but the support function on the seal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rib's support edge is segmented by notches that create discrete contact zones. The notches are positioned to allow water evacuation while the segments between notches maintain support contact with the seal, thus balancing water evacuation and support function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the rib serve different functions: the notched regions provide water evacuation pathways while the segments between notches provide seal support. This local differentiation of function allows simultaneous achievement of both water evacuation and support maintenance.
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 effectively reduces water accumulation, maintaining the seal's integrity and sealing function, ensuring longer durability and improved tightness between the housing and the vehicle body.
Implementation Method 1
water has along this lateral wall and the suppressing edge of the cavity can flow via the notch, especially when the side wall is inclined
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an element (10) of a lighting device (1), having: a cavity (12) defined by a side wall (16) and a bottom wall (18), said cavity (12) housing at least one electrical connection element (14), the cavity (12) having a free bearing edge (20) shaped to receive a flat seal (2) arranged substantially perpendicularly to said side wall (16), and ribs (22) rigidly connected to a surface (16a) of the side wall (16) opposite the cavity (12), extending substantially perpendicularly to the side wall (16), each rib (22) defining a bearing edge (23) shaped to engageably receive said flat seal (2) when same is arranged substantially perpendicularly to said side wall (16). The invention is characterized in that at least one of the ribs (22) is an indented rib (22'), the bearing edge (23) of which having an indentation (24) which extends along the side wall (16) from the free bearing edge (20) of the cavity (12).