Lock Structure Drainage Space for Electric Connection Box
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock structures for electric connection boxes fail to effectively prevent liquid ingress, such as water, into the housing, particularly at the interface between engaged and engaging bodies, which can lead to performance deterioration and durability issues.
Innovation Solution
A lock structure with an engaged body and an engaging body that includes drainage spaces and communication ports, allowing liquids to be directed and discharged externally, while a labyrinth structure and protrusions further prevent liquid entry, ensuring the lock structure can suppress liquid ingress into the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a lock structure with engaged body and engaging body is used to hold fitting members in fitted state, then the fitting members are securely locked, but liquid can enter through gaps between engaged body and engaging body into the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The engaged body is divided into multiple functional regions: a locking region with engagement protrusions for securing the fitting members, and a drainage region with communication ports and drainage spaces for liquid discharge. This segmentation allows the same component to simultaneously achieve stable locking while preventing liquid accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage space acts as an intermediary chamber between the external environment and the housing interior. Liquid that enters the lock structure is collected in this intermediate space and then discharged through communication ports, preventing direct entry into the housing while maintaining the locking function.
2Reliability
If the lock structure is designed to suppress liquid entry, then durability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex with additional drainage components
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is merged into the engaged body itself rather than being a separate component. The engaged body incorporates both locking protrusions and drainage features (communication ports and drainage spaces), combining two functions into a single integrated part that reduces overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaged body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical locking through engagement protrusions, creates a seal against liquid entry through its positioning in the engaging body, and enables liquid drainage through integrated communication ports and drainage spaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lock structure (1) includes an engaged body (10); and an engaging body (20) capable of inserting and removing the engaged body (10) along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other. An engaged body (10) has a drainage space (17) surrounded by inner wall surfaces of first and second engaged walls (13, 14) and third and fourth engaged walls (15, 16) disposed opposite to each other at an interval, an engaged protrusion (12) protruding from an outer wall surface (14a) of the second engaged wall (14). An engaging body (20) has an accommodation space (27) that is an internal space surrounded by inner wall surfaces of first and second engaging walls (23, 24) and third and fourth engaging walls (25, 26) disposed opposite to each other at an interval and in which the engaged body is accommodated.