Lock Structure Labyrinth Design for Electric Connection Box
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lock structures for electric connection boxes fail to effectively prevent liquid intrusion between the engaged and engaging bodies, which can lead to water entering the housing and compromising the internal components.
Innovation Solution
A lock structure with an engaged body and an engaging body that includes orthogonal wall arrangements, communication ports, and a covering portion to guide and discharge liquid, forming a labyrinth structure to prevent liquid intrusion, and a covering portion to stop liquid from entering 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 two fitting members, then the fitting state is secured, but liquid can intrude through the gap between engaged body and engaging body into the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The engaged body is divided into multiple functional parts: engaged walls that form the fitting structure, and a separate drainage space with communication ports that handles liquid drainage. This segmentation allows the fitting structure to maintain stability while the drainage system prevents liquid intrusion into the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage space acts as an intermediary chamber between the external environment and the housing interior. Liquid that enters through the gap is collected in this intermediate space and drained out through communication ports, preventing direct intrusion into the housing.
2Device complexity
If the gap between engaged body and engaging body is continuous to the housing interior, then the lock structure is simple, but liquid can directly enter the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage space serves as an intermediary barrier that interrupts the continuous path from the gap to the housing interior. Liquid must pass through this intermediate chamber and be drained through communication ports before reaching the housing, breaking the direct intrusion path while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaged body incorporates a drainage space that functions as a flexible liquid containment chamber. This thin-walled structure efficiently blocks liquid progression into the housing while maintaining the overall simplicity of the lock structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid drainage paths are provided in the lock structure, then liquid intrusion is suppressed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage space is merged with the engaged body structure itself, utilizing the existing engaged walls to form the drainage chamber. The communication ports are integrated into the engaged walls, combining the locking function and drainage function into a single unified structure rather than adding separate drainage components.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaged walls serve multiple functions: they provide the locking engagement structure and simultaneously form the boundaries of the drainage space while incorporating communication ports for liquid drainage. This multi-functionality reduces overall structural complexity while achieving effective liquid intrusion suppression.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lock structure (1) includes an engaged body (10); and an engaging body (20) that allows the engaged body (10) to be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom. The engaged body (10) includes: an engaged main body (11) insertable into and removable from an engaging body (20); and an engaged protrusion (12) that protrudes from an outer wall surface of the engaged main body (11). The engaging body (20) includes: a housing 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); an insertion port (27a) through which the engaged main body (11) is inserted into the housing space from a distal end (11a1) of an end portion (11a) thereof; a locking hole (24a) through which the engaged protrusion is inserted; a communicating port (27b) that communicates the housing space to the outside; and a covering portion (28) that covers the end portion (11a) of the housed engaged main body (11).