Mat Sealing Joint With Segmented Zones For Connector
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mat sealing joints for electrical and electro-optical connectors are prone to tearing during the molding process, leading to high manufacturing costs and inefficiencies, and there is a need for a solution that balances high sealing efficiency with cost-effective and rapid production.
Innovation Solution
A mat sealing joint design featuring a central sealing portion with elongated passageways, a peripheral portion, and an intermediate portion with specific geometrical features such as inner and outer barriers, made of a deformable material, which allows for efficient sealing and easy manufacturing by reducing material usage and improving unmolding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mat sealing joint design is used, then sealing efficiency is maintained, but tearing occurs during unmolding leading to production losses
Solution Approach 1:
The mat sealing joint is divided into distinct functional zones: a central sealing portion with passageways for terminals, an intermediate portion with reduced thickness, and a peripheral portion for sealing. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently - the central portion maintains sealing integrity while the intermediate portion reduces material to prevent tearing during unmolding.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mat sealing joint have different thicknesses and material properties tailored to their specific functions. The central sealing portion has sufficient thickness for sealing efficiency, while the intermediate portion has reduced thickness to prevent tearing during unmolding. This local variation in quality resolves the contradiction between maintaining sealing reliability and preventing manufacturing defects.
2Ease of manufacture
If material usage is reduced for cost-effective manufacturing, then production costs decrease, but sealing efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mat sealing joint employs variable thickness design where material is concentrated only where needed for sealing (central portion with passageways) and reduced where not needed (intermediate portion). This local quality differentiation maintains sealing efficiency in critical areas while reducing overall material usage and production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the mat sealing joint into functional zones with different material requirements, the design allows material to be allocated efficiently - sufficient material in the central sealing portion to maintain reliability, and reduced material in the intermediate portion to lower costs.
3Productivity
If high-speed manufacturing is implemented, then productivity increases, but tearing risk during unmolding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mat sealing joint is pre-designed with an intermediate portion of reduced thickness before the molding process begins. This preliminary design feature ensures that during high-speed unmolding, the thinnest sections are already optimized to prevent tearing, allowing rapid production without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Segmenting the mat sealing joint into an intermediate portion with reduced thickness creates a design that is inherently more suitable for high-speed unmolding. The segmented structure with strategically placed thin sections reduces resistance during ejection while maintaining sealing functionality in other areas.
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 design enhances sealing efficiency while reducing the risk of tearing and allows for high-speed, cost-effective manufacturing by minimizing material usage and improving the unmolding process, ensuring reliable and reproducible production of mat sealing joints.
Implementation Method 1
a mat sealing joint made of a deformable material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A mat sealing joint (20) for a connector (1), the mat sealing joint is adapted to be placed between a housing body (4) and a rear grid (15) of the connector, the mat sealing joint comprises a central sealing portion (21a) defining a plurality of passageways (22), each of the plurality of passageways extends along a longitudinal direction (X) and is adapted to sealingly receive a terminal (13), wherein each of the plurality of passageways comprises an internal region (22c) delimited by at least two wire-sealing ribs (23), wherein the internal region has a cross-section in the section plane (Y ; Z) with an elongated profile extending along one direction comprised in the section plane (Y ; Z).