Overlapping Half-Shell Protection Box for Electric Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protection boxes for electric connections are not adequately safe, easy to manufacture, or cost-effective in preventing water sprays or liquids from reaching electric connectors.

Innovation Solution

A protection box design featuring two half-shells with internal compartments and a hinge mechanism, combined with U-shaped extensions and cable clamps, provides a secure and adaptable enclosure for electric connections, ensuring effective sealing against liquids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a protection box is designed with simple structure, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but protection reliability against water sprays deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidprotection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protection box is divided into two separate half-shells that can be assembled together, allowing each half to be manufactured independently using simple injection molding processes. This segmentation maintains low manufacturing costs while enabling the creation of a complete sealed enclosure when the halves are joined with overlapping edges and gaskets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible gasket or sealing film is introduced between the two half-shells to ensure water-tight sealing. This thin film element provides reliable protection against water sprays without requiring complex structural features, maintaining simplicity while achieving high protection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protection box uses complex sealing mechanisms, then protection against liquids is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against liquidsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible gasket or sealing film positioned between the overlapping edges of the two half-shells. This simple yet effective sealing mechanism provides robust protection against liquid penetration without introducing complex mechanical systems, maintaining device simplicity while achieving high liquid resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex active sealing mechanisms that move or adjust, the patent uses a passive sealing approach where the gasket is compressed between the overlapping edges of the half-shells. This inverted approach simplifies the device by eliminating complex sealing mechanisms while maintaining effective liquid protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cable clamps are made adjustable, then adaptability to different cables is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different cablesVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cable clamps are designed with an adjustable mechanism that allows them to be positioned at different locations along the half-shell and to accommodate cables of various diameters. This dynamic adjustability provides versatility for different cable types while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through basic mechanical adjustment features rather than multiple specialized clamp designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2026419B8Protection box for electric connections
Publication Date: 2016.05.18 STEAB

AI summary

Protection box for electric connections comprising a first and a second half shell (1,2) which can be hooked to each other and overlapped onto each other so as to form a box shaped body with a seat for an electric block terminal or terminal junction box (M). The said seat is provided by the overlapping of two compartments (12, 22) each of which is centrally provided by a corresponding half shell (1,2) and the sides which delimit one of said compartments surmount and cover the sides which delimit the other compartment.