Packing Attachment Structure for Waterproof Connector Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packing attachment structures in connectors for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles face issues with maintaining a waterproof seal, as the packing can detach or become dislodged during transportation or assembly due to external forces, compromising the waterproof function.
Innovation Solution
A packing attachment structure featuring a flange part with a packing accommodating recess and a packing with projecting to-be-engaged parts, where the packing is securely seated within the recess, with engagement parts that prevent movement forward, utilizing a design where the base-side portion of the engagement part is wider at the deeper point and narrower at the shallower point, ensuring the packing remains in place under external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the packing is secured using a simple recess structure, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of waterproof sealing deteriorates due to detachment risk
Solution Approach 1:
The packing structure is divided into multiple functional segments: a body portion for sealing, and multiple protruding portions that engage with corresponding recesses in the housing. This segmentation allows the packing to maintain reliability through multi-point engagement while remaining manufacturable using standard molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The packing is designed to be nested within a dedicated packing recess in the housing, with protruding portions fitting into corresponding engagement recesses. This nested structure provides secure retention while maintaining a compact overall design that is easy to manufacture as an integrated assembly.
2Device complexity
If the packing attachment structure is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the packing becomes easily detachable under external force
Solution Approach 1:
The packing features asymmetric protruding portions with different geometries that correspond to asymmetric engagement recesses in the housing. This asymmetric design creates a mechanically interlocked structure that resists detachment forces while adding minimal complexity to the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
The packing and its engagement features incorporate curved and rounded surfaces rather than sharp edges, allowing for elastic deformation that accommodates assembly tolerances and external forces. This curvature-based design provides reliable retention without requiring complex mechanical fasteners.
3Reliability
If the packing is made more secure against detachment, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation during assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The packing is pre-formed with protruding portions during the molding process, eliminating the need for post-assembly operations. The protruding portions are already positioned to engage with the housing recesses, allowing for simple snap-in installation that maintains reliability without complicating the assembly operation.
4Reliability
If the packing structure is enhanced to prevent detachment, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement features utilize elastic deformation parameters of the packing material, allowing for tolerance compensation through material flexibility rather than requiring tight dimensional tolerances. This approach maintains reliable engagement while reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The packing is made from elastomeric materials that combine sealing functionality with mechanical engagement capabilities. This composite approach integrates multiple functions into a single material system, reducing the need for high-precision machining of separate components.
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 prevents the packing from detaching from the housing even when subjected to external forces, ensuring a reliable waterproof seal during connector assembly and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the packing made of elastic material
Data Source
AI summary
In a packing attachment structure, a packing accommodating recess includes an annular body and an engagement part projecting from the body on a plane of a front face of a flange part and in an one-plane direction of the front face. A packing includes an annular body and a to-be-engaged part projecting from the body. In arrangement, the body of the packing is accommodated in the body of the packing accommodating recess, while the to-be-engaged part of the packing is engaged with the engagement part of the packing accommodating recess.