Plug Pin Housing Sealing with Localized Potting Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sealing plug pins in housings, such as 'stitching,' often result in permeable connections that allow fluids or gases to pass through, and the use of potting compounds can damage the pins or require pre-treatment, complicating the sealing process and limiting ventilation during closure.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a housing with recesses for potting compound to seal the area between the plug pin and the housing, where the compound reaches both sides without touching the pin ends, and an opening in the pin allows the compound to pass through, enabling airtight or liquid-tight sealing without pre-treating the pins, and allowing sealing after the interior is closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If potting compound is applied to seal the area between connector pin and housing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the connector pin may become wetted with potting compound rendering it unusable
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing element (potting compound) is introduced as an intermediary substance that fills the gap between the connector pin and housing without directly contacting the electrical contact surfaces of the pin. The sealing element is applied in a controlled manner to achieve sealing while preventing harmful wetting of the connector pin.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is applied locally only in the specific region where sealing is required (the gap between connector pin and housing), rather than coating the entire connector pin. This localized application ensures sealing effectiveness while avoiding contact with and potential damage to the electrical contact surfaces.
2Reliability
If the space between two holes is potted before the interior of the housing is closed, then sealing can be achieved, but the area around the connector pin can no longer be used for venting during the sealing process
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is applied in advance to seal the gap between the connector pin and housing before the housing interior is closed. This preliminary sealing action ensures that the sealing function is established early in the manufacturing process, while the housing closure can then proceed without requiring additional venting operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If stitching method is used to insert connector pins into housing, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but the connection remains permeable to fluids and gases
Solution Approach 1:
The stitching insertion method and potting sealing method are combined into a single manufacturing process. The connector pins are first inserted using the cost-effective stitching method, then the sealing element is applied to fill the gaps created by this method. This merging of methods achieves both cost-effectiveness and fluid tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The stitching method creates a porous or permeable connection between the connector pin and housing, with gaps that allow fluid passage. The sealing element is then introduced to fill these porous spaces and eliminate permeability, transforming the structure from permeable to impermeable while maintaining the cost advantages of the stitching method.
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
This method provides a technically simple and efficient way to seal the area between the plug pin and the housing, ensuring airtight or liquid-tight sealing without damaging the pins and allowing for quick and easy manufacturing, while enabling sealing after the interior is closed.
Implementation Method 1
the potting compound seals the area between the connector pin and the housing, in particular in a liquid-tight, preferably airtight
Implementation Method 2
the connector pin has an opening for the potting compound to pass from one side of the connector pin to the other side of the connector pin
Implementation Method 3
the connector pin contacts the housing in two mutually opposite edge regions of the connector pin running along an insertion direction and forms a positive connection with the housing in these edge regions
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for sealing a plug pin (40) in a housing (20), the housing (20) having at least one cut-out (25, 26) for sealing a region between the plug pin (40) and the housing (20), the method comprising the following steps: providing the housing (20) together with the plug pin (40), the plug pin (40) contacting the housing (20) in two edge regions of the plug pin (40) running opposite one another along an insertion direction and forming an interlocking connection with the housing (20) in these edge regions; introducing potting compound (60) into the at least one cut-out (25, 26) such that the potting compound (60) reaches two opposite sides of the plug pin (40), the potting compound (60) seals the area between the plug pin (40) and the housing (20), in particular in a fluid-tight manner, preferably in an air-tight manner, and the potting compound (60) does not touch the two ends of the plug pin (40) lying opposite along the insertion direction; and hardening the potting compound (60).