Polycarbonate Meter Casing with Crystal Inserts for UV Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric meter casings made of polycarbonate, while resistant to shock, deteriorate quickly when exposed to sunlight, becoming opaque and hindering visual meter readings, as existing chemical treatments have been ineffective in preventing this discoloration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating crystal inserts with a beveled periphery into the polycarbonate casing, specifically in the power consumption and data areas, fixed using adhesive or injection molding, to maintain visibility and durability while using recycled plastic for added protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If polycarbonate material is used for the protective casing, then shock resistance is improved, but visibility deteriorates over time due to yellowing from sunlight exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The protective casing is divided into two distinct materials: polycarbonate for the main body providing shock resistance, and crystal glass for the reading area providing visibility. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function without the drawbacks of using a single material for the entire casing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective casing are assigned different material properties: the main body uses polycarbonate for durability and shock resistance, while the reading area uses crystal glass for optical clarity and UV resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between shock resistance and visibility.
2Reliability
If chemical treatments are applied to polycarbonate, then durability is improved, but visibility is not maintained as discoloration still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The reading area is extracted from the polycarbonate material and replaced with crystal glass inserts. This removal of the problematic material from the sunlight-exposed reading area eliminates the discoloration issue while maintaining the durability benefits of polycarbonate in the non-reading portions of the casing.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective casing becomes a composite structure combining polycarbonate and crystal glass materials. This composite approach leverages the shock resistance of polycarbonate while using crystal glass's UV resistance and optical clarity in the reading area, solving both durability and visibility requirements simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a protective casing reader power polycarbonate where said casing is places crystal inserts in areas of reading and consumption data area, of said inserts meter feature a beveled periphery, whereby an adhesion to the glass with glue, the crystal inserts are integrated by plastic injection to allow a simple and clear reading, also has a front peripheral ring in which gives a greater resistance to shock, for which has a plastic casing with crystal reading areas which gives the advantage that even though is plastic it will opaque it will opaque due to the sun rays, the reading area will always be visible.