Power Control Housing Sealing With Water-Guiding Shielding Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power control apparatuses face challenges in reducing water exposure of sealing members between pipes and insertion holes, particularly under rain or splash conditions.
Innovation Solution
The power control apparatus incorporates a water guide portion and visor-like shielding ribs that overlap the seal member, directing water away from the sealing area and reducing exposure through a constructed drainage path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member is used to seal the gap between the pipe and the case, then sealing performance is improved, but water exposure of the seal member increases under rain or splash conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water guide portion and shielding rib as intermediary structures between the external environment and the seal member. The water guide portion directs water flow away from the seal member, while the shielding rib physically blocks water from reaching the seal member, thereby reducing water exposure without compromising sealing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The water guide portion and shielding rib are positioned to preemptively intercept and redirect water before it can reach the seal member. This preliminary action of water diversion prevents water from contacting the seal member in the first place, protecting it from water exposure while maintaining the sealing function
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 configuration effectively reduces water exposure to the sealing member, preventing water from entering the case and enhancing the apparatus's ability to withstand rain or splash conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler which has a cooling passage and performs absorbing heat generated by the power control circuit while a cooling fluid flows through the cooling passage
Implementation Method 2
the shielding rib has an inclined portion in which a one-side portion in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) is located lower than the other-side portion
Data Source
AI summary
A power control apparatus includes a case, a cover attached on the case and a gasket which is attached on a wall of the case below the cover. The gasket includes an intermediate pipe and a seal member which seals between the intermediate pipe and the case. The cover includes a water guide portion extending along the wall of the case. The case includes at least two shielding ribs protruding from the case. The shielding ribs are located below the water guide portion. The shielding ribs include portions located above the seal member to overlap the seal member with respect to a vertical direction. The shielding ribs are located between the water guide portion and the seal member with respect to the vertical direction. Each of the shielding ribs includes an inclined portion in which a one-side portion is located lower than the other-side portion.