Anti-Tamper Seal for Pulse Generator Using Locking Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing devices for pulse generators are either complex in design or can be easily removed, allowing potential manipulation of tachograph data, such as simulating rest times or altering speed records.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece seal with a polygonal section and threaded section for the pulse generator's protective housing, featuring inwardly protruding locking tongues and a radially inward collar, which securely attaches to the pulse generator, preventing removal or tampering, and optionally includes spring tongues for additional protection and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece seal design is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced and production cost decreases, but ensuring secure attachment and preventing removal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed as a one-piece structure with integrated functional elements (locking tongues and collar) that perform multiple functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate components while maintaining secure attachment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tongues are designed with elastic properties allowing them to deform during assembly and then maintain a permanent locking position, enabling the seal to transition from a flexible assembly state to a rigid locked state
2Reliability
If a two-part anti-tampering device is used, then secure attachment and prevention of removal are improved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements (locking mechanism, sealing interface, and anti-tampering features) are merged into a single integrated seal structure, reducing the number of parts from two or more to one while maintaining all necessary functions
Solution Approach 2:
The seal's locking tongues automatically engage with the pulse generator housing during assembly without requiring additional fastening operations or complex alignment procedures, making the assembly process self-completing
3Reliability
If locking tongues are designed to engage under the polygonal section, then the seal prevents unscrewing of the protective housing, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tongues are designed to be elastically deformable during assembly, allowing them to flex outward to pass over the polygonal section edges and then spring back to engage underneath, enabling simple push-on assembly without complex tools or procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The locking tongues are pre-positioned and oriented on the seal such that when the seal is pushed onto the pulse generator, the tongues automatically align and engage with the polygonal section in the correct position without requiring manual adjustment
Data Source
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AI summary
A seal for a pulse generator (100) comprising a protective housing (101) for a sensor device, wherein the protective housing (101) has a polygonal section (103) and a threaded section (102) for screwing the protective housing into a transmission housing of a vehicle, and wherein a connector housing (105) of the sensor device projects from the protective housing (101) at the end (104) of the protective housing (101) opposite the threaded section (102), and wherein the seal (10, 10') comprises a sleeve (11) that can be placed onto the protective housing (101) with the polygonal section (103), wherein the sleeve (11) is provided on its inside at its end (11.1) facing the threaded section (102) with several obliquely radially inwardly projecting locking tabs (12) which, after the sleeve (11) is placed onto the protective housing (101), engage the polygonal section (103) engage underneath, wherein the sleeve (11) is joined at its opposite end by a radially inwardly directed collar (14.1) is provided which, after the sleeve (11) is placed, extends over the upper edge (104) of the protective housing (101).