Pyrotechnic Connector Secondary Interlock Sealing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Connectors for pyrotechnic applications in motor vehicles face challenges in maintaining reliability and resistance to ambient effects while preserving functionality, often compromising on either durability or functionality due to their small dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a secondary interlock with a circular cylindrical peripheral sealing section and a radially positioned sealing bead, allowing for relative displacement and maintaining sealing functionality, combined with a trunk area seal for contact plugs and integrated housing seal, ensures protection against water ingress and reliable sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a seal is added to protect against water ingress, then reliability against ambient effects is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against water ingressVSAvoidseal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the housing seal and secondary interlock seal into a single integrated seal component made of permanent elastic material. This merging reduces the number of separate sealing components while maintaining comprehensive water protection for both the housing and the secondary interlock mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a seal made of permanent elastic material (such as polyurethane) that can deform flexibly to accommodate the movement of the secondary interlock from half-catch to full-catch position while maintaining the sealing function throughout the displacement range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If the secondary interlock is made movable for displacement from half-catch to full-catch position, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of sealing is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecondary interlock displacementVSAvoidsealing function during displacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the secondary interlock as a movable component that can be displaced from a half-catch position to a full-catch position. The seal is configured to maintain continuous sealing contact throughout this dynamic range of motion, allowing operational flexibility while preserving water protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seal geometry is specifically designed with a sealing bead that can accommodate changes in the relative position between the secondary interlock and housing. The seal maintains its sealing function across different positional parameters of the secondary interlock during the displacement operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If connectors are made with small dimensions for vehicle applications, then productivity and space utilization are improved, but reliability and resistance to ambient effects are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidresistance to ambient effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a compact design where the secondary interlock is nested within the housing structure, and the integrated seal is molded directly onto the housing. This nesting arrangement maximizes space utilization while maintaining comprehensive sealing protection in a compact connector suitable for vehicle applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 connector effectively prevents water ingress while maintaining secondary interlock functionality, ensuring reliable operation even during displacement, and provides a premounted solution with enhanced sealing performance using polyurethane extrusion coating for the seals.

Implementation Method 1

there is a seal which is arranged such that relative displacement of the secondary interlock relative to the seal while maintaining the sealing function may be possible

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

the seal of the secondary interlock and the housing seal are produced by extrusion coating of the connector with a permanent elastic material, polyurethane, for example

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtrusion coating: Extrusion

Data Source

PatentUS7229304B2Connector for pyrotechnic applications

Publication Date: 2007.06.12 AMPHENOL TUCHEL ELECTRONICS

AI summary

A connector including a plurality of receptacles located in a housing, and a primary interlock for engaging a contact plug pluggable into the receptacles. A secondary interlock is moveable between a full catch position and a half-catch position with respect to the housing. A seal is provided for sealing the secondary interlock relative to the housing. The secondary interlock moves relative to the seal while maintaining a seal from the half-catch position into the full catch position of the secondary interlock.