Rear Panel Power-Cable Connector With Sealed Access Cover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances face difficulties in efficiently installing, removing, or replacing power cords due to their complex routing through housing assemblies, requiring partial disassembly and access to multiple panels.
Innovation Solution
A panel-mounted power-cable system with a recessed portion on the rear panel, a power connector, and a cover that allows for easy cable engagement and disengagement without removing panels, featuring a mounting flange, gasket, and sealed interfaces to protect against fluid transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If power cords are routed through housing assemblies requiring partial disassembly, then fluid protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing assembly is segmented into modular components: a rear panel with recessed portion, a removable cover, and a sealed interface region. This segmentation allows the power cable to be accessed and connected through the removable cover without disassembling the entire housing, maintaining fluid protection while enabling easy operation.
2Ease of operation
If power connector is accessible through panel, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential fluid exposure
Solution Approach 1:
A sealed interface comprising a gasket and protruding lip acts as an intermediary barrier between the power cable access region and the appliance interior. This sealed interface allows the power connector to remain accessible through the rear panel while preventing fluid transmission, thus maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex routing through housing assembly is used, then fluid protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power cable routing is extracted from the complex internal housing assembly and relocated to a simplified path through the rear panel. The recessed portion and removable cover provide a direct access route that eliminates the need for complex internal routing while maintaining fluid protection through the sealed interface.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple panels require disassembly for cable access, then fluid protection is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power cable access function is merged with the rear panel assembly, eliminating the need for separate access panels. The recessed portion and removable cover are integrated into the rear panel structure, allowing cable connection to be performed through a single panel access point, thus reducing assembly time while maintaining fluid protection.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance includes a cabinet with a rear panel. The rear panel defines a recessed portion with an offset surface and an aperture defined on the offset surface. A power connector is disposed in the aperture. The power connector includes a cable engagement section configured to engage a power cable and a source engagement section opposing the cable engagement section. The source engagement section extends through the rear panel to engage a power receiver within the cabinet. A mounting flange is disposed between the cable engagement section and the source engagement section and operably couples to the offset surface. A cover is coupled to the rear panel over the recessed portion. The cover includes an outer rim and a body protruding outward from the outer rim. An opening is defined between a bottom section of the body and the rear panel through which the power cable is configured to extend.