Seal Cover Mounting Force Reduction via Staged Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seal covers require excessive force for mounting due to overlapping time points of compression and deformation, increasing the burden on workers when using interlock connectors with resin rings.
Innovation Solution
The seal cover design positions the first resin ring, second resin ring, and detection terminal in a non-overlapping relationship to maximize force distribution, ensuring that the time points of maximal compression and deformation do not coincide, reducing the overall force required for mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ring made of resin is fit on the outer peripheral surface of the interlock connector to suppress rattling, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the force required for mounting the seal cover increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into two separate resin rings: a first resin ring on the fitting and a second resin ring on the interlock connector. This segmentation allows each ring to be positioned at different locations, distributing the compression forces and preventing simultaneous maximum compression of both rings and the terminal, thereby reducing the peak mounting force while maintaining connection stability
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a temporal dimension to the compression process by arranging the first ring, second ring, and terminal in different axial positions. This ensures that during the mounting process, the maximum compression of these three elements occurs at different time points, preventing force overlap and reducing the total force burden on the worker
2Reliability
If the seal cover is configured to compress the first ring, second ring, and deform the terminal simultaneously, then the sealing and connection functions are achieved, but the worker's burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first ring is positioned on the fitting before the interlock connector is inserted, creating a preliminary sealing structure. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during insertion, the compression of the first ring, second ring, and terminal deformation occur in sequence rather than simultaneously, reducing the peak force required while ensuring all functions are achieved
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 design reduces the force needed for mounting the seal cover by avoiding overlapping time points of maximal compression and deformation, thereby decreasing the worker's burden and making the process easier.
Implementation Method 1
A first ring made of resin is fit on an outer peripheral surface of the fitting and is to be compressed and held in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the opening portion
Implementation Method 2
A second ring made of resin is fit on an outer peripheral surface of the interlock connector and is to be compressed and held in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the standby connector
Implementation Method 3
One of the standby terminal and the detection terminal is deformed resiliently and pressed into contact with the other terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A seal cover (1) is provided for closing an opening portion (10) in a device in which a standby connector (11) is disposed. The standby connector (11) includes male terminals 11B for switching a state of an energizing circuit between a conductive state and a non-conductive state. Female terminals (23B), a shaft seal (25) and an O-ring (23D) are arranged in such a positional relationship that a time point when the shaft seal (25) is compressed maximally, a time point when the O-ring (23D) is compressed maximally and a time point when the female terminals (23B) are resiliently deformed maximally do not overlap with each other when the seal cover (1) is mounted on the opening portion (10).