Sealed Connector Cover Locking Against Bolt-Induced Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors experience a reduction in sealing performance due to the biasing of the cover when components are bolted to it, which compromises the watertight seal.
Innovation Solution
The connector incorporates reinforcing ribs on the housing and engaging projections on the cover, which restrict the rotational displacement of the cover, preventing it from being biased and ensuring the seal margin of the annular seal member is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a component is bolted to the cover using a fixing bolt, then the component can be securely fixed to the cover, but the cover may be biased due to the fastening torque causing co-rotation, which reduces sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
A rotation prevention protrusion is introduced as an intermediary element between the cover and housing. This protrusion engages with a corresponding rotation prevention groove to prevent the cover from rotating when the fixing bolt is tightened, thereby eliminating the co-rotation problem while maintaining secure component fixation
2Ease of manufacture
If the cover is allowed to rotate with the fixing bolt, then the fixing operation is simple, but the seal margin of the seal member cannot be secured due to cover bias
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation prevention protrusion and groove act as mechanical guides that ensure the cover maintains its correct angular position during the fixing operation. This allows the simple bolt-fixing process to proceed without requiring complex alignment procedures, while simultaneously ensuring the seal margin is properly positioned
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a connector including: a housing having a fitting portion to be fitted to a counterpart connector; a cover assembled to an opening opposite to the fitting portion; an annular seal member sealing a gap between the opening and the cover; a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed at predetermined intervals along an inner peripheral surface of the housing and extending along an assembling direction of the cover, the inner peripheral surface of the housing being located behind the inner peripheral side seal surface of the opening; engaging projections projecting from an inner bottom surface of the cover and configured to restrict displacement of the cover with respect to the housing by being meshed with the reinforcing ribs; a component fixed to the cover; and a fixing bolt screwed into a nut provided on the cover for fixing the component.