Sealed Housing Overflow Control for Inverter Joint Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The sealant at the joint face between the upper and lower housings of an inverter overflows to the outer surface, affecting production efficiency due to the inability to precisely control the amount applied.

Innovation Solution

A sealed housing design with a sealing groove and sealing plate that creates distinct inner and outer sealant cavities with varying resistance losses, directing the sealant flow to minimize overflow by increasing the mechanical energy required to exit through the outer cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealant is applied at the joint face between upper and lower housings, then waterproof and dustproof performances are improved, but sealant overflows to the outer surface requiring additional detection and removal processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof and dustproof performanceVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing groove is divided into two distinct cavities: an inner sealant cavity and an outer sealant cavity, separated by a sealing plate. This segmentation allows excess sealant to be contained and directed into the outer cavity, preventing overflow onto the housing exterior while maintaining effective sealing at the joint face.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing plate acts as an intermediary element between the inner and outer cavities. It extends into the sealant and creates the separation that enables the outer cavity to function as a containment zone for excess sealant, preventing it from reaching the outer surface of the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sealant is applied to ensure sealing performance, then waterproof and dustproof performances are improved, but additional processes are required to remove overflowed sealant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful effect of sealant overflow is extracted and isolated into the outer sealant cavity. By providing a dedicated containment space for excess sealant, the design removes the problem of exterior contamination without compromising sealing performance, thereby eliminating the need for post-application cleanup processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The excess sealant, which would normally be considered waste requiring removal, is redirected into the outer cavity where it serves a useful function by filling the cavity and providing additional sealing. The potential harm of overflow is converted into a benefit by utilizing the excess material for enhanced sealing within the controlled cavity space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Reduces sealant overflow to the outer surface, enhancing production efficiency while maintaining sealing performance by channeling excess sealant through paths of higher resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a resistance loss corresponding to the outer sealant cavity be higher than a resistance loss corresponding to the inner sealant cavity, where the resistance loss refers to mechanical energy consumed by the sealant per unit weight when flowing to reach the corresponding overflow portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4637281A1Sealed housing, inverter and electric power system
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SUNGROW (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
  • EP4637281A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4637281A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4637281A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A sealed housing, an inverter and an electric power system are provided. The sealed housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing where the lower housing is provided with a sealing groove extending along a peripheral direction of the lower housing and the upper housing is provided with a sealing plate corresponding to the sealing groove; a sealant is provided inside the sealing groove, and the sealing plate extends into the sealant; an outer sealant cavity and an inner sealant cavity are formed at both sides of the sealing plate inside the sealing groove, and the upper housing and the lower housing together form a mounting cavity; the outer sealant cavity and the inner sealant cavity are provided with an outer overflow portion and an inner overflow portion respectively; a resistance loss corresponding to the outer sealant cavity is higher than a resistance loss corresponding to the inner sealant cavity, where the resistance loss refers to mechanical energy consumed by the sealant per unit weight when the sealant flows to the corresponding overflow portion through the corresponding sealant cavity.