Sealing Adapter Threaded Stem Watertight Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical cable interconnections are prone to degradation from environmental factors like moisture and vibration due to gaps between sealing boots and threaded stems, especially in exposed locations, where rigid clamshell enclosures can be difficult to open and elastic seals may not provide a watertight seal.
Innovation Solution
A sealing adapter with internally threaded annular body and a threaded stem with specific diameter configurations to ensure full compressive contact and prevent voids, forming a watertight seal by engaging the male and female threads, with the sealing adapter's diameters selected to be slightly smaller than the stem's to prevent moisture leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid clamshell enclosures are used to seal electrical interconnections, then environmental protection is improved, but ease of installation and maintenance deteriorates due to difficulty in opening once closed
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into a stationary clamp portion and a movable seal portion that can be independently manipulated. The seal portion can be pried open and detached from the cable assembly, allowing installation and maintenance without removing the entire enclosure from the tower structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal portion is designed with flexible materials and movable joints that allow it to be dynamically opened and closed. The clamp mechanism transitions from a fixed rigid state during operation to a movable state during installation/maintenance, resolving the contradiction between security and accessibility.
2Reliability
If gaskets or gel seals are applied at enclosure ends to prevent moisture infiltration, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the structural components themselves. The clamp portions and seal portions incorporate sealing surfaces and compressible elements directly into their construction, eliminating the need for separate gaskets or gel seal applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism uses compression force applied through the clamp portions to deform the compressible seal material, creating a watertight seal. By controlling the compression parameter, effective sealing is achieved without additional complex sealing components.
3Ease of operation
If elastic seals are used to accommodate uneven contours of electrical interconnections, then ease of installation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to inability to provide watertight seal
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the seal assembly have different properties: the seal portion is made of compressible elastomeric material to accommodate contour variations, while the clamp portions are rigid to provide structural support and sealing force. This local differentiation achieves both ease of installation and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly uses composite construction with rigid clamp portions and flexible seal portions made of compressible materials. This combination of material properties allows the assembly to be both easy to install over uneven contours and reliable in providing watertight sealing under compression.
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 solution effectively prevents moisture and environmental agent infiltration by ensuring compressive contact along all thread surfaces, creating a reliable watertight seal even in challenging installation conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth diameters are selected so that the male thread of the threaded stem and the female thread of the sealing adapter experience full compressive contact
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes: a threaded stem having an external helical male thread, the male thread defining a root having a first diameter, a crest having a second diameter, and flanks defining a third diameter; and a sealing adapter having an annular body, an outer surface, and an internal female thread, the female thread defining a crest having a fourth diameter, a root having a fifth diameter, and flanks defining a sixth diameter. The sealing adapter is threaded onto the threaded stem such that the female thread engages the male thread. Prior to assembly, the fourth diameter is less than the first diameter, the fifth diameter is less than the second diameter, and the sixth diameter is less than the third diameter.