Sealing Member for Encapsulated Electronic Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional faulted circuit indicators and radio interface units face issues with encapsulate material deterioration due to aging and exposure to elements, leading to separation and water ingress, especially in underground and overhead applications where components must extend from the encapsulate material for communication, causing exposure of internal electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A novel arrangement involving a housing with an opening for electronic components, filled with encapsulate material, and a sealing member between the encapsulate material and housing, with a compression member exerting force to engage the sealing member and provide a secondary seal, preventing material separation and water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If components are extended from the encapsulate material for communication, then communication capability is improved, but the encapsulate material deteriorates and separates from components due to aging and thermal cycling
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing member is introduced as an intermediary component between the encapsulate material and the electronic component. This sealing member remains in direct contact with both the encapsulate material and the component, creating a secondary seal that prevents water ingress even when the encapsulate material separates from the component due to aging or thermal expansion differences.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If encapsulate material is used to environmentally harden components, then protection from external elements is improved, but the material deteriorates over time leading to separation and water ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is installed beforehand to provide a backup seal against water ingress. This preemptive measure ensures that even if the primary encapsulate material deteriorates over time, the secondary seal remains intact and continues to protect the electronic components from environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member acts as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the electronic components. It is positioned to contact both the encapsulate material and the component, creating a redundant sealing system that extends the effective service life of the protected components.
3Reliability
If compression force is applied to maintain seal engagement, then seal integrity is improved, but additional components and complexity are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compression member utilizes the natural thermal expansion and contraction of the housing and encapsulate material to maintain sealing pressure. During thermal cycling, the differential expansion automatically adjusts the compression force on the sealing member, eliminating the need for external actuation or complex control mechanisms while maintaining reliable seal engagement.
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 maintains a seal between the encapsulate material and electronic components, preventing exposure to external elements and ensuring the reliability and longevity of faulted circuit indicators and radio interface units in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
a compression member is provided which exerts force onto the sealing member such that the sealing member engages the encapsulate material to provide a sealing engagement therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
An article for providing a sealing engagement between an electronic component and an encapsulate material is provided, wherein the electronic component extends from the encapsulate material. The article includes a housing including at least one opening for receiving the electronic component. The housing is filled with an encapsulate material such that it provides a seal between the housing and the electrical component. A sealing member is further disposed between the encapsulate material and the housing. A compression member is provided which exerts force onto the sealing member such that the sealing member engages the encapsulate material to provide a sealing engagement therebetween, and thereby provide a secondary seal between the housing and the electronic component.