Slidable Cover Electrical Connection Box Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connection boxes for vehicles are large in size due to the sequential arrangement of outer and inner ribs, which compromises the strength when made thinner for size reduction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a slidable cover with thinner portions that overlap and are chamfered, enhancing the strength by forming a contact portion that reinforces the slidable cover's thickness, and includes a lock portion and outlet port to improve waterproofing by increasing contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the outer rib or inner rib is made thinner to reduce the size of the casing, then the size of the casing is reduced, but the strength of the rib decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-layer rib structure to a multi-layer overlapping structure. The first thin portion of the casing and the second thin portion of the cover overlap in the thickness direction, creating a layered configuration that provides both size reduction and maintained strength through the overlapping arrangement rather than increasing single-layer thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by combining the first thin portion of the casing with the second thin portion of the cover. These two thin portions work together as a composite unit, where their overlapping arrangement and the contact portion with increased thickness provide both compact size and sufficient structural strength.
2Reliability
If a complex labyrinth structure is formed with outer and inner ribs and grooves to achieve waterproofing, then waterproofing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex inner rib and inner groove structure from the conventional design. Instead of using multiple nested ribs and grooves, the patent achieves waterproofing through a simplified structure where the first thin portion of the casing and second thin portion of the cover overlap and form a seal, removing unnecessary structural complexity while maintaining the waterproofing function.
3Volume of moving object
If the slidable cover is made thinner to reduce overall size, then the size is reduced, but the strength of the slidable cover decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention compensates for the reduced thickness of the slidable cover by utilizing the overlapping structure in the thickness direction. The second thin portion of the cover overlaps with the first thin portion of the casing, and the contact portion with increased thickness provides additional structural support, allowing the cover to be thinner overall while maintaining sufficient strength through the three-dimensional overlapping arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connection box includes: a casing that has an opening portion open upwardly, a recessed portion recessed downwardly from an upper edge portion of a side wall; and a slidable cover configured to close the recessed portion. A first thin portion is formed at a side edge portion of the recessed portion of the casing. A second thin portion is formed on the slidable cover. The first thin portion and the second thin portion overlap each other when the slidable cover is fitted into the recessed portion. The first thin portion is includes a chamfered portion where a boundary between an opening edge portion of the first thin portion and the side edge portion is chamfered. A contact portion is configured to be brought into contact with the chamfered portion.