Sloped Rib Peripheral Seal for Wavy Panel Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panel mount electrical connectors face challenges in achieving a consistent seal due to variations in panel thickness and waviness, leading to potential gas or liquid leakage and increased mating forces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a peripheral seal with sloped ribs that distribute mating forces evenly across a larger surface area, reducing friction and allowing for a sliding action, thereby reducing the force required for installation and providing a tighter seal with lower pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional flange seal is used against a wavy or non-planar panel, then the connector can be mounted on the panel, but gaps form between the flange and panel causing leakage and allowing foam to seep through
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple ribs or protrusions that can independently conform to surface irregularities. Each rib acts as a separate sealing element, allowing the seal to adapt to wavy or non-planar panel surfaces while maintaining contact across the entire sealing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal incorporates resilient or elastic material properties that allow it to dynamically adjust and conform to the panel surface during mating. The ribs can flex and deform to accommodate surface variations, ensuring consistent sealing contact without requiring excessive mating force.
2Reliability
If the flange is pressed against a wavy panel to close gaps, then sealing improves, but the mating force and un-mating force become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is concentrated in specific localized ribs or protrusions rather than requiring uniform pressure across the entire flange surface. Each rib provides localized sealing contact, allowing effective sealing with reduced overall mating force.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal uses material parameter changes (elastic deformation) to accommodate surface variations. The resilient material allows the ribs to compress and conform to the panel surface, maintaining sealing contact without requiring high mating forces.
3Reliability
If the connector is tightly secured to handle panel variations, then sealing improves, but the connector becomes difficult to access for service
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient seal allows for dynamic adjustment during normal operation to maintain sealing, but the reduced mating force enables easy removal and reinstallation during service. The elastic properties allow the seal to self-adjust without permanent deformation, facilitating repeated mating and un-mating cycles.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid seal is used to maintain consistent contact, then sealing stability improves, but the seal cannot accommodate variations in panel thickness and waviness
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into multiple ribs that can independently adjust to local surface variations. This segmentation allows each rib to adapt to thickness variations and waviness while maintaining overall sealing consistency across the entire connector interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal uses flexible or resilient material properties to accommodate panel variations. The elastic or compliant material allows the ribs to bend and conform to irregular surfaces, maintaining stable sealing contact despite variations in panel thickness and flatness.
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
This solution effectively seals the connector to the panel regardless of thickness variations or waviness, reducing mating forces, preventing leakage, and enhancing overall sealing performance and durability.
Implementation Method 1
angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs which distribute the forces evenly across a surface area of a panel or mating connector and across the larger contact area of the projections or ribs
Implementation Method 2
The angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs reduce the frictional forces between the seal member and the mating panel or mating connector. The projections or ribs allow for a sliding or rolling action as the seal member contacts the panel or mating connector
Implementation Method 3
The angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs allows the projections or ribs to act as wedges, pushing against the mating panel and creating a tighter seal with lower force
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed panel mount electrical connector and a seal for use in an electrical connector. The seal includes a base member and projections. The projections extend from the base member. Each of the axes of the projections extending at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal plane of the base member.