Soft Housing Pot Connector Seal for Watertight Panel Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art panel-mount connectors are prone to leaks due to impermeable press fits between the housing and contact pins, especially in outdoor applications, leading to potential water ingress and short circuits, and require additional sealing materials and labor, which increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A receiving system with a housing pot made of a softer, more elastic material (Shore A hardness 60-100) and a support ring of a harder material, creating a snug, impermeable press fit with the contact elements, eliminating the need for additional sealing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the housing pot is made of hard, inelastic material, then the structural strength is improved, but the press fit becomes leaky to dust, water, and gases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from hard, inelastic material to soft, elastic material (Shore A hardness 60-100) for the housing pot. This parameter change allows the material to deform elastically under compression, creating a tight seal around the contact pins while maintaining structural integrity through the elastic recovery property.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing pot is designed as a flexible, elastic shell that can deform to accommodate the contact pins and maintain continuous contact. The elastic material forms a flexible barrier that adapts to the shape of the contact pins, preventing leakage paths that would occur with rigid materials.
2Reliability
If additional sealing materials and steps are used, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic housing pot performs its own sealing function through its inherent elastic properties. When the contact pins are inserted, the elastic material automatically deforms and creates a tight seal without requiring additional sealing components. The housing pot serves both as a structural element and as a sealing element, eliminating the need for separate seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the structural housing function and the sealing function into a single component - the elastic housing pot. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sealing rings, gaskets, or adhesive applications, reducing the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining reliable sealing.
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 system provides a watertight seal without additional materials, meeting IP65 and IP67 standards, reducing costs and labor, and preventing water, dust, and gas ingress, ensuring safe outdoor use.
Implementation Method 1
the housing pot is made of a material with a Shore A hardness in the range of 60 to 100... the housing pot fits tightly against the contact element carrier when it is pushed in
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a receiving system 2, wherein the receiving system 2 comprises a housing pot 3, wherein a flange-like projection 10 is arranged at the insertion opening 6 of the housing pot 3, wherein the housing pot 3 is made of a material with a Shore A hardness in the range of 60 to 100, and the receiving system 2 further comprises a support ring 4, which is made of a harder material than the housing pot 3, wherein the housing pot 3 can be passed through the support ring 4 to such an extent that the housing pot 3 with the flange-like projection 10 abuts the support ring 4, so that in a state installed on the mounting plate the flange-like projection 10 is arranged between the mounting plate and the support ring 4, and the support ring 4 has a bore 30, in particular a blind bore.configured such that the support ring 4 is attached to the back of the mounting plate by means of a fastening element which passes from a front of the mounting plate through the mounting plate and engages in the bore 30.