Soft Housing Pot and Support Ring for Sealed Receptacle Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing built-in plug connectors are not adequately sealed against dust, water, and gases due to their hard, inelastic materials, leading to potential short circuits, especially in outdoor applications, and require additional sealing components that increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle system with a housing pot made from a softer, more elastic material (Shore A hardness 60-100) and a support ring from a harder material, creating a water- and airtight press fit without the need for additional sealing components, ensuring compliance with standards like IP65 or IP67 without additional work or materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hard, inelastic material is used for the housing, then structural strength is improved, but sealing tightness against dust, water, and gases deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from hard, inelastic materials to soft, elastic materials (Shore A hardness 60-100) for the housing pot. This material parameter change enables the housing to deform elastically during assembly, creating a tight press fit with contact pins and sealing surfaces that prevent dust, water, and gas penetration while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining soft elastic material (housing pot with Shore A hardness 60-100) with harder materials (contact element carrier and support ring). This composite approach allows the soft housing to provide sealing compliance while the hard components maintain structural strength and dimensional stability, resolving the contradiction between softness for sealing and hardness for strength
2Reliability
If additional sealing components are used, then sealing tightness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the housing pot itself to provide sealing functionality through its soft elastic material properties. The housing automatically creates tight press fits with contact pins and sealing surfaces during assembly without requiring external sealing components, making the sealing function inherent to the housing structure rather than an added feature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sealing function with the housing structure by integrating sealing surfaces directly into the housing pot. The soft elastic material of the housing simultaneously provides structural containment and sealing capabilities, combining what were previously separate functions (housing structure and sealing components) into a single integrated solution
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 provides a cost-effective and simplified method to achieve a tight seal against dust, water, and gases, reducing the risk of short circuits and compliance with safety standards without additional sealing components, while maintaining structural integrity and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the housing pot is made from a material with a Shore A hardness in the range from 60 to 100... the housing pot can be passed through the support ring until the housing pot abuts the support ring with the flange-like projection
Data Source
AI summary
A receptacle system having a housing pot, a flange-like projection arranged at the insertion opening of the housing pot, and the housing pot is made from a material with a Shore A hardness from 60 to 100. The receptacle system moreover has a support ring made from a harder material than the housing pot, the housing pot can be passed through the support ring until the housing pot abuts the support ring with the flange-like projection such that, in a state mounted on the mounting plate, the flange-like projection is arranged between the mounting plate and the support ring. The support ring has a bore, in particular a blind bore, configured such that the support ring is fastened on the rear side of the mounting plate by a fastening element passed through the mounting plate from a front side of the mounting plate and engaging in the bore.