Submersible Control Panel With Epoxy-Sealed Floodproof Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control panels for pump stations are not reliably flood-proof and prone to failure under harsh environmental conditions, such as high winds and flooding, due to complex lifting devices and inadequate sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A submersible control panel with a stainless steel frame, water-tight doors, epoxy-sealed conduits, and a porous material damper to prevent epoxy leakage, ensuring the panel remains water-tight for at least 24 hours submerged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If lifting devices are added to control panels to prevent flooding, then flood protection capability is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex lifting devices from the control panel system entirely. Instead, it extracts only the essential sealing function and implements it through simple gaskets and seals integrated into the control panel housing, eliminating the harmful complexity while maintaining flood protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel is segmented into separate sealed compartments with independent gaskets and seals at each opening and joint. This segmentation allows each seal to be independently optimized and replaced without affecting the entire system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive flood protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If thick-film elastomeric coating is applied to seal enclosure holes and joints, then environmental sealing is improved, but coating reliability decreases due to susceptibility to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thick-film elastomeric coating with flexible gaskets and seals made from durable materials. These flexible sealing elements are integrated into the enclosure structure at holes, joints, gaps, seams, and fasteners, providing environmental sealing that is more resistant to damage during installation and operation while maintaining flexibility to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If O-rings or rubber seals are used to seal electrode openings, then water-tight sealing is improved, but sealing reliability decreases due to leakage susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite sealing solutions at electrode openings, combining multiple sealing materials and mechanisms. Instead of relying solely on O-rings or rubber seals, the design integrates reinforced seals with protective encapsulation and redundant sealing layers, creating a composite structure that eliminates leakage susceptibility while maintaining water-tight integrity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If control panels are designed to be submersible, then flood resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel design integrates multiple sealing functions into universal sealing components and assembly procedures. The same gasket and seal design principles are applied across all openings, joints, and connections, allowing a single standardized approach to achieve submersible capability throughout the entire enclosure, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining comprehensive flood resistance.
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 control panel maintains water-tight integrity for extended periods, allowing normal functionality post-flood without structural changes, and withstands harsh conditions like 175 mph winds and 6+ feet of water.
Implementation Method 1
The conduit is filled with an epoxy to seal an interior of the conduit in a water-tight manner with respect to electrical wiring passing through the conduit into the frame
Implementation Method 2
A porous material is disposed in said conduit at a bottom end of said conduit. The porous material defines a damper for preventing said epoxy from flowing out of said conduit during filling of said epoxy into said conduit
Implementation Method 3
At least one door is attached to the frame in a water-tight manner
Data Source
AI summary
A submersible control system with a control panel. The control panel has a frame to house electronic components. The frame has a connection opening for wiring required for an electrical connection to the electrical components. An outer door is attached to the frame to be water-tight to the frame in a closed position thereof. A conduit is sealed to be water-tight with respect to the connection opening. The conduit is filled with an epoxy for water-tight sealing an interior of the conduit to the wiring fed through the conduit. The control panel will remain water-tight for at least 24 hours after being submerged.