Switch Housing: Isolated Shaft Hole, Dust Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing dustproof structures for switch housings face challenges in maintaining high processing accuracy and sealability due to complex shapes at the boundary between the case and cover, which complicates assembly and increases the risk of dust invasion.

Innovation Solution

A switch design featuring a housing with a penetration hole in the case member, allowing the movable part's shaft to pass through, and a labyrinthine structure formed between the circular disc part and the case member to enhance sealability, simplifying the boundary shape and facilitating assembly of complex-shaped movable parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hole is disposed at the boundary between the case and the cover to facilitate assembly of complex-shaped movable parts, then the assembly is facilitated, but the shape of the boundary becomes complex which requires high processing accuracy and increases the risk of dust invasion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly facilitationVSAvoidboundary processing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The movable part is divided into two separate components: an inner member that fits within the housing and an outer member that passes through the penetration hole in the case member. This segmentation allows the outer member to be assembled through the simplified penetration hole in the case while the inner member is secured within the housing, avoiding the need for complex boundary processing between case and cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The penetration hole is extracted from the boundary between case and cover and relocated to only the case member. This removes the complexity from the case-cover boundary interface, allowing for simpler processing and better sealing while still enabling passage of the movable part's outer member through the case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the hole is disposed at the boundary between the case and the cover, then the movable part can be assembled, but the complex boundary shape increases labor for applying adhesive material or ultrasonic welding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovable part assemblyVSAvoidboundary shape complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the movable part into inner and outer members and relocating the penetration hole to only the case member, the boundary between case and cover becomes simpler. This reduces the complexity of the bonding or welding process while maintaining the ability to assemble complex-shaped movable parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the penetration hole is isolated from the boundary between the case member and the cover member, then the shape of the boundary is simplified improving sealability, but it becomes more difficult to assemble complex-shaped movable parts

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealabilityVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable part is segmented into an inner member retained within the housing and an outer member that passes through the isolated penetration hole in the case member. This segmentation enables assembly of complex-shaped movable parts through the simplified, isolated penetration hole while maintaining the sealability of the case-cover boundary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer member acts as an intermediary element that passes through the penetration hole in the case member to connect with the inner member inside the housing. This intermediary structure enables the transmission of manipulation forces while maintaining the isolated, simplified boundary between case and cover for improved sealability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the case and cover are adhered with adhesive material to prevent dust invasion, then dustproofing is improved, but the complex boundary shape increases labor for applying the adhesive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust invasion preventionVSAvoidboundary shape complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The penetration hole is extracted from the case-cover boundary and relocated to only the case member. This simplifies the boundary interface between case and cover, reducing the labor required for applying adhesive material while maintaining effective dustproofing through the simplified bonding surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3591681B1switch
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 SATORI ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3591681B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3591681B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3591681B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A housing includes a case member (12) having an opened front face, and a cover member firmly fixed with the case member (12) to close the opened front face of the case member (12). The case member (12) has a penetration hole penetrating its side face. A movable part (14; 15) includes an inner member (42; 52) disposed inside the housing (11) to control a circuit, and an outer member (41; 51) being a discrete piece from the inner member (42; 52) and exposed outside the housing to be manipulated by a user. The outer member (41; 51) includes a shaft part inserted through the penetration hole.