Switch Seal Structure Using Oval Flange for Waterproofing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch designs for water vehicles, particularly those requiring waterproofing, face challenges in achieving effective sealing due to the degradation of seal members at corners and increased costs, weight, and layout restrictions associated with large bracket structures.
Innovation Solution
A switch design featuring an operating portion, support portion, flange portion, seal holding portion, and pawl portion, where the seal holding portion is oval or circular to better fit the seal member and the pawl portion is hooked to the attachment object, ensuring the seal member is held between the flange and attachment object, preventing degradation and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rectangular flange shape is used for the seal structure, then the construction is simple, but the seal member cannot fit to the corners properly causing degraded sealing properties
Solution Approach 1:
The flange shape is changed from rectangular to circular, eliminating corners where seal members cannot fit properly. The circular shape allows the seal member to make continuous contact around the entire perimeter, ensuring uniform sealing properties without compromising construction simplicity.
2Reliability
If a bracket made of sheet metal is used to press the switch onto the O-ring, then reliable sealing properties are achieved, but the size increases causing increased cost, weight and layout space
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket structure is merged with the switch housing itself. The flange portion of the switch body directly contacts and presses the seal member against the attachment object, eliminating the need for a separate sheet metal bracket. This integration maintains reliable sealing while significantly reducing weight, cost, and layout space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange portion serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the switch, creates the sealing interface with the seal member, and applies the necessary pressing force against the attachment object. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required a separate bracket component.
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 design enhances sealing properties while reducing costs and weight by eliminating the need for large brackets, allowing for easier installation and reduced layout restrictions, thereby providing improved waterproofing with a simple construction.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member (22) to seal between the switch (21) and the attachment object (19)
Implementation Method 2
the seal member is held between the flange and attachment object, preventing degradation and detachment
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a switch attached to an attachment object through a seal member. The switch includes an operating portion including an operating surface. The switch further includes a support portion supporting the operating portion to enable a push operation for the operating portion. The switch further includes a flange portion disposed in a direction of the push operation relative to the support portion. The switch further includes a seal holding portion disposed in the direction of the push operation relative to the flange portion. The seal holding portion has a circular shaped portion or an oval shaped portion in contact with the seal member to hold the seal member with the circular shaped portion or the oval shaped portion. The switch further includes a pawl portion disposed in the direction of the push operation relative to the seal holding portion and configured to be hooked to the attachment object.