Sealing Device Reducing Biasing Forces in Toggle Switches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective sealing devices for toggle-operated apparatuses, such as toggle switches, create a resilient biasing force that returns the switch actuator to its original position after actuation, preventing the switch from remaining actuated, especially with reduced actuating forces, leading to unwanted deactivation.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a boot member constructed of resiliently flexible elastomeric material, featuring a basal section, an apical section, and an intermediate section with a frusto-conical configuration, which facilitates angular displacement of the actuator without generating a biasing force strong enough to return the switch to its original position, ensuring the switch remains actuated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resiliently flexible elastomeric material is used in the sealing device, then sealing integrity and protection against environmental hazards are improved, but a resilient biasing force is generated that returns the switch actuator to its original position, causing the switch to fail remaining actuated
Solution Approach 1:
The boot member is divided into three distinct sections: a basal section for sealing at the panel, an intermediate section with a frusto-conical configuration, and an apical section for sealing at the actuator. This segmentation allows each section to serve its specific function while the intermediate section's geometry specifically addresses the biasing force issue by facilitating angular displacement without generating excessive resilient force.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section employs a frusto-conical configuration with specific geometric parameters (oblique direction, transverse spacing between wall portions) that change the mechanical properties of the elastomeric material in that region. This geometric parameter change allows the material to accommodate angular displacement while reducing the resilient biasing force to below the threshold that would return the actuator to its original position.
2Reliability
If the resilient biasing force in the boot member is increased to maintain sealing pressure, then sealing integrity is improved, but the force becomes sufficient to return the actuator to its original position, causing unwanted deactivation
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the boot member have different structural qualities: the basal and apical sections provide sealing pressure through their sealing surfaces, while the intermediate section has a frusto-conical configuration specifically designed to reduce biasing force. This local differentiation of structural quality allows sealing integrity to be maintained without generating harmful deactivation forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section introduces a dimensional change by extending wall portions in an oblique direction rather than purely axially. This oblique geometry provides an additional degree of freedom for angular displacement, allowing the boot to accommodate actuator movement while reducing the magnitude of resilient biasing force in the axial direction.
3Ease of operation
If the boot member construction is modified to reduce biasing force, then switch actuation is improved, but sealing integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The boot member merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: sealing at the panel (basal section), accommodating angular displacement with reduced biasing force (intermediate section), and sealing at the actuator (apical section). This merging ensures that sealing integrity and reduced biasing force work together rather than in opposition, as both are achieved through the coordinated geometry of the integrated structure.
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 effectively seals toggle-operated apparatuses against environmental conditions while maintaining actuation functionality, ensuring the switch remains in the actuated state, and is adaptable for use with switches requiring reduced actuating forces without compromising sealing integrity or longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a boot member having a wall constructed of a resiliently flexible elastomeric material, the boot member including a lower basal section for establishing a seal at the panel, an upper apical section for establishing a seal at the actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method are disclosed for use in sealing a toggle-operated apparatus mounted upon a panel. The actuator of the apparatus initially is in an operating position extending along a given axial direction and is movable through angular displacement away from that orientation into another operating position, by an operating force applied in a transverse direction. A boot member of the device is constructed of a resiliently flexible elastomeric material and includes an apical section for placement over the actuator upon sealing the apparatus, and an intermediate section configured and dimensioned to facilitate angular displacement of the apical section, along with angular displacement of the actuator to operate the apparatus, while reducing any resulting resilient biasing force tending to return the apical section toward orientation in the given axial direction to less than any transversely directed force capable of moving the actuator out of the another operating position.