Top-Cover Housing Structure That Redirects Liquid Into Mounting Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical device housings with top-side covers face challenges in preventing liquid penetration, leading to potential dysfunction, as existing seals are costly and require frequent maintenance and testing.
Innovation Solution
A housing design featuring collars with a drip edge and mounting grooves that guide liquids away from the device interior, eliminating the need for seals by using capillary forces and inclined grooves to manage liquid flow, ensuring protection of sensitive modules without hermetic sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If seals are used to prevent liquid penetration through horizontally arranged covers, then liquid protection is improved, but production cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the seal component from the system. Instead of using seals to prevent liquid penetration, the design allows liquid to enter through gaps but redirects it into mounting grooves where it is contained and prevented from reaching sensitive modules. This removes the need for seals entirely, reducing both production and maintenance costs while maintaining liquid protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of liquid entering through gaps into a beneficial containment system. By designing mounting grooves that capture and redirect liquid flow, the system allows initial liquid entry but then uses the mounting grooves to beneficially contain and control the liquid, preventing it from damaging sensitive modules. This approach transforms potential harm into a controlled, manageable situation without requiring expensive seals.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If seals are used to prevent liquid penetration, then liquid protection is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes seals from the system, eliminating the need for routine seal testing, lubrication, and replacement. The alternative design using mounting grooves and drip edges creates a passive liquid containment system that requires no maintenance while still protecting against liquid penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting groove system performs self-service by automatically containing and redirecting liquid without requiring external intervention or maintenance. The structural design itself provides the liquid protection function, eliminating the need for separate maintenance activities associated with seal systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If gap width is reduced to prevent capillary adherence, then liquid flow is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the gap width parameter to a specific range (1-4 mm) that balances two competing requirements: preventing capillary adherence to allow liquid flow while maintaining acceptable aesthetic appearance. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal value that satisfies both functional and aesthetic requirements.
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 is cost-effective, reduces maintenance, and effectively prevents liquid penetration into the device, allowing for easy cleaning and operation while maintaining the integrity of sensitive components.
Implementation Method 1
a gap formed between the outside of the collar and the housing has a gap width (gap), at which an adherence of liquid is prevented as a result of capillary forces
Data Source
AI summary
A housing (1) for devices with at least one module, which is to be protected against penetration of liquids, has at least one cover (2) that is arranged on the top side of the housing (1). A simple and cost-effective production and maintenance is provided by the outer edge areas (4) of the cover (2) having at least one collar (5, 7, 9, 11), which protrudes downwards when cover (2) is closed and has a preferably circumferential drip edge (12). The housing (1) is provided in the edge area of an opening (13) to be closed by the cover (2) with at least one mounting groove (15), which, when the cover (2) is closed, is arranged below the at least one collar (7, 11), such that a liquid dripping from the drip edge (12) falls into the mounting groove (15).