Ventilation Housing Inner Surface Curvature for Seal Ring Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation housings for automotive electrical/electronic components are difficult to assemble due to the complexity of fitting ventilation members into vent holes.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation housing design featuring a housing body with a specific inner peripheral surface configuration, including rounded and straight segments, and a ventilation member with a seal ring and support leg, allowing for smooth assembly by deforming the seal ring to fit along the inner surface of the housing body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional vent hole structure is used, then the housing structure is simple, but the ventilation member is difficult to assemble into the vent hole
Solution Approach 1:
The inner peripheral surface of the vent hole incorporates rounded segments with specific radii (first rounded segment with radius R1, second rounded segment with radius R2) that match the curvature of the seal ring. This curved geometry allows the seal ring to deform smoothly along the vent hole perimeter during assembly, transforming the difficult fitting process into a smooth insertion operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise geometric parameters for the inner peripheral surface (radii R1 and R2 of the rounded segments, straight segment dimensions) that are optimized to match the seal ring's cross-sectional shape. By controlling these dimensional parameters, the seal ring can be compressed and deformed to conform to the vent hole opening, enabling easy assembly while maintaining sealing performance.
2Reliability
If the seal ring is made to fit tightly in the vent hole, then sealing performance is improved, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded segments of the inner peripheral surface provide a curved guide path that matches the seal ring's geometry. This allows the seal ring to be compressed uniformly and deformed smoothly into the vent hole opening, achieving tight sealing contact without requiring forceful or complex assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner peripheral surface features localized rounded segments at specific positions (first and second rounded segments) that correspond to critical sealing contact points on the seal ring. This localized geometric optimization ensures tight sealing where needed while maintaining ease of assembly throughout the insertion process.
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
Facilitates easy assembly of the ventilation housing kit by ensuring the ventilation member can be pressed into the housing body smoothly, enhancing assembly efficiency and reducing assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the seal ring is deformed along the inner peripheral surface so that the seal ring is in contact with the first rounded segment and the first straight segment
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A housing kit (90) includes a housing body (20) and a ventilation member (10). The housing body (20) has a vent hole (21). The ventilation member (10) has a leg portion (26). The leg portion (26) is a portion adapted to be inserted into the vent hole (21). The housing body (20) has an inner peripheral surface (23) that defines the vent hole (21). The inner peripheral surface (23) includes a first rounded segment (23R1), a first straight segment (23S1), a second rounded segment (23R2), and a second straight segment (23S2) that are formed in order from an exterior space (24) side to an interior space (22) side of the housing body (20). The first rounded segment (23R1) and the second rounded segment (23R2) each form a curve convex toward a central axis (O) of the vent hole (21) in a cross section of the housing body (20) including the central axis (O). The first straight segment (23S1) and the second straight segment (23S2) each form a straight line in this cross section.