Ventilation member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ventilation members for housings are prone to cracking at the root of the insertion portion due to stress concentration, leading to potential detachment from the housing.

Innovation Solution

The ventilation member features a support with a leg portion that includes insertion portions separated by slits and rounded portions between the inner and circumferential surfaces at the root, reducing stress concentration and preventing cracks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If insertion portions are elastically deformed radially inwardly to be inserted into the opening and fixed, then the ventilation member can be securely attached to the housing, but stress concentrates on the inner circumferential surface at the root of the insertion portion causing cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidcrack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces rounded portions with a rounded convex surface in the region between the inner circumferential surface and circumferential end surface at the root of the insertion portion. This curvature design eliminates sharp corners and stress concentration points, thereby preventing crack formation while maintaining the elastic deformation capability for secure attachment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Force

If the insertion portion has a sharp corner at the root to maximize insertion depth, then attachment strength is improved, but crack initiation becomes more likely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidstress concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded portions replace sharp corners at the root of the insertion portion with a curved surface. This maintains the insertion depth and attachment strength while eliminating the stress concentration that would occur at sharp corners during elastic deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design effectively prevents cracks at the root of the insertion portion, ensuring secure attachment and reduced risk of detachment while maintaining airflow through the vent hole.

Implementation Method 1

rounded portions each formed in a region between an inner circumferential surface of the insertion portion and a circumferential end surface of the insertion portion at a root of the insertion portion and having a rounded convex surface... stress is less likely to concentrate on the inner circumferential surface at the root of the insertion portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress concentration reduction:

Implementation Method 2

insertion portions... adapted to be elastically deformed radially inwardly when the insertion portions are inserted into the opening and then to be fixed to the opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2785162B1Ventilation member
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 NITTO DENKO CORP
  • EP2785162B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2785162B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2785162B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The ventilation member (10) of the present invention includes: a support (4); and an air-permeable membrane (2) disposed on the support (4). The support (4) includes: a base portion (11) supporting the air-permeable membrane (2); and a leg portion (12) extending from the base portion (11) toward the interior space (22) of a housing (20) and adapted to fix the ventilation member (10) to the opening (21) of the housing (20). The leg portion (12) includes: insertion portions (31) separated from each other in a circumferential direction by slits (32) formed between the insertion portions (31), the insertion portions (31) being adapted to be elastically deformed radially inwardly when the insertion portions (31) are inserted into the opening (21) and then to be fixed to the opening (21); and rounded portions (33) each formed in a region between an inner circumferential surface (31C) of the insertion portion (31) and a circumferential end surface (31D) of the insertion portion (31) at a root (31A) of the insertion portion (31) and having a rounded convex surface.