Waterproof Electrical Socket With Removable Inner Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical installation boxes that are waterproofed using casting materials often render the internal devices inaccessible for repair or replacement, preventing maintenance and maintenance-related issues.

Innovation Solution

A double-walled housing configuration with a removable inner housing cover, where the transition area between the inner and outer housings is encapsulated with a potting material, allowing for easy access while maintaining watertightness, and using a silicone-like casting resin that can be cut for repair access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the interior of the electrical junction box is encapsulated with potting compound to achieve waterproof protection, then the protection class IP 68 is achieved, but the electrical or electronic equipment becomes inaccessible for repair or replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof protection class IP 68VSAvoidaccessibility of electrical or electronic equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into an outer housing and an inner housing that can be separated. The inner housing contains the electrical or electronic equipment and can be removed from the outer housing, allowing access to the equipment for repair or replacement while maintaining the waterproof seal through the removable inner housing cover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner housing cover is designed to be removable rather than fixed, transforming the enclosure from a static sealed structure to a dynamic one that can be opened for maintenance and closed for protection. This allows the system to switch between protective and accessible states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of repair

If the electrical or electronic equipment is made accessible for repair after potting, then ease of repair is improved, but the waterproof seal and protection class IP 68 are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of electrical or electronic equipmentVSAvoidwaterproof protection class IP 68
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the housing into outer and inner housings with a removable cover, the design allows selective access to equipment without compromising the overall waterproof seal. The inner housing can be removed for repair and reinstalled to maintain IP 68 protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner housing cover can be removed for maintenance operations and then reinstalled to restore the waterproof seal. This allows temporary disclosure of the interior for repair purposes followed by recovery of the protective enclosure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of repair

If a removable inner housing cover is provided for access to equipment, then ease of repair is improved, but the structural complexity of the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of electrical or electronic equipmentVSAvoidstructural complexity of housing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into outer and inner housings with a removable cover, adding structural elements for access. However, this segmentation allows modular assembly and disassembly, simplifying maintenance operations despite the increased number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2061293B1Electrical installation socket and use thereof
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 GUNTHER SPELSBERG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2061293B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The electricity installation box has an external housing (1) in which an internal housing (2) is provided. The electrical or electronic unit (8) is arranged in the internal housing. The internal housing is locked by a removable internal housing cover (9). The transition zone of the internal housing cover is sealed with a grouting material on the internal housing.