Wave-Shaped Connector Seal Lip for Lower Plugging Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
High plugging forces are required when connecting two connectors with a traditional connector seal, especially during the initial plugging process, which can be challenging and potentially lead to tilting or uneven loading.
Innovation Solution
A connector seal with a wave-shaped sealing lip that extends along the circumferential direction, where maxima and minima alternate in the axial direction, reducing the initial contact force by allowing maxima to engage first, followed by minima, thereby reducing the overall plugging force required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional connector seal with a straight sealing lip is used, then reliable sealing is achieved, but high plugging forces are required
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing lip is designed with a wave-shaped profile instead of a straight line, creating curved maxima and minima regions. This curvature allows the sealing lip to gradually engage with the counterconnector during plugging, reducing the peak plugging force while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the distributed contact points.
2Force
If a wave-shaped sealing lip is used, then plugging force is reduced, but the sealing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shaped sealing lip can be viewed as segmented into multiple contact regions (maxima and minima), where each segment engages with the counterconnector at different stages of the plugging process. This segmentation allows force distribution without requiring multiple separate sealing components, thus reducing overall structural complexity.
3Reliability
If the entire sealing lip contacts the connector simultaneously, then sealing is achieved, but tilting and uneven loading occur
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shaped profile creates preliminary contact points at the maxima regions that engage with the counterconnector first during plugging. This preliminary action guides the connectors into proper alignment before the minima regions make contact, preventing tilting and ensuring stable, uniform loading throughout the sealing process.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a connector seal (1) for sealing a gap (7) between a first connector (3) and a second connector (5) of a plug connection in a state of being plugged together, wherein the connector seal (1) extends in a self-contained manner along a circumferential direction (U) around a central opening (9), wherein the connector seal (1) has two face sides (13, 15) disposed opposite one another in an axial direction (A), wherein the connector seal (1) has an inner side (17) facing the central opening (9) in the radial direction (R) and an outer side (19) facing away from the central opening (9) in the radial direction (R), one of which is an abutment side ( 21) for the abutment against the first connector (3) and the other is a contact side (23) for the abutment, in particular in a sealing manner, against the second connector (5) in the state of the plug connection being plugged together. In order to reduce the plugging force necessary for plugging the two connectors (3, 5) together, it is provided that the contact side (23) comprises at least one sealing lip (31) which extends along the circumferential direction (U) and the position of which changes in a wave-shaped manner in the axial direction (A).