Patent Application
20140170952
Modern vehicles, such as cars, incorporate electronic systems and controllers into the engine designs. The electronic systems enable proper operation of the engine and other vehicle systems during all operating conditions. Some operating conditions, such as rain or sleet, are hazardous to exposed electronics and can damage or destroy exposed electronics. In order to protect the electronic systems, typical vehicles isolate the electronic components from the environmental hazards by placing the electronics within an electronics housing module.
Electronics housing modules include a housing body and a cover that seals the housing body. The sealed enclosure protects the electronics that are contained within from external contaminants. The housing body can further include sealed communication ports allowing the electronics module to be connected to sensors or other electric systems within the vehicle. Once the electronic components are situated within the housing module, the cover is placed on the module, thereby sealing the housing module.
The process of sealing the housing module can displace gasses, such as air, that are located within the housing module. In order to prevent the displaced gasses from damaging the seal while the seal is being applied or is curing, at least one vent is positioned on the housing module and allows gas to escape from the housing module during the sealing process. In order to ensure that the housing module is fully sealed, the vent is then sealed using a vent seal.
Disclosed is an electronics housing that includes a first enclosure portion defining an internal cavity, a second enclosure portion sealing the internal cavity, at least one vent positioned in one of the first enclosure portion and the second enclosure portion, the vent comprising a through hole protruding from an exterior edge of the vent to an interior edge of the vent, a malleable sealing member disposed in the vent, and a rigid retaining member disposed in the vent.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
The process of positioning the module cover 40 and sealing the module cover 40 to the first housing portion 20 displaces air, or any other gas, disposed within the internal cavity 30. In order to allow displaced gasses to escape from the internal cavity 30 without disrupting or damaging the seal at the joint 42, a vent 50 is provided in the module cover 40. In alternate examples, multiple vents 50 can be utilized to the same effect. In yet further alternate examples, vents 50 can be located on the first housing portion 20 in addition to, or in place of, the vents 50 positioned on the module cover 40.
The vent 50 is a through hole 60 that is empty during assembly of the electronics module 10. During assembly, the displaced gasses escape through the through hole 60. Once the cover 40 has been positioned and sealed to the housing portion 20, one or more sealing elements are positioned within the through hole 60. The sealing elements seal the through hole 60, thereby preventing environmental contaminants from entering the internal cavity 30 through the vent 50. In the illustrated example of
The elastic spheroid is malleable (i.e. can be temporarily deformed) and engages an interior surface of the through hole 60 across a full 360 degree circumference of the through hole 60. The contact between the elastic spheroid 70 and the interior surface of the through hole 60 seals the vent 50 and prevents external contaminants from entering the internal cavity 30. The rigid spheroid 80 is positioned in the through hole 60 exterior to the elastic spheroid 70 and is maintained in position via an interference fit between the rigid spheroid 80 and the interior surface of the through hole 60. The presence of the rigid spheroid 80 protects the elastic spheroid 70 from damage from environmental conditions and maintains the elastic spheroid 70 in position.
While
With continued reference to
A rigid spheroid 140, such as a steel ball bearing, is placed in the through hole 120 exterior to the liquid sealant 130 while the liquid sealant 130 is curing. In alternate examples, the rigid spheroid 140 can be positioned in the vent after the liquid sealant 130 has fully cured. The rigid spheroid 140 is maintained in position via an interference fit with the interior surface of the through hole 120. The rigid spheroid 140 provides a physical barrier that prevents debris and other external contaminants from impacting the liquid sealant 130 after it has cured. The rigid spheroid 140 further maintains the liquid sealant 130 in position in the case that the liquid sealant 130 loosens as the result of vibrations or impacts. In this way the rigid spheroid 140 protects the vent seal and increases the longevity of the electronics module 10. While referred to as a liquid sealant 130 herein, one of skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will understand that the liquid sealant 130 is only a liquid pre-curing.
With continued reference to
Once the elastic spheroid 230 is in position, a rigid spheroid 240, such as a steel ball bearing, is positioned in the through hole 220 exterior to the elastic spheroid 230. The rigid spheroid 240 is maintained in the through hole 220 via an interference fit with the interior surface of the through hole 220. The rigid spheroid 240, in turn, maintains the elastic spheroid 230 in position in the through hole 220. As with the example of
With continued reference to
Received within the through hole 320 is a malleable spheroid 330, such as an elastic ball. As with the previous example vents 100, 200, the malleable spheroid 330 is pushed into the through hole 320 until it deforms and creates a contact seal on a full 360 degree circumference of the through hole 320. A plug 340, or insert, is then inserted into the through hole 320, and maintains the malleable spheroid 330 in position. The plug 340 is rigid material. In the illustrated example of
While some of the above described examples utilize malleable spheroids and rigid spheroids, it is understood that alternate shaped sealing elements, such as cylinders or plug shaped elements could be utilized to similar effect and still fall within the above described disclosure.
Furthermore, while the above examples are described individually, it will be understood by one of skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that an electronics module utilizing multiple vents can intermix different vent types in any combination, and the electronics module 10 of
Even further still, while each of the above describes vents 50, 100, 200, 300 includes a tapered interior surface, alternate vents utilizing a non-tapered through hole can also be implemented and full within the above disclosure.
It is further understood that any of the above described concepts can be used alone or in combination with any or all of the other above described concepts. Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/737,853, which was filed on Dec. 17, 2012 and is incorporated herein by reference. The present disclosure relates generally to electronics enclosures, and more specifically to a vent seal for an electronics enclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61737853 | Dec 2012 | US |
