GB2293922A

GB2293922A - Water resistant housing

Info

Publication number: GB2293922A
Application number: GB9420206A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Powers
Original assignee: Royce Thompson Ltd
Current assignee: Royce Thompson Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-06
Filing date: 1994-10-06
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-06
Also published as: GB2293922B; GB9420206D0

Abstract

A water resistant housing primarily intended to enclose electrical components has a base part 10 with a circular groove 13 which accommodates a sealing member. A cover member 30 has a flange 40, partly accommodated in the groove 13 and protrusions 38 which secure the cover 30 to the base 10. The base 10 has apertures 16 through which which may pass electrical conductors. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Water resistant housing.

Description of Invention This invention relates to a water resistant housing, and primarily but not exclusively to a water resistant housing designed for receiving electrical or electronic components that operate in an environment where resistance to ingress of moisture is important.

One example of such a device is a light sensor, such as the type that may be used for the switching of lighting, for example street lighting.

Similar devices in use at present suffer from the problem that they are insufficiently water resistant, and more specifically, do not meet Standard IP67.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved housing which overcomes or minimises this problem of lack of water resistance.

According to the present invention we provide a water resistant housing comprising a first part and a second part and a sealing means, said first part and second part being connectable through the intermediary of said sealing means, and fixing means for maintaining said first and second parts in secured relationship, said first and second parts being adapted such that when connected through the intermediary of said sealing means they define a housing, at least one of said parts being provided with or allowing for the passage of electrical conductors from the outside to the inside of said housing.

Preferably said first part comprises a base part and the second part a cover part.

Said sealing means may be an integral part of either said first or second parts, or of both first and second parts, or may be separate from said first and second parts.

Said base part may comprise means for attachment of electrical components thereto. Said means may include a raised formation, preferably situated near the centre of the inner face of said base part. Preferably the base part is provided with at least one aperture through which an electrical conductor may extend.

Preferably a plurality of apertures are provided each adapted to accept an electrical conductor. Further means for attachment of electrical components may also include an upstanding part, situated on an inside surface of the base part, to which electrical components or similar items may be attached.

Since the housing is intended to provide a water resistant enclosure for electrical components it is important that ingress of moisture into the housing is not allowed to take place where the conductors pass through the base part.

Preferably an outside face of the base part in the region, where the or each conductor passes through the base, is either recessed or provided with a cup like formation into which recess or cup like formation a sealant can be placed so as to provide an effective moisture barrier. The sealant may comprise an epoxy resin which not only provides a waterproof barrier but also provides additional securement of the or each conductor to the base part.

In order to effect a water resistant seal between the base and the cover part the base part may be provided with a groove, recess or other similar formation adapted to at least partly accommodate a sealing member. The sealing member may comprise a compressible member such as neoprene or some other natural or artificial rubber. The cover part may be provided with a flange or other surface of a size that may also be at least partially accommodated by the groove, recess or other formation provided in the base. The arrangement is such that the base and cover part may be forced together compressing the sealing member, and when secured in such position, provide a moisture resistant barrier.

The sealing member may be of tube-like construction so as to be readily compressible to provide an effective seal when the base part and cover parts are secured together.

In order to effect a proper seal the groove must be continuous around the base and likewise the flange on the cover part is also continuous.

Preferably the groove follows a curved path and conveniently may be substantially circular. In a situation where a substantially square or rectangular path is necessary, preferably the corners are rounded which assists in the provision of an effective seal.

It is envisaged that the seal may be of a continuous nature or alternatively may be a length of material where a length of material is provided it will be ensured that the ends closely abut each other or may slightly overlap.

Upon attachment of said base and cover parts, the flange on the cover part makes contact with the seal in said groove. In so doing the seal is compressed, and expands in the direction of the plane of said base part, whilst remaining firmly in contact with the flange of said cover part, thus making a sufficiently water resistant seal between said base and cover parts.

Ingress of moisture may be further impeded by the shape of the exterior of said cover part, such that any water incident on said cover part is directed away from the primary sealing means.

There may be provided a small protruding element on one of said parts and a recess on the other locating device when said base and cover parts are joined together.

Said base part may be formed of a rigid plastic material, said material being flame proof, for example flame retardant acrylonitrile-butadiene- styrene (ABS).

Said cover part may comprise a generally cylindrical middle section, upon which may be situated a cone or dome shaped section. Around the base of said cylindrical section may be situated a shoulder type portion, from the outer perimeter of which a further generally cylindrical portion extends, whose height is less than that of the middle section, in a direction substantially parallel with the axes of said middle and cone or domed shaped sections.

Said generally cylindrical, cone or dome shaped, and further generally cylindrical portions are all preferably moulded as one unit.

Said further generally cylindrical portion is henceforth referred to as the lower cylindrical portion.

Any suitable means may be provided to secure the two parts together and conveniently elastically deformable parts can be provided on one part to provide a snap-engagement.

The common area of said lower cylindrical portion and shoulder type portion may define a substantially circular periphery with a plurality of apertures contained within. Said apertures may serve as one part of a snap-engagement device, and more particularly as engagement sites for receiving the perimeter of said inner face of said base part.

Further means may be provided on the interior of said cover part to facilitate attachment of electrical components, preferably by means of two ribs, which may be attached to or form part of the interior of said substantially cylindrical and cone or dome shaped portions, and which may extend in a direction substantially parallel to said substantially cylindrical portion.

Said cover part may be formed of an opaque rigid plastic material, said material being flameproof, for example polypropylene. Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the base and the cover parts, and FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of the complete assembly of base and cover parts.

Referring first to Figure 1. This shows a substantially disc shaped base part generally indicated at 10 comprising an outer perimeter 11 upon which is situated a small protruding element 12. The base part further comprises a circular groove 13 located within the perimeter 11 of the inner face of the base part 10, in which a seal, for example tubing, may be accommodated. The tubing should be easily compressible, possibly hollow, and should be formed of a water resistant material, such that when compressed by flange 40 it expands to fill groove 13 completely or partially. Located near the centre of said base part is a raised formation 14 provided with apertures 16, which serve as sites for the attachment of electrical contacts.

An aperture 15 is provided into which a mounting part may be secured for the mounting of electrical conductors and/or electrical components. The mounting part will seal the aperture 15.

Further there is located near the raised formation 14 an upstanding part 17 to which further components may be attached. On the outer side of said base part there is located a recess or cup-like formation 18, which serves as a site for the application of a suitable sealant.

Figure 1 also illustrates a hollow cover part generally indicated at 30 comprising a generally cylindrical middle section 31 and a cone or dome shaped section 32. Around the base of said cylindrical section is situated a shoulder type portion 33 and a further generally cylindrical lower portion 34 attached thereto.

The height of lower cylindrical portion 34 is less than that of middle portion 31 in a direction parallel to the axes of sections 31 and 32. On the inner side of said shoulder type portion lies a recess 35 shaped so as to accept the small protruding element 12 on said base part 10, the elements 35 and 12 thus forming a two element locating device used when said base and cover parts are joined together.

The common area of lower cylindrical portion 34 and shoulder type portion 33 defines a periphery 36 around which are situated evenly spaced apertures 37.

Apertures 37 extend part way into shoulder type portion 33 and also part way into lower cylindrical portion 34. On the interior of said portion 34, directly beneath each of said apertures 37, is situated an angled wedge shaped segment 38, such that when said base part 10 is attached to said cover part 30, the perimeter 11 of the upper face of said base part 10 lies firmly above said angled segments 38, having been secured in a snap-engagement manner by pushing said base part 10 against said cover part 30. In so doing, the angled wedge shaped segment gives, to a limited extent, in a direction in the plane of, and away from the centre of, base part 10 so that the perimeter 11 of the base part 10 may pass past said angled segments 38 in an upward direction and be held firmly in place thereafter.

Attached to sections 31 and 32 are two ribs 39 which may be used to attach electrical components to the invention. At the bottom of section 31 lies a flange 40 designed so as to fit fully or partially into groove 13 of base part 10, and in so doing compressing the tubing which lies within groove 13.

Referring now to Figure 2, the assembled water resistant housing generally indicated at 50 is formed by the joining of base part 10 and cover part 30. The snap-engagement joining mechanism is indicated by perimeter 11 situated above angled wedge shaped segment 38. The base part 10 and the cover part 30 are shown in their sealed condition in which the flange 40 extends into groove 13, and compresses tubing 51.

An electrical conductor is shown at 52 in dotted outline.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A water-resistant housing comprising a first part and a second part and sealing means, said first part and second part being connectable through the intermediary of said sealing means, and fixing means for fixing said first and second parts in secured relationship, said first and second parts being adapted such that when connected through the intermediary of said sealing means, they define a housing, at least one of said parts being provided with or allowing for the passage of electrical conductors from the outside to the inside of the housing.

2. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said first part comprises a base part and the second part, a cover part.

3. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said sealing means is integral with either of said first or said second parts or both said first and second parts.

4. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said sealing means is separate from said first and second parts.

5. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said base part comprises means for attachment of electrical components thereto.

6. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said means for attachment of electrical components comprises a raised formation.

7. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base part is provided with at least one aperture through which an electrical conductor may extend.

8. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said base part is provided with a plurality of apertures each adapted to accept an electrical conductor.

9. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein an outside face of the base part in the region where, the or each conductor passes through the base, is either recessed or provided with a cup-like formation into which recess or cup, a sealant is placed so as to provide an effective moisture barrier.

10. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the sealant comprises an epoxy resin adapted to provide a water resistant housing and securement of the or each conductor to the base part.

11. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the base or the cover part is provided with a groove, recess or other similar formation adapted to at least partly accommodate a sealing member.

12. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the sealing member comprises a compressible member made from neoprene or some natural or artificial rubber.

13. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the cover or the base part is provided with a flange or other surface of a size that it is at least partially accommodated by said groove, recess or other formation provided in the base or cover part respectively.

14. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the sealing member is of tube-like construction so as to be compressible by an effective seal when the base parts and cover parts are secured together.

15. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 12 or any claim appendant thereto wherein the seal is continuous.

16. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 12 or any one of claims 13 and 14 when appendant to Claim 12 wherein the sealing member comprises a length of material and wherein the length of the sealing member ensures that the ends closely abut each other or may slightly overlap.

17. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a protruding element is provided on one of the first and second parts and a recess on the other to provide locating means to locate said first and second parts in their correct relationship.

18. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 2 or any claim appendant to Claim 2, wherein said base part is made from a plastics material.

19. A water resistant housing as claimed in Claim 18 wherein said material comprises acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene.

20. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first and second part comprise a generally cylindrical middle section on which is situated a comb or dome shaped section moulded as a single part.

21. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein fixing means comprises a plurality of protrusions on one of said parts, said protrusions being engageable with the other of said parts to provide a snap-engagement fastening.

22. A water resistant housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said parts is transparent or translucent.

23. A water resistant housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

24. A water resistant housing including any novel feature or novel combination of features as described herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.