JP2010247547A - Ventilation member and ventilation structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ventilation member which is usable for the casings of automobile components such as lamps, motors, sensors, switches, ECUs, gear boxes, and the like and the ventilation membrane of which does not have a tendency to deformation. <P>SOLUTION: This ventilation member 10 includes a plate-like first metal body 4 having a first through-hole 5 for ventilation, the ventilation membrane 2 which has a first main surface 2p and a second main surface 2q and which is disposed on the first metal body 4 so as to cover the first through-hole 5 by the first main surface 2p, a second plate-like metal body 6 which has a second through-hole 7 for ventilation that is separated from the first through-hole by the ventilation diaphragm 2 and which is disposed on the second main surface 2q side of the ventilation membrane 2 so that a ventilation is allowed between the first through-hole 5 and the second through-hole 7 through the ventilation membrane 2, and a joint part 12 which includes a structure in which the projection 9 of the second metal body 6 is fitted into the recess 8 of the first metal body 4 and which joins the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6 to each other while the ventilation membrane 2 is held between the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ventilation member and a ventilation structure.

  A ventilation member is attached to a housing that houses automobile electrical components such as a lamp, a motor, a sensor, a switch, and an ECU. The ventilation member secures ventilation between the inside and the outside of the housing to prevent a problem based on a pressure change, and also prevents foreign matter from entering the inside of the housing. An example of such a ventilation member is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The ventilation member disclosed in Patent Document 1 is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

  The ventilation member 60 includes a ventilation film 63, a support body 62 on which the ventilation film 63 is welded, and a cover 61 that covers the support body 62. The support 62 is typically made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The ventilation member 60 is fixed to the nozzle 70 a of the housing 70 using the elasticity of the thermoplastic elastomer. The ventilation member 60 can be attached to the housing 70 with one touch, and is excellent in workability. However, when the ventilation member 60 is attached to the housing 70, the ventilation film 63 is also deformed along with the elastic deformation of the support body 62. In this case, stress is generated at the welding interface between the support 62 and the gas permeable membrane 63, and the gas permeable membrane 63 is easily peeled off from the support 62.

JP 2001-143524 A

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a ventilation member in which a ventilation film is hardly deformed.

That is, the present invention
A plate-like first metal body having a first through hole;
A gas permeable membrane having a first main surface and a second main surface and disposed on the first metal body so as to cover the first through hole with the first main surface;
A second through-hole separated from the first through-hole by the air-permeable membrane, and the air can be passed between the first through-hole and the second through-hole through the air-permeable membrane. A plate-like second metal body disposed on the second main surface side of the gas permeable membrane;
The first metal body includes a structure in which a convex portion of the second metal body is fitted in the concave portion of the first metal body, and the first ventilation body is held between the first metal body and the second metal body. A coupling portion for fixing the metal body and the second metal body to each other;
A ventilation member is provided.

In another aspect, the present invention provides:
A housing having an internal space in need of ventilation, and an opening for ventilating the internal space and the outside;
The ventilation member of the present invention attached to the opening,
A ventilation structure is provided.

  According to the present invention, the gas permeable membrane is held between the first metal body and the second metal body. Since each metal body has higher rigidity than a conventional resin support, it contributes to prevention of deformation of the ventilation film when the ventilation member is attached to an article such as a casing. Further, a gas permeable membrane is sandwiched between the first metal body and the second metal body, and the first metal body and the second metal body are fixed to each other at the joint portion. Therefore, it is not essential to weld or bond the gas permeable film to each metal body. In this case, stress cannot be generated at the interface between each metal body and the gas permeable membrane, but also problems caused by welding or bonding the gas permeable membrane to the support, i.e. There is essentially no problem of the film peeling from the support. Moreover, each metal body is excellent in environmental resistance, such as chemical resistance, compared with the conventional resin support. Therefore, the ventilation member of the present invention is also suitable for use in a severe environment such as an engine room.

The perspective view which shows the ventilation member concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. Sectional perspective view which shows the ventilation member of FIG. Cross section of the ventilation membrane Sectional perspective view which shows the ventilation member concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional perspective view which shows the ventilation structure using the ventilation member of FIG. 4A Sectional perspective view which shows the ventilation member concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional perspective view which shows the ventilation structure using the ventilation member of FIG. 5A An exploded perspective view showing a conventional ventilation member Sectional drawing which shows the conventional ventilation member

  Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ventilation member 10 of the present embodiment includes a first metal body 4, a ventilation film 2 and a second metal body 6. The first metal body 4 is a disk-shaped component having a through hole 5 (first through hole). The second metal body 6 is also a disk-shaped component having a through hole 7 (second through hole). The gas permeable membrane 2 is held between the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6. The through hole 5 and the through hole 7 are separated from each other by the gas permeable membrane 2. Venting between the through hole 5 and the through hole 7 is possible through the ventilation film 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6 are fixed to each other by the coupling portion 12 with the gas permeable membrane 2 held between them. Thereby, the clearance gap between each metal body and the ventilation film 2 is sealed. Specifically, the first metal body 4 is formed with a recess 8 (concave hole). The second metal body 6 has a convex portion 9 (convex dowel). The coupling portion 12 includes a fitting structure of the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9. The concave portions 8 are formed at a plurality of locations around the through-hole 5 so that the coupling portions 12 are formed at a plurality of locations around the through-holes 5 and 7 at equal intervals, and the convex portion 9 is formed at a plurality of locations around the through-hole 7. It is formed in the place.

  According to this ventilation member 10, adhesion or welding of the ventilation film 2 to the first metal body 4 and / or the second metal body 6 is not essential. However, a part of the gas permeable membrane 2 may be bonded or welded to the first metal body 4 or the second metal body 6. If the gas permeable membrane 2 is temporarily fastened by bonding or the like, alignment of the first metal body 4, the gas permeable membrane 2 and the second metal body 6 during assembly is facilitated.

  The joint portion 12 may be a caulking joint portion that utilizes expansion and contraction of a metal. As methods for caulking and joining metal plates, V caulking, round caulking, round V caulking, and the like are known, and any of them can be adopted in the present invention. There is no limitation in particular in the number of the coupling | bond parts 12, For example, it can adjust suitably in the range of 3-8 pieces. The shape of the coupling portion 12 in plan view, that is, the shape of the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9 is typically circular. There is no particular limitation on the diameter of the coupling portion 12, that is, the diameter of the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9. There is no limitation in particular also in the protrusion amount (joint protrusion amount) of the coupling part 12, and it can adjust suitably in the range of 0.25-1 mm. In consideration of the strength of the coupling portion 12, the protruding amount of the coupling portion 12 may be larger than the thickness of the gas permeable membrane 2.

  In FIG. 2, the gas permeable membrane 2 is not shown between the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9, but the gas permeable membrane 2 may be interposed between the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9. That is, the convex portion 9 may be directly fitted into the concave portion 8 or may be fitted through the gas permeable membrane 2. This difference is derived from the manufacturing method of the ventilation member 10. The ventilation member 10 can typically be manufactured by the following procedure. First, the first metal body 4, the gas permeable membrane 2, and the second metal body 6 are overlapped to form a laminate. And this laminated body is collectively pressed in the thickness direction, and the coupling | bond part 12 is formed. According to this method, the gas permeable membrane 2 can exist between the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9. Since it is not necessary to press while avoiding the gas permeable membrane 2, assembly is very easy. On the other hand, if holes are formed in the gas permeable membrane 2 in advance and the assembly is performed so that the coupling portions 12 are formed at positions corresponding to the holes, the gas permeable membrane 2 exists between the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9. A structure that is not present is obtained.

  In addition, the recessed part 8 and the convex part 9 were previously formed in the 1st metal body 4 and the 2nd metal body 6, respectively, and the 1st metal body 4, the ventilation film 2, and the 1st were performed, aligning with the recessed part 8 and the convex part 9. After overlapping the two metal bodies 6, the coupling portion 12 may be formed by pushing the convex portion 9 into the concave portion 8.

  In the present embodiment, the first metal body 4 has dimensions equal to the dimensions (diameter and thickness) of the second metal body 6. That is, the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6 are the same parts before assembly. If the parts used for the first metal body 4 and the parts used for the second metal body 6 are made common, the types of parts can be reduced, which is advantageous for cost reduction. The metal bodies 4 and 6 have a thickness of, for example, 0.25 to 1 mm so that the coupling portion 12 can be easily formed.

  As a material of the metal bodies 4 and 6, general-purpose metals such as stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, and aluminum can be used. It is desirable to use a material that has been surface-treated to prevent oxidation or a material that is difficult to oxidize. The metal bodies 4 and 6 can be manufactured by a general processing / forming method such as pressing, cutting, drawing, and die casting.

  The gas permeable membrane 2 has a first main surface 2p and a second main surface 2q. The ventilation film 2 is arranged between the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6 so as to cover the through hole 5 with the first main surface 2p and the through hole 7 with the second main surface 2q.

  The gas permeable membrane 2 is not particularly limited as long as it has a property of allowing gas permeation and preventing liquid permeation. As shown in FIG. 3, the gas permeable membrane 2 may have a membrane body 2a and a reinforcing material 2b superimposed on the membrane body 2a. By providing the reinforcing material 2b, the strength of the gas permeable membrane 2 is improved. Of course, the gas permeable membrane 2 may be composed only of the membrane body 2a.

  The film body 2a may be subjected to oil repellent treatment or water repellent treatment. These liquid repellent treatments can be performed by applying a substance having a small surface tension to the film body 2a, and curing after drying. The liquid repellent used for the liquid repellent treatment is not particularly limited as long as it can form a film having a surface tension lower than that of the film body 2a. For example, a liquid repellent containing a polymer having a perfluoroalkyl group is suitable. The liquid repellent is applied to the film body 2a by a known method such as impregnation or spraying.

  A typical example of the membrane body 2a is a porous membrane made of fluororesin or polyolefin. From the viewpoint of ensuring sufficient waterproofness, a resin porous membrane having an average pore diameter of 0.01 to 10 μm can be used for the membrane body 2a.

  Examples of the fluororesin suitable for the membrane body 2a include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer. Examples of suitable polyolefin for the membrane body 2a include polymers or copolymers of monomers such as ethylene, propylene, 4-methylpentene-1,1butene. A nanofiber film porous body using polyacrylonitrile, nylon, or polylactic acid may be used. Among them, PTFE is preferable because it has a small area and can ensure high air permeability and is excellent in ability to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the housing. The PTFE porous membrane can be produced by a known molding method such as a stretching method or an extraction method.

  The reinforcing material 2b can be a member made of a resin such as polyester, polyethylene, or aramid. The form of the reinforcing material 2b is not particularly limited as long as the air permeability of the gas permeable membrane 2 can be maintained, and is, for example, a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a net, a mesh, a sponge, a foam, or a porous body. The membrane body 2a and the reinforcing material 2b are preferably bonded together by thermal lamination, thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, or an adhesive.

  One of the most suitable examples is that the gas permeable membrane 2 is composed only of the membrane body 2a and the membrane body 2a is made of a PTFE membrane. Since the PTFE film normally used as the gas permeable membrane 2 is thin and flexible, even when the gas permeable membrane 2 is interposed between the concave portion 8 and the convex portion 9, the strength of the coupling portion 12 (coupling strength) can be sufficiently obtained. Although there is a possibility that the gas permeable membrane 2 is broken at the joint portion 12, this does not greatly affect the performance of the gas permeable member 10.

The thickness of the gas permeable membrane 2 is preferably in a range of 1 μm to 5 mm in consideration of strength and ease of handling. The diameter of the gas permeable membrane 2 may be equal to or different from the diameters of the metal bodies 4 and 6. In the present embodiment, the diameter of the gas permeable membrane 2 is equal to the diameter of each metal body 4 and 6. Therefore, the coupling part 12 is formed inside the outer peripheral edge of the gas permeable membrane 2. Air permeability of the breathable film 2 may be in the range of 0.1~300sec / 100cm ³ at Gurley value obtained in Gurley tester method specified in JIS P 8117. The water pressure resistance of the gas permeable membrane 2 is preferably 1.0 kPa or more.

(Second Embodiment)
A ventilation member 20 shown in FIG. 4A uses the ventilation member 10 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as the main body 10 and is a resin that encloses the outer peripheral portions of the metal bodies 4 and 6 over the entire circumference. A component 14 is further provided. Specifically, the resin component 14 has a circular and ring shape that can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. The resin component 14 is typically made of an elastomer. As such an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer is preferable, and specifically, “Miralastomer (registered trademark)” available from Mitsui Chemicals, “Miraplane (registered trademark)” available from Mitsubishi Chemical, etc. are suitable. Can be used for

  The resin component 14 can be formed by, for example, a known insert injection molding method. That is, the resin part 14 is molded by inserting the main body 10 into the mold. According to the insert injection molding method, the resin component 14 and the main body 10 can be easily integrated. Further, only the resin component 14 having the annular inner circumferential groove 16 is separately manufactured by a known resin molding method such as an injection molding method, and the main body portion 10 is fitted into the inner circumferential groove 16 so that the main body is attached to the resin component 14. The part 10 may be fixed.

  When the ventilation member 20 includes such a resin component 14, the attachment of the ventilation member 20 to an article such as a housing is facilitated. As shown in FIG. 4B, the ventilation structure 40 is obtained by attaching the ventilation member 20 to the housing 42. The housing 42 has an internal space 46 that requires ventilation, and an opening 44 for ventilating the internal space 46 and the outside. The housing 42 is made of, for example, metal or hard resin. The opening 44 includes a through-hole 43 and a cylindrical portion 45 extending upward from the periphery of the through-hole 43 (a direction from the internal space 46 to the outside). The inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 45 is slightly smaller than that of the resin component 14. The height of the cylindrical portion 45 is adjusted to be larger than the thickness of the resin component 14 so that the ventilation member 20 does not protrude from the opening 44.

  If the ventilation member 20 is attached to the opening 44, the pressure in the internal space 45 of the housing 42 is kept equal to the external pressure through the ventilation member 20. In particular, when the resin component 14 is made of an elastomer, the ventilation member 20 can be fixed to the housing 42 using the elastic force of the resin component 14. Even if the resin component 14 is elastically deformed, the metal bodies 4 and 6 are hardly deformed, and the gas permeable membrane 2 is firmly held between the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6.

(Third embodiment)
A ventilation member 30 shown in FIG. 5A uses the ventilation member 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as the main body 10 and is a resin that wraps each outer peripheral portion of the metal bodies 4 and 6 over the entire circumference. A part 32 is further provided. The resin component 32 has a through hole 34 (third through hole) including a part communicating with the through hole 5 of the first metal body 4 and a part communicating with the through hole 7 of the second metal body 6. It is a cylindrical part. The resin part 32 is typically made of an elastomer. Specific examples of the elastomer are as described in the second embodiment.

  The center of the through hole 34 of the resin component 32 coincides with the center of the through holes 5 and 7 of the main body 10. The inner diameter of the through hole 34 is larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 5. Therefore, the inner peripheral portion 4 p of the first metal body 4 is not covered with the resin component 32 and is exposed in the through hole 34. Similar to the resin component 14 described in the second embodiment, the resin component 32 can also be formed by a known insert injection molding method.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the ventilation structure 50 is obtained by attaching the ventilation member 30 to the housing 52. Specifically, the housing 52 includes an internal space 55 that needs ventilation, and a nozzle 54 that ventilates the internal space 55 and the outside. The nozzle 54 is another example of the opening 44 described with reference to FIG. 4B. A nozzle 54 is connected to the through hole 34 of the ventilation member 30, and the internal space 55 and the through hole 5 of the first metal body 4 communicate with each other through the nozzle 54. When the resin component 32 is made of an elastomer, the ventilation member 30 can be fixed to the housing 52 simply by inserting the nozzle 54 into the through hole 34. Even when the resin part 32 is elastically deformed, the metal bodies 4 and 6 are hardly deformed, and the gas permeable membrane 2 is firmly held between the first metal body 4 and the second metal body 6. Further, the inner peripheral portion 4 p of the first metal body 4 is used as a stopper that prevents the nozzle 54 from proceeding. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the gas permeable membrane 2 from being damaged by the nozzle 54.

  The ventilation member of the present invention can be used for a casing of automobile parts such as a lamp, a motor, a sensor, a switch, an ECU, and a gear box. The ventilation member of the present invention can be used not only for automobile parts but also for electric products such as mobile communication devices, cameras, electric razors, electric toothbrushes and the like. Furthermore, the ventilation member of the present invention is not only useful for ventilation, but also has a high utility value as a sound-permeable member that blocks foreign matters such as water and dust while allowing sound to pass.

2 Venting membrane 4 First metal body 5 Through hole (first through hole)
6 Second metal body 7 Through hole (second through hole)
8 Concave portion 9 Convex portions 10, 20, 30 Ventilation member 12 Coupling portion 14, 32 Resin component 16 Inner peripheral groove 34 Through hole (third through hole)
40, 50 Ventilation structure 42, 52 Housing 44 Opening 46, 55 Internal space 54 Nozzle

Claims (9)

A plate-like first metal body having a first through hole;
A gas permeable membrane having a first main surface and a second main surface and disposed on the first metal body so as to cover the first through hole with the first main surface;
A second through-hole separated from the first through-hole by the air-permeable membrane, and the air can be passed between the first through-hole and the second through-hole through the air-permeable membrane. A plate-like second metal body disposed on the second main surface side of the gas permeable membrane;
The first metal body includes a structure in which a convex portion of the second metal body is fitted in the concave portion of the first metal body, and the first ventilation body is held between the first metal body and the second metal body. A coupling portion for fixing the metal body and the second metal body to each other;
A ventilation member comprising:   The recesses are formed at a plurality of locations around the first through hole so that the coupling portion is formed at a plurality of locations around the first through hole and the second through hole, and the projections are The ventilation member according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation member is formed at a plurality of locations around the two through holes.   The ventilation member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling portion is formed by collectively pressing the first metal body and the second metal body in a thickness direction.   The ventilation member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a resin component that encloses each outer peripheral portion of the first metal body and the second metal body over the entire periphery.   The ventilation member according to claim 4, wherein the resin component is made of an elastomer.   The ventilation member according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the resin component has a ring shape that is elastically deformable in a radial direction. The resin component is a cylindrical component having a third through hole including a portion communicating with the first through hole and a portion communicating with the second through hole;
The ventilation member according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the ventilation member can be fixed to the casing by inserting a nozzle provided in the casing having an internal space requiring ventilation into the third through hole. A housing having an internal space in need of ventilation, and an opening for ventilating the internal space and the outside;
The ventilation member according to any one of claims 4 to 7, attached to the opening,
With ventilation structure.   The ventilation structure according to claim 8, wherein the opening is a nozzle provided in the housing.

Images