Apparatus and methods for environmentally sealing terminal blocks
AssigneeTyco Electronics Corporation
InventorsEdward O'Sullivan, George W. Pullium, III, Mahmoud K. Seraj
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for environmentally protecting a terminal block includes providing a sealing device including: a base substrate having an anchoring surface; and a gel sealant body having an engagement surface. The gel sealant body is secured to the anchoring surface and extends forwardly from the anchoring surface to the engagement surface. The method further includes: applying the sealing device to the terminal block such that the gel sealant body is interposed between the terminal block and the base substrate and the engagement surface engages the terminal block; and wrapping a retainer member around the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block using the retainer member.
Claims19
A method for environmentally protecting a terminal block, the terminal block including multiple integral connectors interconnecting multiple electrical cables on a front side of the terminal block, the method comprising:
- providing a sealing device including:
- a base substrate having an anchoring surface;
- and
- a gel sealant body having an engagement surface, wherein the gel sealant body is secured to the anchoring surface and extends forwardly from the anchoring surface to the engagement surface;
- applying the sealing device to the front side of the terminal block such that the gel sealant body is interposed between the terminal block and the base substrate and the engagement surface engages the connectors of the terminal block;
- and
- wrapping a retainer member around the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block using the retainer member;
- wherein:
- the engagement surface of the gel sealant body is located fully beyond the base substrate such that side and end faces of the gel sealant body are substantially unconstrained;
- the base substrate is a substantially flat plate having no upstanding side walls;
- the base substrate is semi-rigid and has a Young's Modulus in the range of from about 2.0 GPa to 3.0 GPa;
- and
- the method includes bending the base substrate to conform the sealing device to the terminal block.
A method for environmentally protecting a terminal block, the method comprising:
- providing a sealing device including:
- a base substrate having an anchoring surface;
- and
- a gel sealant body having an engagement surface, wherein the gel sealant body is secured to the anchoring surface and extends forwardly from the anchoring surface to the engagement surface;
- applying the sealing device to the terminal block such that the gel sealant body is interposed between the terminal block and the base substrate and the engagement surface engages the terminal block;
- and
- wrapping a retainer member around the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block using the retainer member;
- wherein:
- the base substrate includes a base wall and a side wall hingedly connected to the base wall, the anchoring surface being located on the base wall;
- and
- applying the sealing device to the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block includes deflecting the side wall relative to the base wall.
A method for environmentally protecting a terminal block, the terminal block including multiple integral connectors interconnecting multiple electrical cables on a front side of the terminal block, the method comprising:
- providing a sealing device including;
- a base substrate having an anchoring surface;
- and
- a gel sealant body having an engagement surface, wherein the gel sealant body is secured to the anchoring surface and extends forwardly from the anchoring surface to the engagement surface;
- applying the sealing device to the front side of the terminal block such that the gel sealant body is interposed between the terminal block and the base substrate and the engagement surface engages the connectors of the terminal block;
- and
- wrapping a retainer member around the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block using the retainer member;
- wherein:
- the base substrate includes a base wall and a side wall hingedly connected to the base wall, the anchoring surface being located on the base wall;
- and
- applying the sealing device to the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block includes deflecting the side wall relative to the base wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.