Actuator Sensor Module Housing Guidance Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modules for actuators and sensors face challenges in accurately guiding the upper housing part into its initial fastening position, particularly when space constraints limit the pivoting motion, risking damage to connected components.
Innovation Solution
The module incorporates a guidance device with guidance grooves and pegs on the upper housing part and lower part, allowing for transverse motion to align and secure the upper housing part into the initial fastening position without obstructing connected sensors, and includes detent positions for secure engagement and easy replacement of ribbon cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pivoting means and positioning lugs are used to guide the upper housing part into the initial fastening position, then accurate alignment of contact pins with conductor strands is achieved, but the device complexity increases and space constraints may limit the pivoting motion
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance device is segmented into separate components: positioning lugs on the upper housing part and corresponding receptacles on the lower part. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve accurate alignment of the contact pins with the conductor strands during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning lugs and receptacles are designed to guide the upper housing part into the correct initial fastening position before final fastening occurs. This preliminary guidance action ensures that contact pins are pre-aligned with conductor strands, preventing misalignment during the fastening process and eliminating the need for complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If pivoting motion is used to position the upper housing part, then alignment is achieved, but space constraints may limit the motion and risk damage to connected components
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning lugs and receptacles perform the alignment function before final fastening, so that when the upper housing part is secured to the lower part, the contact pins are already correctly positioned relative to the conductor strands. This eliminates the need for post-assembly adjustments that could damage connected sensors or actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance device enables the upper housing part to self-align with the lower part during assembly through the geometric constraint of the positioning lugs fitting into the receptacles. This self-aligning mechanism reduces the need for external guidance or manual adjustment, minimizing the risk of damage to connected components during the assembly process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a guidance device with detent positions is used for secure engagement, then stable and tilt-proof guidance is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning lugs and receptacles feature asymmetric geometries with specific orientations that provide stable, tilt-proof engagement. The asymmetric design ensures that the upper housing part can only be correctly positioned in one orientation, preventing tilting or misalignment while maintaining assembly stability without requiring additional complex stabilization mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A module having terminals for actuators and sensors includes a lower portion having at least one recess configured to receive a shape-coded ribbon cable, and an upper housing portion configured to receive a circuit board and to be disposed on the lower portion via a fastening device. The module further including a guidance device configured to cooperate with the first and second longitudinal sides of the upper housing portion so that the upper housing portion is guidable into an initial fastening position. Further, at least one of the upper housing portion and the lower portion include a contact device having at least one contact pin configured to at least partially penetrate the shape-coded ribbon cable when the shape-coded ribbon cable is received in the at least one recess so as to contact with the plurality of conductors when the upper housing portion is fastened to the lower portion.