Adjustable 15A to 30A Adapter for Variable Outlet Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical adapters are incompatible with both standard 15 amp and 15 amp GFCI outlets, fail to adjust for variable spacing, and often overheat due to shared electrical load, leading to instability and frequent unplugging.
Innovation Solution
A double 15 amp male to 30 amp female electrical adapter with adjustable male terminals that can displace along an axis, featuring multiple housings with conductive terminal blades and pins, and wires coated with silicone for movement, allowing compatibility with both outlet types and reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed male terminals are used in the adapter, then the adapter structure is simple, but the adapter is incompatible with both standard 15 amp and GFCI outlets due to spacing differences
Solution Approach 1:
The male terminal blades are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to adjust their positions to accommodate different outlet spacing requirements. The blades can slide within slots in the housing to change spacing between terminals, enabling compatibility with both standard and GFCI outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is divided into separate functional components: a housing with guide slots, movable terminal blades, and positioning mechanisms. This segmentation allows the terminal blades to independently adjust their positions while maintaining electrical connectivity.
2Volume of moving object
If two 15 amp male connections share an electrical load in a compact adapter, then the adapter size is reduced, but excessive heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates thermally conductive materials and heat dissipation features at specific locations where electrical connections are made. The housing material and terminal configurations are designed to locally manage heat generation from the electrical load sharing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed terminal spacing is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the adapter cannot adjust for variable spacing between different outlet types
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal blades are designed to move within the housing along defined paths, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that can adapt to different spacing requirements while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the adapter uses a stable fixed structure, then the connection is secure, but the adapter cannot be adjusted for different outlet configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter combines movable terminal blades with a stable housing structure. The blades can adjust to different positions for compatibility with various outlets, while the overall adapter structure remains stable and secure when properly connected.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal blades are designed to self-align and self-secure within the housing slots, providing stable connections without requiring additional complex locking mechanisms. The spring-loaded or friction-fit design allows the terminals to maintain reliable contact automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical adapter including one stationary, 15 amp terminal blade and ground pin and one movable, 15 amp terminal blade and ground pin, each in connection with a 30 amp terminal receptacle and terminal ground receptacle, respectively. The 15 amp terminal blades and ground pins provide a mechanism to convert an electrical signal between the 30 amp source and the 15 amp source, and the adjustable 15 amp terminal blade and ground pin provide functionality to account for the difference in distance between the outlets on a standard 15 amp outlet and a 15 amp ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet.