Assembly Aid for Precise Torque Transmission in Electrical Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for establishing a screw connection between electrical plug or socket parts and connection bodies often fail to achieve the desired tightness due to inadequate torque application, leading to compromised sealing and protection against moisture and dust, especially in outdoor electrical lighting applications.

Innovation Solution

An assembly aid with a first section for torque wrench engagement and a second section featuring receiving areas for the plug or socket parts, allowing precise torque transmission and ensuring a secure screw connection, is designed to facilitate a more deterministic and secure screw connection between the electrical components and the connection body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hand tightening is used for the screw connection between the electrical plug or socket part and the terminal body, then the assembly process is simple and quick, but the desired torque cannot be reliably achieved and the sealing is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary tool (screwdriver bit or adapter) that mediates between the manual assembly action and the screw connection. This intermediary includes a receiving area that positively engages with the drive recess of the electrical plug or socket part, allowing torque to be transmitted more effectively while still being manually operated, thus bridging the gap between simple operation and reliable torque application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the electrical plug or socket part into the receiving area of the assembly aid before final tightening. The receiving area is designed to align with the drive recess in advance, ensuring that when torque is applied, the force is immediately and correctly transmitted to the screw connection, preventing misalignment and ensuring consistent torque application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a torque wrench is used to apply precise torque to the screw connection, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidassembly device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the assembly device into two functional sections: a first section that interfaces with the torque wrench (providing the drive interface) and a second section (receiving area) that positively engages with the electrical plug or socket part. This segmentation allows the complex torque application function to be separated from the gripping function, enabling precise torque control while keeping each section relatively simple and modular

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving area is designed with universal applicability to engage with different types of electrical plug or socket parts through positive locking with their drive recesses. This multi-functional design allows the same assembly aid structure to work with various connector types, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools and thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable torque application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3435497B1Mounting aid means for producing a screw connection between an electric plug or bushing part and a connecting part
Publication Date: 2019.11.27 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3435497B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3435497B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3435497B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an assembly aid (10) for producing a screw connection between an electrical plug or socket part (11) and a terminal body (20), comprising a first section (1) extending along a principal axis (H) of the assembly aid (10) and a second section (2) adjoining the first section (1) along the principal axis (H), which is rotationally fixed to the first section (1) with respect to a rotational movement about the principal axis (H). The first section (1) has a contact surface (3) for a torque wrench for rotation about the principal axis (H). The second section (2) has at least two receiving areas (4, 6) for positively engaging a contact element of the electrical plug or socket part (11).The recording areas (4, 6) are each formed by a wall area (5, 7) which extends around an axis (A1, A2) oriented parallel to the main axis (H), whereby the axes (A1, A2) do not coincide.