Conductive Ball Stud Fastener for Hand-Replaceable Electrified Components
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for powering illuminated engine cover components, such as badges, face challenges in hiding wiring, ensuring safety, and allowing for easy removal and reinstallation, as they often result in exposed and unsightly wiring that complicates servicing and increases fire risk.
Innovation Solution
A conductive ball stud fastener arrangement with a conductive tip and stem, integrated with a photoelectric switch or movable conductive tip assembly, allows for easy attachment and detachment of electrified components while maintaining circuit continuity, using insulating materials and grommets to manage electrical connections within the engine cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hardwired wiring is used to power illuminated engine cover components, then electrical power is reliably delivered to the component, but the wiring becomes exposed and unsightly, and removal of the component is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection is segmented into a fixed ball stud mounted on the engine cover and a corresponding socket on the removable component. This allows the component to be easily detached while maintaining reliable electrical contact when attached, resolving the contradiction between reliable power delivery and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball stud connection transitions from a static hardwired arrangement to a dynamic removable connection. The ball stud remains fixed on the engine cover while the component with its socket can be easily attached and detached, providing both reliable electrical connection and ease of operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If exposed wiring is used to power illuminated components, then electrical connections are simple to make, but the wiring becomes unsightly and fire risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exposed wiring is extracted and replaced with integrated conductive elements. The ball stud and socket contain the electrical connection within the components themselves, eliminating exposed wiring while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple conductive material integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection is nested within the mechanical fastening system. The conductive ball stud and socket are integrated into the same fastening mechanism that secures the component to the engine cover, hiding the electrical connection within the mechanical structure and eliminating exposed wiring.
3Reliability
If permanent fasteners are used to attach electrified components, then the component remains securely fixed, but servicing and removal become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system transitions from a permanent static connection to a dynamic removable connection. The ball stud and socket provide secure attachment when engaged while allowing easy removal when disengaged, resolving the contradiction between attachment security and ease of repair.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If wiring is contained within the engine cover to improve safety and aesthetics, then fire risk is reduced and appearance is improved, but the wiring becomes complex and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The complex wiring system is extracted and replaced with simple conductive elements integrated into the ball stud and socket. This eliminates the need for complex wiring within the engine cover while maintaining safety by containing the electrical connection in the removable component itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy removal and reinstallation of electrified components like illuminated badges, ensuring safety by hiding wiring and preventing electrical shorts, while maintaining aesthetic appeal and reducing assembly and repair costs.
Implementation Method 1
a photoelectric switch that opens the circuit when the electrified component is removed from the engine cover and closes the circuit when the electrified component is attached to the engine cover
Implementation Method 2
The grommet has a conductive element that is part of a circuit to which the electrified element of the electrified component is attached
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive ball stud fastener arrangement for providing energy to a removable electrified component having an electrified element when the component is attached to an electrified substrate is disclosed. The ball stud fastener includes an insulating body, an electrified conductor having a conductive tip that is continuous with a conductive, centrally formed conductive stem, and a conductive attachment portion for attachment to the electrified substrate. The electrified component includes grommets having conductive elements. The ball stud fasteners are easily removed from and attached to the grommets. The conductive elements of the grommets are part of a circuit to which the electrified element of the electrified component is attached. According to one embodiment, the conductive ball stud fastener arrangement and its associated circuit includes a photoelectric sensor that opens and closes the circuit. In another embodiment, the ball studs themselves act as switches to open and close the circuit.