Building Control Housing With Extractable Handle Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current two-part housing designs for building control systems often make it difficult to replace the electronic circuit without damaging the components and can lead to loose connections, complicating maintenance and upgrades.

Innovation Solution

A housing design featuring a first housing part with a movably attached handle that allows for easy extraction and replacement, along with a guide and blocking mechanism to ensure secure detachment and reconnection, and an exchangeable plate for customization, ensuring efficient and reliable replacement of electronic circuits without affecting wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two-part housing design is used for modular flexibility, then manufacturing flexibility and modular assembly are improved, but difficulty in detaching housing parts and risk of loose connections worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular flexibilityVSAvoiddifficulty in detaching housing parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed to move between two distinct positions: a first position where it engages with blocking members to prevent accidental detachment, and a second position where it releases the housing parts for intentional separation. This dynamic positioning system resolves the contradiction by making the housing既 securely connected during normal operation又 easily detachable when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The handle acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the housing connection. By introducing this intermediate element with blocking members and guide features, the system mediates between the conflicting requirements of secure connection and easy detachment, allowing users to easily control the state of connection without directly manipulating the housing parts themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two-part housing design is used for modular flexibility, then manufacturing flexibility and modular assembly are improved, but risk of loose connections worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular flexibilityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking members dynamically engage with the handle to provide automatic locking when the handle is in the first position. This dynamic engagement ensures reliable connection during normal operation while allowing intentional release when the handle is moved to the second position, thus resolving the contradiction between modular flexibility and connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide feature and blocking members are designed to prevent accidental detachment before it can occur. The blocking members protrude into the path of movement of the handle, providing a preventive mechanism that cushions against unintended separation, thereby ensuring connection stability while maintaining modular flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional two-part housing design is used, then modular assembly is improved, but damage to components during detachment worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular assemblyVSAvoiddamage to components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle serves as an intermediary that distributes and controls the detachment force. By using the handle with guide features and blocking members, users can evenly distribute the separation force across multiple points, preventing concentrated stress that could damage electronic circuits or terminal blocks, thus enabling safe modular assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic movement of the handle through defined paths with guide features ensures that detachment occurs in a controlled manner. The blocking members and guide structure guide the separation process, preventing sudden or uncontrolled movement that could damage components, while still allowing easy modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2117287B1Housing for an electronic circuit intended for a building control system
Publication Date: 2010.05.12 TAK AB
  • EP2117287B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2117287B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2117287B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A housing (3) for an electronic circuit intended for a building control system is disclosed. The housing (3) comprises a first housing part (1) comprising the electronic circuit intended for the building control system, and a second housing part (2) that is connected to the first housing part (1). Furthermore, a handle (4; 5) is movably attached to and extractable from the first housing part (1) for providing a grip when the handle is extracted from the first housing part (1) and thereby allowing, by pulling the handle (4; 5), the first housing part (1) to be removed from the second housing part (2).