Cable Connection Terminal Forced Guidance Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductor terminals with existing actuating mechanisms require significant effort to operate and lack efficient guidance for the actuating element, leading to suboptimal performance in making electrical contact with conductors.
Innovation Solution
A conductor terminal with an actuating element guided via a forced guidance mechanism along a predetermined contour, allowing for optimized rotational movement and reduced actuation force through a lever arm mechanism, enabling easy manual or external actuation and improved ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an actuating element is pivotably mounted in the housing via a pivoting mechanism, then the actuating element can be actuated manually or by external force, but the actuating element requires significant effort to operate and lacks efficient guidance
Solution Approach 1:
A forced guidance mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the pivoting mechanism and the actuating element. This guidance mechanism includes a guidance contour with guided regions that positively guide the actuating element along a predetermined path, reducing actuation effort while maintaining controlled movement. The guidance mechanism mediates between the simple pivoting mounting and the need for efficient actuation.
2Power
If the actuating element is guided along a predetermined forced guidance contour, then rotational movement is optimized and actuation force is reduced, but the device construction becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The forced guidance mechanism employs curved guidance contours and arc-shaped paths to guide the actuating element. The pivoting movement follows a predetermined curved trajectory defined by the guidance contour, which optimizes the mechanical advantage throughout the actuation cycle. This curved path design reduces the required actuation force compared to linear guidance while maintaining compact construction.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating element executes a movement defined by the forcibly guided contour, then operational ease is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The forced guidance mechanism is designed with dynamic tolerances that accommodate normal manufacturing variations. The guidance contour includes intentional clearance and compliance features that allow the actuating element to follow the predetermined path without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances. The mechanism absorbs minor deviations through elastic deformation and friction-based self-centering.
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
The solution enables efficient actuation of the contact insert with reduced effort, ensuring reliable electrical contact and improved operational ease, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective construction.
Implementation Method 1
the actuating element has at least one lever arm, by which the actuating element can be actuated manually or by external force
Implementation Method 2
The actuating element can be actuated via its lever arm by an external force generated in some other way, e.g. via a robot or another machine
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conductor terminal with a housing and a contact insert for electrically contacting an electrical conductor to be connected to the conductor terminal, and with an actuating element with which at least one movable part of the contact insert can be moved from a first position to a second position that differs from the first position by manually actuating the actuating element, wherein the actuating element has at least one lever arm by which the actuating element can be manually actuated, wherein the actuating element is pivotably mounted in the housing via a pivoting mechanism.