Clamping Screw With Single Breaking Point for Secure Conductor Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping screws with multiple predetermined breaking points have reduced load-bearing capacity and are limited in their ability to securely connect conductors of various diameters, often resulting in protruding parts that can damage insulating elements and compromise electrical contact.
Innovation Solution
A clamping screw design featuring a contact part with a single arbitrary breaking point, allowing for secure connection of conductors of any diameter, where the contact part is sheared off upon achieving a tight fit, and the actuating part remains rotatable to ensure a reliable connection without compromising the screw's load-bearing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple predetermined breaking points are provided on the screw, then the screw can be sheared off to indicate sufficient tightening, but the load-bearing capacity of the screw is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The screw is divided into two separate parts: a contact part with a single breaking point and an actuating part. This segmentation allows the contact part to provide the shearing indication while the actuating part maintains full thread engagement and load-bearing capacity, resolving the contradiction between reliability indication and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating part is extracted as a separate functional element that can be removed after serving its purpose. The actuating part contains the polygonal blind hole for tool engagement and the threads for tightening, while the contact part retains only the single breaking point and contact surface, thereby preserving the load-bearing structure while providing the shearing indication.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the screw is sheared off to indicate sufficient tightening, then the insulating element is protected from damage, but parts of the sheared-off screw may protrude and cause mechanical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating part is designed to be completely removable from the contact part after the breaking point is reached. This extraction ensures that no screw parts protrude from the terminal to damage insulating elements, while the contact part remains firmly secured to the conductor through its single breaking point mechanism, maintaining reliable electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating part serves as an intermediary element that facilitates the tightening process and provides the shearing indication, but is then removed to prevent any protrusion issues. The contact part acts as the permanent intermediary between the terminal and conductor, ensuring stable electrical contact without protruding elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single breaking point is provided at an arbitrary position, then the screw can accommodate conductors of any diameter, but the position of the breaking point must be far enough from the contact surface to allow rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The design allows the breaking point position to be dynamically adjusted within the contact part at any location that provides sufficient rotation space. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same screw design to accommodate conductors of varying diameters while ensuring adequate space for tool engagement and rotation during the tightening process.
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 secure and reliable electrical connections for conductors of any diameter without reducing the screw's load-bearing capacity, preventing mechanical damage to insulating elements and ensuring consistent contact quality.
Implementation Method 1
The upper part of the screw is sheared off when the strength of its predetermined breaking point is reached or exceeded
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~10
AI summary
The screw has a tubular portion having an external thread which is screwed in the through hole of screw-contact portion (7). The electrical conductors are engaged with the specific contact surface (10) with preset breaking point (11). An internal thread is provided and a tube actuator (8) is screwed in the mounting position on contact portion. The contact portion with defined wall thickness is interference fit after reaching the fixed seat of screw, while conditional shearing of breaking point leads to tearing-off of terminal projecting portion by twisted portion of tool.