Solenoid Valve Coil Former Contact Spring for PCB Tolerance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing contacting devices for circuit boards and solenoid valves in vehicle braking systems lack a stable and efficient method for electrical contact, often requiring additional housing elements and special guides, and may not effectively compensate for dimensional deviations.

Innovation Solution

A contacting device featuring a spiral-shaped, electrically conductive contact spring with a pin that supports the spring from the inside, allowing resilient electrical contact between the circuit board and the coil body, with an optional electrically conductive welding element for enhanced stability, and a method for producing this device that includes providing and inserting the pin into the contact spring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional housing elements and special guides are used to create stable electrical contact, then contact stability is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidhousing elements and guides
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is inserted into the interior space of the contact spring, creating a nested structure where one component (pin) is placed inside another (contact spring). This eliminates the need for separate housing elements and guides, as the pin itself provides the necessary support and positioning function from the interior of the spring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The pin and contact spring are combined into a single integrated contacting device assembly. The pin serves multiple functions: it supports the contact spring from the interior, provides positioning, and enables stable electrical contact. This merging of functions into a compact assembly reduces overall device complexity and material usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a pin is inserted into the contact spring to provide internal support, then contact stability is improved with less material, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is pre-formed with a head portion and a body portion designed to be inserted into the contact spring. The contact spring is prepared in advance with an interior space that accommodates the pin. This preliminary preparation of components allows for straightforward assembly by simply inserting the pin into the spring, rather than requiring complex assembly operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 stable, cost-effective, and dimensionally adaptable electrical contact between the circuit board and the coil body, reducing material usage and eliminating the need for additional housing elements, while providing a strong and reliable connection through the welding element.

Implementation Method 1

The contact spring (115) is spiral-shaped and electrically conductive and is contacted or contactable with the circuit board (105) at a first spring end (122) and is contacted or contactable with the coil former (110) at a second spring end (125) opposite the first spring end (122) in order to enable spring-loaded electrical contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3857647B1Contact-making device for making electrical contact with a printed circuit board by a coil former for a solenoid valve for a brake device for a vehicle, solenoid valve comprising a contact-making device and method for producing a contact-making device
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3857647B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3857647B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A contact-making device (100) for making electrical contact with a printed circuit board (105) by a coil former (110) for a solenoid valve for a brake device for a vehicle has a contact spring (115) and a pin (120). The contact spring (115) is of helical and electrically conductive design and is designed for the printed circuit board (105) to make contact or be able to make contact at a first spring end (122) and is designed for the coil former (110) to make contact or be able to make contact at a second spring end (125), which is opposite the first spring end (122), in order to allow the coil former (110) to make resilient electrical contact with the printed circuit board (105). The pin (120) can be held or is held in an interior (130) of the contact spring (115), wherein the pin (120) is designed to support the contact spring (115) from the interior (130) in a holding state where it is held in the interior (130).