Composite Spring Member Layout for Stable Conductive Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing spring members, it is challenging to stably exhibit conductivity and heat transfer properties while prioritizing load characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A spring member design featuring a plurality of spring units with a conductive plate and a support plate, where the conductive plate has higher electrical and thermal conductivity than the support plate, and is arranged to ensure strong contact with pressed bodies, thereby stabilizing conductivity and heat transfer properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a spring member is designed to prioritize load characteristics, then mechanical pressing capability is improved, but conductivity and heat transfer properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload characteristicsVSAvoidconductivity and heat transfer properties

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring member is divided into multiple spring units arranged in parallel, where each unit contains a first member (high conductivity) and a second member (low conductivity). This segmentation allows the high-conductivity first members to form dedicated conduction paths while the second members provide mechanical support, resolving the contradiction between load-bearing capability and conductivity stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the spring member are assigned different material properties: the first members are made of high-conductivity materials (e.g., copper or aluminum) specifically for electrical and thermal conduction, while the second members are made of low-conductivity materials (e.g., stainless steel) for mechanical support. This local differentiation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the spring member uses a single material for both conductive and structural components, then manufacturing is simplified, but peeling of plating occurs and long-term stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidplating stability and long-term performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring member employs composite construction with the first members made of high-conductivity materials (copper or aluminum) and the second members made of low-conductivity materials (stainless steel). This composite approach prevents plating peeling by avoiding the galvanic corrosion and thermal expansion mismatch issues that occur with plated single-material constructions, thereby ensuring long-term stability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Shape

If all spring units are aligned at the same position, then structural symmetry is improved, but contact stability with pressed bodies deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural symmetryVSAvoidcontact stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring units are deliberately positioned asymmetrically relative to each other in the third direction, with their end portions shifted to different positions in the second direction. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the abutting portions of different spring units contact different locations on the pressed bodies, distributing contact pressure more evenly and preventing localized deformation, thereby improving contact stability while sacrificing perfect structural symmetry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 design allows for stable exhibition of conductivity and heat transfer properties as intended, while maintaining strong load characteristics, and prevents peeling of plating, ensuring long-term performance.

Implementation Method 1

elastically deforming the second member in the first direction together with the first member, it is possible to strongly bring the first abutting portions of the first member into contact with the first pressed body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the first member is formed of a material having at least one of electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity higher than a material forming the second member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

the first member is formed of a material having at least one of electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity higher than a material forming the second member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250198476A1Spring member

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 NHK SPRING CO LTD

AI summary

A spring member presses a first pressed body and a second pressed body in directions away from each other in a first direction, and includes a plurality of spring units each including a first member and a second member, in which the first member is formed of a material having at least one of electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity higher than a material forming the second member, the first member includes first abutting portions and a second abutting portion, both end portions of the second member press the first pressed body via the first abutting portions, and an intermediate portion of the second member presses the second pressed body via the second abutting portion, and one end portion of one spring unit is provided at a position shifted in the second direction from one end portion of another spring unit adjacent to the one spring unit.