Conductor Terminal Spring-Holding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductor connection terminals with robust clamping springs pose challenges in handling due to the actuating lever snapping back during closure, requiring significant effort and potentially leading to inconvenient operation, especially for large conductor cross sections.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a spring-holding element separate from the actuating lever to hold the clamping leg in the open position, coupled with a spring-releasing element that mechanically actuates the spring-holding element during the restoring motion, allowing for decoupling of the clamping leg from the actuating lever's restoring force, thereby facilitating easy operation without snapping back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuating lever is directly coupled to the clamping spring, then the clamping spring provides restoring force to close the terminal, but the actuating lever snaps back during closure requiring significant effort
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the actuating lever and clamping spring is segmented into two distinct phases: during opening, the driver element on the actuating lever directly deflects the clamping leg; during closing, a spring-holding element decouples the actuating lever from the clamping spring, allowing independent movement. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the functions of opening (requiring direct coupling) and closing (benefiting from decoupling).
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-holding element is preliminarily positioned to engage with the clamping leg before the actuating lever completes its closing motion. This preliminary positioning ensures that as the actuating lever approaches the closed position, the clamping leg is already prepared to be held by the spring-holding element, preventing snap-back and reducing the force required for closure.
2Strength
If the clamping spring is robustly sized for large conductor cross sections, then the clamping force is sufficient, but the actuating lever requires more effort to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between two states: during opening, the actuating lever is dynamically coupled to the clamping spring to provide the necessary force to overcome robust clamping; during closing, the system dynamically decouples via the spring-holding element, allowing the actuating lever to move freely without resisting the strong restoring force. This dynamic state transition enables operation of robust clamping springs with reduced effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-holding element acts as an intermediary between the actuating lever and the clamping spring during the closing phase. It mediates the interaction by holding the clamping leg in a predetermined position, effectively decoupling the actuating lever from the strong restoring force of the robust clamping spring, thereby reducing the effort required for operation.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating lever is decoupled from the clamping spring during closing, then snapping back is avoided, but an additional release mechanism is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-holding element is merged with the actuating lever assembly such that it is disposed on the actuating lever and moves together with it during operation. The spring-holding element's engagement and release of the clamping leg is automatically triggered by the actuating lever's own motion, eliminating the need for a separate release mechanism. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining the benefits of decoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating lever performs a dual function: it directly deflects the clamping leg during opening and simultaneously triggers the spring-holding element to release the clamping leg during closing. The system is self-serving as the actuating lever's own restoring motion automatically activates the release mechanism, eliminating the need for external or additional release mechanisms and simplifying the overall device.
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 convenient operation of the actuating lever by reducing the effort required to close the terminal, as the clamping leg is released from the restoring force of the clamping spring, allowing smooth movement back to the closed position without the need for additional release mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-force clamping connection point, which is disposed in the insulating-material housing and which has a clamping spring
Data Source
AI summary
A conductor connection terminal, having an insulating-material housing, a spring-force clamping connection point, which is disposed in the insulating-material housing and which has a clamping spring, and comprising a pivotably mounted actuating lever for actuating the clamping spring, wherein the actuating lever is movable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, wherein the actuating lever has a driver element for deflecting a clamping leg of the clamping spring in order to open a clamping point of the conductor connection terminal, which clamping point is formed with the clamping leg, wherein the conductor connection terminal has at least one spring-holding element, which is not disposed on the actuating lever, for holding the clamping leg in the open position, such that the actuating lever is not loaded with the restoring force of the clamping spring when the clamping point is open.