Conduit Connection Contact Element Actuation via Side Wall Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conductor connection contact elements for clamping electrical conductors lack efficient actuation mechanisms and easy installation methods, often requiring complex insulating material housings or cumbersome actuation tools.
Innovation Solution
A conductor connection contact element with a busbar piece and clamping spring, featuring a side wall with an opening that allows the clamping spring's actuating section to protrude, enabling easy actuation and installation via the opening, and an actuating tool can be attached to the protruding actuating tab to open the clamping point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex insulating material housing is used to enclose the contact element, then the structural integrity and insulation are improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the insulating material housing from the contact element, allowing the contact element to function without it. The contact element consists only of the busbar piece and clamping spring, which can be used directly on printed circuit boards without surrounding insulation, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining functional integrity through the inherent design of the busbar piece structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the contact element into distinct functional parts: the busbar piece with integrated clamping spring, and separates it from the insulating housing. This segmentation allows the contact element to be used independently without the housing, reducing overall device complexity while the busbar piece itself provides structural integrity through its rigid construction
2Shape
If the clamping spring is fully enclosed within the busbar piece, then the structural compactness is improved, but the ease of operation and accessibility for actuation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping spring is segmented into two parts: a first clamping spring portion enclosed within the busbar piece for compactness, and a second clamping spring portion extending outward through the side wall for accessibility. This segmentation allows the actuating end to be easily accessible from the side while the main clamping mechanism remains compact within the busbar structure
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping spring extends in a different dimension (laterally through the side wall) rather than only along the longitudinal axis. This dimensional change allows the actuating end to be accessible from the side of the busbar piece, improving ease of operation while maintaining compactness in the primary clamping direction
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional installation methods are used without side wall openings, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the installation ease and actuation accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is segmented by creating an opening that allows the second clamping spring portion to extend outward. This opening facilitates easy installation and actuation while the busbar piece itself remains a simple stamped or bent metal component, maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standard fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The opening in the side wall acts as an intermediary feature that enables easy installation and actuation. It provides access to the clamping spring's actuating end without requiring complex assembly procedures or special tools, thereby improving installation ease while the opening can be easily created during standard manufacturing processes
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
Facilitates easy and accessible actuation of the clamping mechanism, allowing for efficient clamping and de-clamping of electrical conductors without the need for complex housings, enhancing usability and installation simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
a clamping spring (3) arranged on the busbar piece (2), which has a contact section (9) on a first end area and a contact section (9) on the second end area, which opposite the first end region
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A conductor connection contact element (1) for clamping an electrical conductor with a busbar section (2) and a clamping spring (3) is described. The busbar section (2) is formed from a sheet metal part with opposing second side walls (4, 5), a bottom section (7), and an opposing cover section (6). The side walls (4, 5), together with the bottom section (7) and the cover section (6), define a conductor entry channel (8). The clamping spring (3) is arranged on the busbar section (2). It has a contact section (9) at a first end region and a clamping section (11) with a clamping edge (22, 36, 41) for clamping the electrical conductor at the second end region, which is opposite the first end region. The contact section (9) is arranged on the bottom section (7) of the busbar section (2). The clamping section (11) extends with its freely movable end toward the cover section (6).Viewed perpendicular to the conductor insertion direction (L) of the clamping section (11), an actuating section accessible to an actuating tool is provided next to the clamping edge (22, 36, 41) in the direction of the side wall (4). A conductor guidance area (14, 34) adjacent to the clamping section (11) is formed on the first side wall (4). The conductor guidance area (14, 34) is a section of the first side wall (4) oriented obliquely towards the opposite second side wall (5).