Connection Terminal With Rotating Cutting Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IDC terminals face limitations in securely connecting various types of insulated conductors while maintaining ease of use and reliability, particularly due to issues with dirt or oxidation affecting contact points, leading to potential electrical disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A connection terminal design featuring cutting contact elements with two connected cutting blades that rotate to penetrate the insulation and directly contact the conductor, providing a reliable, resistance-free connection without intermediate contact points, and a contact spring for enhanced reliability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional IDC terminals use intermediate contact points to connect conductors, then the connection process is simplified, but the reliability deteriorates due to dirt or oxidation affecting contact points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes intermediate contact points from the connection path between conductors. Instead, cutting blades directly contact the conductors and are connected in one piece, extracting the problematic intermediate elements that were susceptible to dirt and oxidation, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blades serve as a direct intermediary between conductors without requiring separate contact points. The blades are integrated into the cutting contact element and directly establish electrical connection during the cutting action, eliminating the need for additional intermediate contact surfaces that could be affected by environmental factors
2Adaptability or versatility
If cutting contact elements are designed with multiple separate contact points, then adaptability to different conductor types is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blades are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they cut through the insulation and directly contact the conductor to establish electrical connection. This multi-functional design allows the same structure to adapt to different conductor types without requiring separate specialized contact points for each function, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cutting function and electrical contact function into a single integrated cutting blade structure. The cutting blades are connected in one piece and perform both insulation cutting and conductor contact during the same rotational motion, combining multiple functions into a unified element that reduces overall device complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional terminals require pre-stripping of conductor insulation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to additional work steps
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blades are pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage and cut the insulation when the contact element is inserted and rotated. This preliminary positioning and automatic cutting action eliminates the need for manual pre-stripping while maintaining precise contact, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting contact element performs self-service by automatically cutting through the insulation and establishing electrical contact in one integrated action. The spring-loaded mechanism provides the necessary cutting force automatically during insertion, eliminating the need for separate manual stripping operations and significantly improving connection speed while maintaining precision
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 terminal ensures a secure, reliable, and efficient connection of insulated conductors by directly contacting the conductor through cutting blades, reducing the risk of electrical disconnection and improving longevity, while allowing for easy installation without pre-stripping the conductor.
Implementation Method 1
when rotated about the axis A in each case penetrate a conductor receptacle
Implementation Method 2
a cutting blade penetrates the insulation of an associated conductor section and contacts the conductor
Implementation Method 3
a contact spring that contacts the cutting contact element and that is prestressed in the axial direction in the direction of the conductor receptacles
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A connection terminal for connecting one or more insulated conductors comprises a housing having one or more conductor receptacles and a contact spring which makes contact with one or more insulation-displacement contact elements which are mounted on the housing such that they can rotate about an axis A. When it is rotated about the axis A, an insulation-displacement contact element pierces at least one insulation of a conductor section which is inserted into a conductor receptacle and makes contact with the respective conductor. An insulation-displacement contact element has at least two cutting blades which are integrally connected to one another and which, when said insulation-displacement contact element is rotated about the axis A, penetrate a respective conductor receptacle in order to electrically conductively connect two conductors directly to one another only by means of the insulation-displacement contact element.