Connection Terminal With Mutual Spring Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection terminals are bulky due to the spaced arrangement of their connection spaces and leg springs, which increases their overall length and reduces compactness.
Innovation Solution
The connection terminal design features adjacent connection spaces with leg springs that support each other's holding legs, allowing for a more compact structure by merging the spaces and enabling optimized force distribution through the mobility of the leg springs, which are not coupled to the housing or busbar pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If connection compartments are spaced apart to accommodate individual support structures, then each compartment can be independently supported, but the overall length of the terminal block increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support function by having the retaining leg of the first torsion spring support itself on the retaining leg of the second torsion spring, eliminating the need for separate support structures in each connection compartment. This combining of support functions reduces the overall length while maintaining stable support for both compartments.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining legs of the torsion springs serve multiple functions: they retain the clamping legs in position and simultaneously provide mutual support between the two connection compartments. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated support structures, thereby reducing the terminal block's length.
2Stability of the object's composition
If torsion springs are rigidly coupled to the housing or busbar, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to optimize force distribution and absorb reaction forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the torsion springs dynamically coupled rather than rigidly fixed. The retaining legs are movable relative to each other and to the housing, allowing the springs to dynamically adjust and optimize force distribution while absorbing reaction forces, yet still maintain structural stability through their mutual support arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The torsion springs support each other through their retaining legs, creating a self-supporting system. The first torsion spring's retaining leg supports on the second torsion spring's retaining leg and vice versa, allowing the springs to self-stabilize and optimize force distribution without requiring rigid external coupling structures.
3Volume of moving object
If connection compartments are merged into adjacent spaces, then the terminal block size is reduced, but the complexity of positioning and supporting the leg springs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support function into individual retaining legs for each torsion spring, where each retaining leg independently supports on the other retaining leg. This segmentation simplifies the overall positioning mechanism while maintaining the compact adjacent arrangement of connection compartments.
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
This design significantly reduces the terminal's size, enhances force absorption, and maintains conductor connection stability by allowing the leg springs to support each other's reaction forces, while minimizing the impact of conductor insertion and varying cross-sections.
Implementation Method 1
a first torsion spring arranged in the first connection compartment, which has a clamping leg and a retaining leg, and a second torsion spring arranged in the second connection compartment
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a connection terminal (100) for connecting at least one electrical conductor with a housing (10), a first and a second connection space (11, 12) formed in the housing (10), a first busbar part (15) arranged in the first connection space (11), a second busbar part (16) arranged in the second connection space (12), a first torsion spring (17) arranged in the first connection space (11) and a second torsion spring (18) arranged in the second connection space (12), each having a clamping limb (19, 22) and a retaining limb (20, 23), wherein the first and the second connection space (11, 12) are formed adjacent to one another and wherein the first torsion spring (17) is arranged in the first connection space (11) and the second torsion spring (18) is arranged in the second connection space (12) in such a way that the retaining limb (20) of the first torsion spring (17) is supported on the retaining limb (23) of the second torsion spring (18).