Electric Power Tool Connector Housing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric power tools, such as binding machines, face challenges in assemblability and maintainability due to connectors being simply pushed into empty spaces within the body portion, leading to poor integration and potential damage from vibrations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a receiving portion within the body portion to securely house and fix connectors, with partitioned chambers and wiring protection features to enhance stability and organization of electrical components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If connectors are simply pushed into empty space inside the body portion due to routing of wirings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the assemblability and maintainability of connectors deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidassemblability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The body portion is segmented into multiple receiving portions, with each receiving portion dedicated to receiving specific connectors. This segmentation organizes the internal space systematically, allowing connectors to be easily assembled into their designated locations while maintaining overall structural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Receiving portions are pre-formed within the body portion structure during manufacturing. These pre-formed receiving portions are positioned and shaped in advance to match the connectors that will be installed, thereby facilitating easy assembly without requiring complex adjustment or fitting procedures during the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If connectors are simply pushed into empty space inside the body portion, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of connectors deteriorates due to potential damage from vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidconnector stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving portions are designed with protective structures that cushion and protect connectors from vibration-induced damage before such damage can occur. The receiving portions provide a stable, protected environment that absorbs and mitigates the effects of vibrations during operation, thereby enhancing connector reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the body portion are designed with different local qualities - specifically, receiving portions are created with specialized structural characteristics (such as enhanced rigidity, damping properties, or protective enclosures) tailored to the specific protection needs of the connectors they receive, while other areas of the body portion maintain different properties optimized for their respective functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If connectors are simply pushed into empty space inside the body portion, then the device complexity is reduced, but the maintainability of connectors deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidmaintainability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The body portion is divided into multiple receiving portions, each housing specific connectors. This segmentation allows maintainers to access and service individual connectors by working with specific receiving portions, rather than dealing with a chaotic arrangement where all connectors are mixed together in undifferentiated empty space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Receiving portions are pre-configured with features that facilitate maintenance activities, such as accessible openings, standardized mounting interfaces, and organized wiring routes. These pre-prepared features reduce the time and complexity required for connector maintenance and repair operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4029656A1Electric power tool
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 MAX CO LTD
  • EP4029656A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4029656A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4029656A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An electric power tool includes a driving unit generating a driving force by electricity and various components functioning by electricity, a circuit board on which a control unit configured to control the driving unit and the various components is mounted, a plurality of connectors connecting a plurality of wirings, which extend from the driving unit and the various components, with a plurality of wirings, which extend from the circuit board, a body portion installed therein with the driving unit, the various components, the circuit board and the plurality of connectors, and a receiving portion which receives the plurality of connectors therein and which is fixed to the body portion.