Component Connector Servicer Tool for Ergonomic Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Components, such as electrical components with connectors, require maintenance and cleaning, which can be difficult due to their location and delicacy, often leading to damage and inefficiency when performed by hand.
Innovation Solution
A component connector servicer system with a body, channel, guiderail, and adapter that allows for efficient and ergonomic cleaning and inspection of connectors, reducing the risk of damage and enabling quicker maintenance by aligning service units with connectors and allowing for easier access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual inspection and cleaning of connectors is performed by hand, then maintenance can be done with simple tools, but the connectors are located in difficult to access areas and there is a high risk of damage to delicate connectors and cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service unit as an intermediary tool that interfaces between the operator and the connector. The service unit includes a service head with a service element that can be positioned at the connector interface, allowing maintenance operations to be performed through a controlled mechanism rather than direct manual manipulation, thus improving accessibility while reducing damage risk
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance system is divided into separate functional components: a body housing, a channel for the service unit, a pushrod mechanism, and a service unit with service element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the service unit being replaceable and the pushrod providing controlled actuation, thereby improving both accessibility and reliability
2Productivity
If manual cleaning of connectors is performed by hand, then no special equipment is needed, but the process is time-consuming and requires maintenance people to contort their bodies to reach connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The service unit is designed to be movable within the channel of the body, actuated by the pushrod. This dynamic configuration allows the service element to be positioned precisely at the connector interface when needed, then retracted when not in use. The service unit can be quickly exchanged between different maintenance locations, improving cleaning speed while the pushrod mechanism provides ergonomic operation without requiring body contortion
Solution Approach 2:
The service unit is designed to be self-contained with the service element integrated into the service head. The pushrod mechanism automatically positions the service element at the connector when activated, reducing the need for manual dexterity and body contortion. The service unit can be quickly replaced by maintenance personnel without requiring complex assembly or disassembly procedures
3Loss of time
If connectors are cleaned quickly without proper alignment tools, then maintenance time is reduced, but the chance of damaging expensive or delicate connectors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The service unit is pre-configured with the service element in the correct position within the service head. Before contact with the connector, the service unit is advanced through the channel and positioned by the pushrod mechanism, ensuring proper alignment is achieved before the cleaning action begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the service element is correctly oriented when it contacts the connector, allowing quick maintenance while protecting connector integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The service unit acts as a controlled intermediary between the operator and the connector. The pushrod mechanism provides controlled advancement and positioning of the service element, ensuring that the connector is approached and serviced in a controlled manner. This intermediary mechanism prevents uncontrolled contact that could cause damage, while still enabling quick maintenance operations
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a body having a front end and a back end, a channel within the body that is configured to hold at least a portion of a service unit, a guiderail extending along a portion of the channel and configured to couple with a pushrod, and an adapter configured to couple with a portion of the service unit and a portion of the body. The channel also includes a front opening positioned proximate to the front end of the body, wherein the front opening is configured to allow at least a portion of the service unit, or at least a portion of a connector, to pass through the front opening, and a back opening positioned proximate to the back end of the body, wherein the back opening is configured to allow at least a portion of the pushrod to pass through the back opening.