Electrical Contact Element With Independent Spring Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical installation devices require complex assembly processes due to non-detachable connections between contact elements, leading to increased assembly work and impracticality in upgrading or retrofitting.

Innovation Solution

A contact element with mechanically and functionally independent spring arm pairs, allowing for detachable and reliable contacting of multiple elements without transferring clamping forces, enabling easy assembly and disassembly with separate spring arm designs for different contact pins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If contact elements are connected through non-detachable connections, then structural stability is improved, but assembly complexity and difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact element is divided into separate functional components: a body with multiple contact points and individual spring arms for each contact point. This segmentation allows each spring arm to be independently attached and adjusted, simplifying assembly while maintaining structural stability through the unified body structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spring arms provide dynamic, detachable connections instead of rigid non-detachable connections. The spring mechanism allows for easy attachment and detachment while maintaining stable electrical contact during operation, resolving the contradiction between stability and assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If spring arms are designed separately from a common base, then ease of operation and reliability improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each spring arm is designed as a separate component that can be independently attached to the common base. This segmentation enables easy assembly and disassembly of individual spring arms without affecting other contact points, improving ease of operation while the modular design keeps overall complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The common base serves as a universal mounting structure for multiple spring arms, providing a standardized interface that simplifies the overall design. This universal base reduces complexity by consolidating the attachment mechanism while still allowing independent operation of each spring arm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If multiple contact points are formed in a one-piece contact area, then manufacturing efficiency improves, but functional independence may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidfunctional independence
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

While the contact points are formed in a one-piece contact area for manufacturing efficiency, each contact point has its own independently mounted spring arm. This segmentation at the functional connection level ensures that mechanical processes at one contact point do not transfer to others, maintaining functional independence and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The individual spring arms act as intermediaries between the one-piece contact area and the external contacts. They isolate the mechanical interactions at each contact point while maintaining electrical continuity through the integrated contact area, thus preserving functional independence despite the unified contact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reliable electrical contacting during assembly, eliminating the need for separate connection work like soldering, and allowing for modular upgrades with easy installation and removal of components.

Implementation Method 1

The insertion forces and movements of the sockets are absorbed independently by the spring arms

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2223391B1Electrical contact element
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 MERTEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2223391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2223391B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2223391B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a contact element for the transmission of current, consisting of a terminal connector (10) and a contact area (51). The aim of the invention is to provide a contact element (8, 9) which allows at least two elements to be contacted in a reliable and easy manner. The contact element according to the invention is characterized in that two functionally independent contact points (52, 53) are formed in the contact area (51) and have respective pairs of spring arms (58, 59, 60, 61) extending away from a base (50), said pair of spring arms forming a jack (62, 65) for receiving a contact pin (32, 33, 54).