Movable Contact Point With Abutting Side Wall Projections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional movable contact points in switches experience deformation due to wear, leading to reduced support strength and inability to maintain proper connection/disconnection with fixed contact points, necessitating increased thickness to extend lifespan, which results in upsizing and accommodation issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating projecting portions on side wall portions that abut against each other to maintain parallel alignment and enhance rigidity, preventing deformation without increasing the thickness of the sliding portion, thus allowing for extended lifespan without upsizing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the thickness of the sliding portion is increased to prevent deformation and extend lifespan, then the durability and support strength are improved, but the size of the movable contact point increases, causing accommodation issues in the switch body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifespan of movable contact pointVSAvoidsize of movable contact point

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The movable contact point is segmented into functional regions: the sliding portion maintains original thickness for compact size, while the side wall portions are reinforced with projecting portions that provide structural support. This segmentation allows different parts to have different thickness characteristics optimized for their specific functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly increasing the thickness of the entire movable contact point, the invention applies local reinforcement through projecting portions on the side wall portions. This local quality change provides enhanced support strength exactly where needed (at the side walls) without increasing the thickness of the sliding portion that contacts the fixed contact point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the thickness of the sliding portion is increased to maintain support strength, then the deformation resistance is improved, but the movable contact point cannot be accommodated in the switch body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport strength of sliding portionVSAvoidsize of movable contact point

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The structure is divided into the sliding portion (maintaining thin profile for accommodation) and side wall portions (with projecting portions providing reinforcement). This segmentation enables the support function to be separated from the sliding function, allowing each to be optimized independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing thickness in the vertical dimension, the invention adds structural support in the horizontal dimension through projecting portions on the side walls. This dimensional shift provides reinforcement without increasing the critical vertical thickness that would prevent accommodation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the movable contact point slides repeatedly on the fixed contact point, then the connection/disconnection function is achieved, but wear occurs causing the sliding portion to thin and the side wall portions to deform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational frequency of switchVSAvoidparallel alignment of side wall portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The projecting portions are provided in advance on the side wall portions to prevent future deformation. This preemptive structural reinforcement compensates for the wear that will occur during repeated sliding operations, maintaining the parallel alignment of side walls throughout the operational life of the contact point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention accepts that wear will occur during operation but converts this harmful effect into a beneficial outcome by designing the projecting portions to gradually engage and maintain alignment as the sliding portion thins. The wear process itself allows the projecting portions to become more effective at maintaining parallel alignment over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9406452B2Movable contact point for switch

Publication Date: 2016.08.02 VALEO JAPAN CO LTD

AI summary

A movable contact point for an inhibiter switch includes a movable contact point that makes pressure contact with a fixed contact point is slid to cause the movable contact point and the fixed contact point to be connected and disconnected. The movable contact point comprises parallel side wall portions and a sliding portion that slides on the fixed contact point and that connects end portions of the side wall portions. Projecting portions that project in the sliding direction are provided in notch portions in the side walls, wherein the projecting portions abut against each other between the side wall portions in the sliding direction.