Protective Cover Assembly with Temporary Open Holding Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connection boxes require manual opening of the protective cover at the destination due to the inability to maintain the cover in an open position during transportation, affecting assembly workability.
Innovation Solution
A temporary holding mechanism using a cantilevered flexible portion and locked protrusion allows the protective cover to be locked at a temporary open position, enabling transportation with the cover open, and a locking mechanism ensures it remains closed after assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the protective cover is designed to rotate open for connection work, then the workability of connection operations is improved, but the cover cannot be maintained in the open position during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a temporary holding position that allows the protective cover to be advanced to an open position before the actual connection work begins. The temporary holding position is positioned forward of the fully open position, allowing the cover to be prepared in advance while maintaining stability during transportation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the cover to be pre-positioned for operation while remaining stable during transit.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the protective cover is kept closed during transportation, then the cover maintains a stable closed position, but manual opening is required at the destination which reduces assembly workability
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary holding mechanism enables preliminary action by allowing the protective cover to be advanced to the temporary holding position during or before transportation. This pre-positions the cover closer to the open state without requiring full opening, thereby reducing the manual opening effort needed at the destination and improving assembly efficiency while maintaining transportation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary holding position serves as a disposable intermediate state that is used only during transportation and assembly preparation. The locking and unlocking mechanisms for the temporary holding position are designed for single-use or limited-use cycles, enabling the cover to be temporarily positioned without requiring complex permanent structural modifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a locking mechanism is added to maintain the cover open, then the cover can be transported in an open state, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into two distinct functional parts: a temporary holding position mechanism and a final open position mechanism. The temporary holding position uses simpler locking components that engage at an intermediate position, while the final open position uses separate locking components. This segmentation reduces the complexity of each individual locking mechanism while providing the overall adaptability needed for both transportation and operation states.
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
Enhances assembly workability by allowing connection work to be performed in a conveyed state and prevents the cover from being left open, improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cantilevered flexible portion that projects out from the cover main body in the opening direction and is deflection deformable in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A first locking body includes a locking portion configured to lock a first locked body of a protective cover at a temporary holding position and hold it at the position, the first locked body includes a cantilevered flexible portion that is deflection deformable in an axial direction of a rotation shaft, and a locked protrusion that is locked to the locking portion at the temporary holding position, and is held at the position, and a locked protrusion) is provided with an input portion that, when a force is acted on an abutment position with the locking portion when the protective cover at the temporary holding position is turned in a closing direction, receives a reaction force of the force from the abutment position and deflection deforms the flexible portion to go over the locking portion.