Dampened Field Termination Assembly for Marine Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional field termination assemblies (FTAs) fail to withstand transportation and operational vibrations and shocks, particularly in marine applications, due to high channel density and cable count, leading to potential damage during shipping and operation.

Innovation Solution

A dampened FTA base with a lever and mount configuration that cushions vibrations and impacts, securing to a support rail with a pivotable lever and latch system, enhancing durability and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional FTA is mounted in marshalling cabinet to reduce assembly time, then assembly efficiency is improved, but the FTA becomes vulnerable to vibrations and shocks during transportation and operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly timeVSAvoidresistance to vibrations and shocks

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a dampener between the FTA base and the support rail before the FTA is mounted in the marshalling cabinet. This dampener absorbs vibrations and shocks during transportation and operation, protecting the FTA while maintaining the mounted configuration for reduced assembly time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The dampener acts as an intermediary element between the FTA base and the support rail. It mediates the transmission of vibrations and shocks, allowing the FTA to remain mounted for efficiency while protecting it from harmful mechanical stresses during transportation and marine operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If FTA density is increased to handle high channel count and cable count, then I/O capability is improved, but the FTA becomes more susceptible to damage during transportation and operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel densityVSAvoidvibrations and shocks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dampener is installed beforehand between the FTA base and support rail to cushion high-frequency vibrations and shocks. This allows the FTA to achieve high channel density and cable count for improved I/O capability while the dampener protects the dense configuration from damage during transportation and marine operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The dampener converts harmful vibrations and shocks into beneficial damping forces. By absorbing these mechanical stresses, the dampener protects the high-density FTA configuration, allowing the system to achieve superior I/O capability without sacrificing reliability in harsh environments.

Inventive Principle:

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

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

The solution effectively absorbs vibrations and shocks, ensuring the FTA meets operational and transportation requirements while maintaining high channel density and cable count, even in marine environments.

Implementation Method 1

A dampened FTA base includes a dampener feature which cushions the vibrations in the cabinet being transferred to the FTA

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11622465B2Field termination assembly (FTA) with dampened mount

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

This disclosure provides a field termination assembly (FTA) providing for ease of mounting to a support rail. The FTA provides a lever on a base that cushions against shocks and vibrations during shipment and operation while a housing is mounted on a base secured to a support rail. The base includes a dampener feature which makes it more capable of meeting operation and transportation vibration and shock requirements even for marine applications while still providing high channel density and cable count.