Sleeve Connector Assembly for Damper Valve Cable Harness Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semi-active hydraulic vibration dampers with internal electrically controllable valves face challenges in flexible adaptation to different types of cable harness contacting, often requiring complex wiring and fastening structures that complicate assembly and increase material usage.
Innovation Solution
A contacting device comprising an electrical coil, cables, and a sleeve-shaped housing with a plug section for mechanical and electrical coupling, allowing for flexible assembly within or outside the piston rod, decoupling cable and coil attachment from damper assembly, and eliminating the need for fastening structures on the piston rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plug connector is provided in the piston rod for wiring harness connection, then cable harness contacting is enabled, but fastening structures (groove or shoulder) must be added to prevent slipping, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the connector body and the fastening feature into a single integrated component. The connector body itself is designed with an external threading that provides the fastening function, eliminating the need for separate grooves or shoulders on the piston rod. This merging of functions reduces overall device complexity while maintaining ease of cable harness connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed to be self-fastening through its external threading. When the connector is screwed onto the piston rod, the threading automatically provides the fastening action without requiring additional fastening structures. The connector serves both its primary function of electrical connection and its secondary function of mechanical fastening, reducing the need for extra components.
2Reliability
If separate conductors are used inside the piston rod, then electrical connection is achieved, but assembly complexity increases due to multiple separate components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrical conductors into a single bundled cable assembly that is routed together through the piston rod. The connector is designed to accept this bundled cable assembly as a single unit, rather than requiring separate connection of multiple individual conductors. This merging approach maintains reliable electrical connections while significantly simplifying the assembly process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a contacting device (12) for an electrically actuatable valve (11) which is arranged within a vibration damper (1), comprising an electric coil (13) for arranging on the electrically actuatable valve (11), one or more electric cables (14) for arranging within a piston rod (4) of the vibration damper (1), said cables being connected to the poles of the electric coil (13), and a sleeve-shaped housing (15) for arranging in the piston rod (4), wherein the housing forms a plug section (15a) for mechanically and electrically coupling to a cable harness, a coupling section (15b) for securing to the electric coil (13), and a sleeve section (15c), which connects the two sections (15a, 15b), for feeding through the at least one cable.