Data Bus Terminal Block with Non-Metallic Coupling Plates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic terminal blocks for data buses face challenges in providing a compact and flexible design suitable for difficult process environments, particularly with electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation, while also allowing for flexible arrangement and easy installation of additional blocks.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a metal housing with non-metallic coupling plates for electrical insulation, providing a compact and flexible bus-terminal station that allows for dense packing and easy rearrangement of terminal blocks, with features like protruding enclosures for secure data-bus and current-line connections and air vents for heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal housing is used for electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation, then reliability in harsh environments is improved, but gaps between terminal blocks increase installation size and reduce compactness
Solution Approach 1:
A non-metallic coupling plate is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent metal housings. This coupling plate bridges the gap between terminal blocks, providing mechanical connection and electrical insulation while allowing the metal housings to maintain their shielding and heat dissipation functions without requiring larger spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines metal housing material with non-metallic coupling plate material to create a composite structure. The metal housing provides electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation, while the non-metallic coupling plate provides electrical insulation and mechanical connection, achieving both reliability and compactness through material composition rather than single-material design.
2Ease of operation
If a click mechanism with lateral elongated plates is used for connection, then ease of assembly is improved, but flexibility in rearranging terminal blocks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into modular components: metal housings with integrated contacts and separate non-metallic coupling plates. This segmentation allows terminal blocks to be easily assembled using the click mechanism while also enabling flexible rearrangement, as the modular coupling plates can be independently adjusted or repositioned without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling plate design incorporates dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the connection points and spacing to be modified during operation. This enables the system to transition from a fixed rigid connection to a flexible configurable arrangement, maintaining ease of assembly while adding rearrangement flexibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If plastic housing is used for terminal blocks, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability in electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a composite construction where the metal housing provides electromagnetic shielding and heat dissipation functionality, while the non-metallic coupling plate provides electrical insulation. This composite approach achieves the reliability of metal housings while maintaining the ease of manufacture associated with non-metallic components through standardized production processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the terminal block system use different materials optimized for their specific functions: metal housing for shielding and heat dissipation where needed, and non-metallic coupling plates for electrical insulation and mechanical connection. This local quality assignment achieves high reliability in critical areas while maintaining overall ease of manufacture.
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
This solution enables a compact, flexible, and shielded bus-terminal station that can be used in harsh environments, allowing for secure and efficient electrical connections and heat management, while allowing for easy integration and rearrangement of terminal blocks.
Implementation Method 1
Due to electromagnetic shielding and heat development occurring in process technology, however, it is in many cases not possible to use such plastic electronic terminal blocks for measuring
Implementation Method 2
Due to electromagnetic shielding and heat development occurring in process technology
Implementation Method 3
The first and the second coupling plates are made of a non-metallic material
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic terminal block for a data bus has control electronics comprising first and second data-bus-contacting units connected via an internal data-bus line, and a connecting unit for connecting bus subscribers. The metal housing comprises a first face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second face having a recess for the connecting unit, a first side face, an opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit, and a second side face opposite the first side face with an opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit. A first non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the first housing side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the first side face, and a second non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the second side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the second side face.