Data Carrier Movable Fastening Element Safety Controller Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety controllers for machines pose challenges in design and production due to complex and costly housing requirements, especially when using data carriers with movable elements for attaching and fixing, which increases manufacturing complexity and costs.

Innovation Solution

A safety controller design featuring a data carrier with a movable fastening element that interacts with a receiving unit to create a form-fitting connection, eliminating the need for protruding elements on the housing and allowing for a simpler, more cost-effective production process by using a self-locking connection and a grip element for easy handling and attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a data carrier with movable fastening elements is used to attach to the safety controller housing, then the data carrier can be securely fixed, but the housing design becomes more complex and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachment of data carrierVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing movable fastening elements on the housing, the patent inverts the design by placing the movable fastening element on the data carrier itself. The data carrier's fastening element moves relative to the carrier element to interact with the receiving unit, creating a form-fitting connection without requiring movable elements in the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening element on the data carrier is designed to automatically interact with the receiving unit through its movement relative to the carrier element. This self-service mechanism creates a secure form-fitting connection without requiring additional actuators or complex housing structures to facilitate the fastening process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If movable fastening elements are integrated into the housing, then data carrier attachment is secured, but manufacturing costs and production complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata carrier fixationVSAvoidhousing production cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the movable fastening element from the housing to the data carrier. This inversion simplifies housing production while maintaining secure attachment, as the receiving unit in the housing becomes a simple stationary structure without movable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening function is segmented and assigned to the data carrier as a separate component. The movable fastening element is integrated into the data carrier assembly, allowing it to be manufactured and tested independently before being used with the housing, thereby simplifying housing production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a form-fitting connection is used between fastening element and receiving unit, then production costs are reduced, but the ease of operation for data carrier attachment may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoiddata carrier attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening element is designed with mobility relative to the carrier element, allowing it to dynamically interact with the receiving unit. This dynamic capability enables the form-fitting connection to be established through the fastening element's movement, maintaining ease of operation while simplifying housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2340696B1Data carrier
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 PILZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2340696B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2340696B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2340696B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a data carrier comprising a carrier element (76, 106, 182, 192) which carries a storage element (78, 108, 184, 194). Data (36, 38) for a data receiving device (1) are stored in the storage element (78, 108, 184, 194). The invention is characterized in that the data carrier (34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, 34f) comprises at least one fastening element (72a, 72b, 102a, 102b, 186a, 186b, 196a, 196b) which can be displaced relative to the carrier element (76, 106, 182, 192) in such a manner that it is enabled to interact with a receiving unit (32, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f) arranged in the device (1), thereby fastening the data carrier (34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, 34f) to the receiving unit (32, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f). In a preferred embodiment, the data receiving unit is a control system, especially a safety control, the data (36, 38) stored in the storage element (78, 108, 184, 194) describing or influencing a state and/or a property of the control system or of at least one component (10, 10a, 10b) of the control system.