Earth Connection Unit Integrated Cover Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earth connection units face issues with the elastic engagement piece being exposed, leading to potential deformation and accidental unlocking, wire damage, and increased component and assembly steps due to separate opening covers.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an engagement piece cover that integrates multiple opening covers, featuring an elastic support portion for facilitated engagement and a rib structure to prevent excessive load on lock projections, ensuring stable locking and reduced assembly complexity by covering the elastic engagement piece and allowing simultaneous attachment of opening covers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic engagement piece is exposed to allow engagement with the unit case, then the earth plate can be locked to the unit case, but the elastic engagement piece may be accidentally deformed or contacted from the exterior causing unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an opening cover as an intermediary component that covers the elastic engagement piece. The opening cover has a lock projection that engages with an engagement portion on the unit case, while the elastic engagement piece remains hidden underneath. This mediator protects the elastic engagement piece from external contact while still allowing the locking function to work through the engagement between the opening cover and the unit case.
2Reliability
If separate opening covers are used for each working opening, then each opening can be covered individually, but the number of components and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate opening covers into a single integrated opening cover assembly. The opening cover includes multiple engagement portions that can simultaneously engage with multiple lock projections on the unit case, allowing one component to perform the function of multiple separate covers. This reduces the number of components and simplifies assembly while maintaining comprehensive coverage of all working openings.
3Reliability
If the elastic engagement piece is exposed for engagement, then the earth plate can be locked, but wires may contact the end edge and be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The opening cover serves as a protective intermediary that covers the elastic engagement piece and its end edges. The opening cover is positioned between the wires and the elastic engagement piece, preventing wires from contacting and being damaged by the exposed edges while allowing the locking mechanism to function through the engagement portions and lock projections.
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 maintains a stable locked condition of the earth plate, prevents wire damage, and reduces the number of components and assembly steps by integrating the opening covers and providing a rib structure for enhanced retention and reduced operational force.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic engagement piece portion formed on and extending from a side edge of the mounting plate portion of the earth plate is engaged with an engagement projection formed on an outer side surface of the unit case
Data Source
AI summary
An earth connection unit, in which the elastic engagement piece portion of the earth plate for locking the earth plate to the unit case is engaged with the engagement projection formed on the outer side surface of the unit case, and wherein the elastic engagement piece portion formed on the earth plate is covered with the engagement piece cover integrally interconnecting the plurality of opening covers, and is not exposed to the exterior.