Earth Terminal Mounting Tool for Vehicle Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional earth terminal mounting tools with linear plates face difficulties in mounting earth terminals from different directions, leading to potential intersections and instability of electric components due to voltage drops during large current flows.

Innovation Solution

A plate-like tool with bent earth terminals and locking portions allows for secure orientation and positioning of earth terminals from various directions, preventing intersections and minimizing noise from voltage drops by individual earth connection to the vehicle body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a linear plate structure is used for the earth terminal mounting tool, then earth terminals can be mounted from the same direction, but it becomes difficult to mount earth terminals from different directions without intersection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidmounting direction flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The earth terminal mounting tool transitions from a linear one-dimensional structure to a two-dimensional plate-like structure with multiple connecting sections arranged in different directions. This dimensional change allows earth terminals to be mounted from multiple directions simultaneously without intersection, resolving the contradiction between mounting simplicity and directional flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If multiple earth wires are connected in parallel, then the number of openings is minimized, but voltage drop occurs during large current flow causing potential change

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of openingsVSAvoidelectrical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The earth terminal mounting tool divides the earth connection function into multiple independent earth connecting sections, each capable of individually earthing earth wires. This segmentation allows multiple earth connections to be made separately, preventing voltage drop and potential changes that occur with parallel connections, while still minimizing the number of openings required in the vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If earth terminals are mounted from different directions, then mounting flexibility is improved, but earth terminals may intersect with adjacent earth terminals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting direction flexibilityVSAvoidterminal positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different earth connecting sections of the plate-like tool are designed with locally optimized configurations suitable for mounting from specific directions. Each section has its own locking portions and structural characteristics tailored to its mounting direction, allowing multiple terminals to be mounted from different directions without intersection while maintaining high positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2988373B1Earth terminal mounting tool
Publication Date: 2018.03.21 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP2988373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2988373B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2988373B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A thin plate-like earth terminal mounted tool (1) is with: earth wires (20) connected to electric components (10), earth terminals (30) respectively connected to end portions of the earth wires (20), and the earth terminals (30) individually connected to the earth terminal mounted tool (1). The earth terminal mounted tool (1) includes: a body connecting portion (110) connected to a body (BD) of a vehicle (V); and an earth connecting portion (120) connected to the body connecting portion (110) and to which the earth terminals (30) are individually connected. The earth connecting portion (120) includes at least a first earth connecting section (120A) to which the earth terminals (30) along a first direction (D1) are connected, and a second earth connecting section (120B) to which the earth terminals (30) along a second direction (D2) intersecting with the first direction (D1) are connected.