Electric Socket One-Piece Support for Precise Cell Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical outlets with printed circuits face assembly challenges due to excessive clearance between reception cells and their compartments, leading to degraded performance and difficulty in precise adjustment and fixing, especially when cells are pre-soldered to the circuit.

Innovation Solution

An electrical socket design featuring a one-piece part with compartments for receiving cells and removable fixing means, including blocking abutments and material thinning for easy adjustment and firm holding, allowing precise alignment and connection to the printed circuit, reducing mechanical stress on welds and improving assembly precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cells are pre-soldered to the printed circuit, then electrical connection is established, but excessive clearance is required between cells and compartments which degrades performance and makes precise adjustment difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection qualityVSAvoidcell positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the assembly into separate components: the printed circuit board with soldered cells, and the base with compartments. This segmentation allows the cells to be precisely positioned on the PCB without being constrained by the need for large clearances in the final assembly, thereby maintaining both electrical connection quality and positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mounting structure (the base with compartments) that mediates between the printed circuit board and the final socket assembly. This intermediary allows precise cell positioning on the PCB while providing a separate mechanism for secure mounting in the base, eliminating the need for excessive clearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cells are pre-soldered to the printed circuit, then electrical connection is established, but fixing the cells in the base compartments becomes difficult due to stress on the welds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection qualityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the electrical connection function (soldering cells to PCB) from the mechanical mounting function (securing cells in base compartments), the invention eliminates the conflict between these two requirements. The cells can be firmly soldered without needing to be directly fixed in the base, reducing stress on the welds while maintaining assembly ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The PCB acts as an intermediary that carries the cells from the soldering process to the final mounting position. This intermediary protects the delicate solder joints from direct mechanical stress during the fixing process, making assembly easier while preserving electrical connection quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If excessive clearance is left between cells and compartments, then assembly is easier, but the cells cannot be adjusted precisely which degrades contact quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidcontact quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the assembly process into two independent stages: precise positioning on the PCB (where small clearances are acceptable) and mounting in the base (where precise adjustment is achieved through the compartment design). This segmentation allows both assembly ease and contact quality to be optimized in their respective stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cells are preliminarily positioned and soldered on the PCB with precise alignment before being mounted in the base. This preliminary action ensures precise contact quality is achieved during the soldering stage, while the base mounting stage focuses on secure fixation, allowing both precision and ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3312948B1Electric socket comprising a one-piece part for supporting and receiving cells and method for assembling such an electric socket
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 LEGRAND FRANCE SA
  • EP3312948B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3312948B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3312948B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrical socket (1) comprising: • a base (6) having an internal housing (24), the internal housing (24) of the base (6) opening onto a central opening (26); • a printed circuit board (8) arranged within the internal housing (24) of the base (6); • at least two recesses (10) for receiving an electrical contact pin, each recess (10) having a portion (34) directly connected to the printed circuit board (8), each recess (10) being intended to receive an electrical contact pin of an electrical plug, and being adapted to enclose this pin so as to maintain electrical contact between the pin and the recess.The electrical socket (1) further includes a one-piece support and receiving piece (12) for the sockets (10) arranged within the inner housing (24) of the base (6), and means (14) for the removable fixing of the one-piece (12) to the base (6), said one-piece (12) defining at least two compartments (36) for receiving a socket (10), each socket (10) being fixed within one of said compartments (36).