Two-Part Electrical Cover With Magnetic Access Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical devices require the complete removal of covering devices for maintenance, making access to internal components labor-intensive and difficult, while also lacking effective detection for unintentional or unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
The electrical device is designed with a housing that divides the receiving space into two sub-spaces, using a covering device with two elements and a magnetic sensor unit to allow partial access without removing the entire cover, enabling contactless detection of the magnetic element's absence and reducing maintenance complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire cover device is removed for maintenance access, then all electrical components become accessible, but the maintenance process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cover device is divided into a first cover element and a second cover element that can be independently removed. The second cover element can be detached to provide access to the first partial receiving space for maintenance of specific components, while the first cover element remains attached to maintain protection of other components. This segmentation eliminates the need to remove the entire cover device for partial maintenance tasks.
2Ease of repair
If the entire cover device is removed for maintenance access, then all electrical components become accessible, but the device complexity increases due to additional cover elements and detection systems
Solution Approach 1:
The cover device is segmented into two independent cover elements with the second cover element designed for easy attachment and detachment. This segmentation provides selective access to different partial receiving spaces, improving ease of repair for specific components while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic element and magnetic sensor unit are introduced as intermediary components to detect the position and removal state of the second cover element. This non-contact detection mechanism provides simple yet effective monitoring of cover element status without requiring complex mechanical switches or contact-based systems, thereby managing device complexity while enabling intelligent access control.
3Device complexity
If mechanical contacts are used for detection, then the detection system is simple, but the system requires electrical lines to pass through the first cover element which complicates the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical contact-based detection system is replaced with a magnetic field-based detection system. A magnetic element is attached to the second cover element, and a magnetic sensor unit detects the presence or absence of this magnetic element to determine whether the cover element is in place or has been removed. This substitution eliminates the need for electrical lines to pass through the first cover element, simplifying the wiring structure and manufacturing process while maintaining effective detection capability.
4Ease of operation
If the magnetic sensor unit detects through the first cover element, then contactless detection is achieved, but the detection precision may be affected by the cover material
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic element serves as an intermediary that enhances the magnetic field signal between the second cover element and the magnetic sensor unit. By attaching a magnetic element to the cover element, the system creates a stronger and more detectable magnetic field signature that can be reliably detected through the first cover element material, thereby maintaining detection precision despite the intermediate material barrier.
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 design simplifies maintenance by allowing access to only the necessary sub-space without removing the entire cover, while providing a low-effort detection option for unauthorized access and enhancing safety through contactless detection and redundant sensor redundancy.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit having a magnetic element and a magnetic sensor configured to provide a detection signal upon detecting an absence of the magnetic element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Electrical device (1) comprising - a housing (2) with a receiving space (3) in which electrical components of the device (1) are arranged; - a cover device (4) with a first cover element (5) and a second cover element (6), wherein the first cover element (5) has a recess (7) and the second cover element (6) can be arranged relative to the first cover element (5) such that the second cover element (6) covers the recess (7) in a first position and allows access to the recess (7) in a second position, wherein the cover device (4) can be arranged relative to the housing (2) such that the cover device (4) closes the receiving space (3) in a first position when the second cover element (6) is in the first position, and allows access to a first partial receiving space (9) of the receiving space (3) through the recess (7) and closes a second partial receiving space (10) of the receiving space (3),when the second cover element (6) is in the second position, and that the cover device (4) in a second position allows access to the first partial receiving space (9) and the second partial receiving space (10); and - a sensor unit (12) with a magnetic element (13) and a magnetic sensor (14) which is configured to provide a detection signal (25) when detecting an absence of the magnetic element (13), wherein the sensor unit (12) is arranged and configured to detect the absence of the magnetic element (13) in the second position of the second cover element (6) and in the second position of the cover device (4).