Expandable Catch Protective Device for Electric Drive Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drives with snap-on connectors are prone to damage and unintentional loosening during handling and mounting, and current securement solutions are complex and economically unfeasible.
Innovation Solution
An electric drive with an expandable catch means protected by a one-piece protective device, formed using injection molded plastic or diecast metal parts, which shields the catch means to prevent unintended expansion and loosening, ensuring secure mounting without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If unprotected snap-on connectors are used, then the structure is simple and economical, but the connectors are prone to damage and unintentional loosening during handling and mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is merged with the snap-on connector as a single integrated component. The protective device is formed as one piece with at least one of the components interconnected, preferably formed by initially forming an interconnection with at least one of the components using injection molded plastic parts or diecast metal parts. This eliminates the need for separate protective components while maintaining both protection and manufacturing economy.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective device is designed to prevent unintentional expansion of the catch means before loosening can occur. The protective device shields the perceptibly expandable catch means so that undesired expansion is only remotely possible, and projects over the catch means in the direction of its connection and/or expansion to ensure contact with walls or other components during handling rather than the catch means.
2Reliability
If additional protective components are added to prevent loosening, then connector security is improved, but the structure becomes complex and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is merged with the snap-on connector as a single integrated component. The protective device is formed as one piece with at least one of the components interconnected, preferably formed by initially forming an interconnection with at least one of the components using injection molded plastic parts or diecast metal parts. This eliminates the need for separate protective components while maintaining both protection and manufacturing economy.
3Reliability
If the protective device extends beyond the catch means, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the component size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is designed with selective extension only in the critical areas where protection is needed. The protective device, when mounted, has a greater extension than the expandable catch means and, at least in the area of its greatest expandability, i. e. at its end area, projects over it in the direction of its connection and/or expansion. This provides targeted protection without unnecessary volume increase in non-critical areas.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric drive for an electric motor. The electric drive is made up of components consisting of a brush holder plate and a bearing plate which are interconnected via at least one snap-on connector with an expandable catch means that is disposed on an external area of an electric motor, a drive motor, or a positioning drive in such a manner that it projects out. The electric drive can be securely mounted and handled in an economical manner without additional components and without complicated manufacturing equipment. This objective is accomplished by the fact that the expandable catch means is protected by a protective device against unintentional expansion of the catch means and thus loosening of the snap-on connector.