Radially Expandable Test Pin for Reliable Opening Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test pins are inadequate for securely and reliably contacting electrically conductive areas within openings of contact partners, as they often require two-point contact and struggle with single-point contact applications, especially when the contact area is arranged in an opening.
Innovation Solution
A radially expandable test pin design featuring a sleeve-shaped contact element and a pin-shaped element with an obliquely arranged contact surface, allowing for radial expansion to establish a secure electrical connection over the entire circumference of the contact area, facilitated by spring elements and a housing design that enables simple and safe actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional test pin with fixed contact elements is used, then the structure is simple, but the reliability of electrical contact with conductive areas in openings is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is designed to be radially expandable from a retracted state to an expanded state, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the contact element to adapt its shape and size to reliably contact conductive areas within openings, resolving the contradiction between contact reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element changes its radial dimension parameter from a smaller retracted diameter to a larger expanded diameter. This parameter change enables the contact element to engage with conductive areas in openings, improving electrical contact reliability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If a radially expandable contact element is implemented, then the contact area increases for better electrical connection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is segmented into multiple radial sections that can independently expand and flex. This segmentation allows the contact element to increase its contact area with the conductive surface while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design, resolving the contradiction between connection security and mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element utilizes flexible radial sections that can bend and expand to conform to the conductive surface geometry. This flexible design increases the contact area for reliable electrical connection without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between connection security and device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the contact element is designed for radial expansion, then the ease of operation for achieving contact is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element incorporates dynamic radial expandability that allows simple axial insertion to trigger automatic radial expansion through spring mechanisms. This dynamic design improves ease of operation while the standardized spring and expansion mechanisms keep manufacturing complexity manageable, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and manufacturing difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element uses spring-loaded mechanisms that automatically expand the contact element upon insertion, eliminating the need for external actuation mechanisms. This self-service design improves ease of operation while using common spring components that are easy to manufacture, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and manufacturing complexity.
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 test pin achieves a secure and reliable electrical connection by expanding radially to contact the inner surface of the opening, ensuring contact at multiple points and allowing for easy assembly and production, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring element, which causes a movement of the pin-shaped element in the direction towards the contact partner
Implementation Method 2
the pin-shaped element is designed for radial expansion of the contact element with a contact surface arranged obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the contact element
Implementation Method 3
a second spring element which causes the contact element to be restored into its initial position
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a testing pin (10; 10a; 10b) for making contact with an electrically conductive region (3) of a contact partner (1), having a housing element (11; 11a; 11b), in particular a sleeve-shaped housing element, a contact element (30; 30a; 30b), in particular a contact element which is likewise sleeve-shaped, which acts as a conductor and is arranged such that it can be moved relative to the housing element (11; 11a; 11b) in the longitudinal direction of the housing element (11; 11a; 11b), wherein a spring element (37; 37a; 37b) applies force to the contact element (30; 30a; 30b) in the axial direction, and having an element (15; 15a; 15b), in particular a pin-shaped element, which is guided inside the contact element (30; 30a; 30b) at least in regions and to which a further spring element (17; 17a; 17b) applies force in the axial direction, wherein the sleeve-shaped contact element (30; 30a; 30b) is designed to be able to be radially widened with respect to the longitudinal axis (23) thereof in the end region (45) facing the contact partner (1) in order to make contact with the region (3) of the contact partner (1), and wherein the pin-shaped element (15; 15a; 15b) can be placed, with a surface (25) arranged obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis (23) of the contact element (30; 30a; 30b), against a mating surface (33) formed on the contact element (30; 30a; 30b) in operative connection in order to radially widen the contact element (30; 30a; 30b), with the result that a linear movement of the pin-shaped element (15; 15a; 15b) radially widens the contact element (30; 30a; 30b) in the end region (45) thereof.