Extruded U-Shaped Housing Base With Detachable Side Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing circuit board housings are inflexible and costly, limiting their ability to accommodate different dimensions and types of printed circuit boards securely and efficiently, as they rely solely on shaping for spacers and fixing means, which restricts variability and secure mounting.

Innovation Solution

A U-shaped housing with an extruded profile base body, allowing for easy assembly and customization, featuring side walls that can be angled and stamped for varied lengths, with a mounting bracket for cable management and strain relief, enabling flexible insertion and secure fixing of circuit boards from above.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the housing is designed with spacer means and fixing means realized solely by shaping the housing, then the housing structure is simplified, but the housing becomes inflexible and cannot accommodate different dimensions of circuit boards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing structureVSAvoidaccommodation of different circuit board dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a base body and separate side walls that can be attached to the base body. This segmentation allows the side walls to be positioned at different distances from the base, enabling accommodation of circuit boards with different dimensions while keeping the base body structure simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side walls are designed to be detachable and repositionable relative to the base body. This dynamic configuration allows the housing to be adapted for different circuit board sizes by adjusting the position of the side walls, rather than being fixed in a single configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the side walls are fixed at a specific distance from the housing base, then the housing provides stable support, but only circuit boards of the same design can be arranged in the housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidvariability of circuit board types
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The side walls are separated from the base body and can be independently positioned. This allows the side walls to be attached at different distances from the base, providing stable support for circuit boards of various sizes while maintaining the stability needed for secure mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing design allows the same base body to support multiple types of circuit boards by varying the position of the side walls. This multi-functional capability enables a single housing design to serve multiple purposes across different circuit board configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the housing is designed as a complete box structure with integral cover and mounting feet, then the housing provides comprehensive protection, but the housing becomes costly and difficult to customize for different dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and customization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is constructed from separate components (base body, side walls, cover) that can be manufactured independently and assembled as needed. This modular approach reduces manufacturing costs and allows easy customization for different dimensions without requiring complete redesign of the entire housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing components are designed to be detachable and reconfigurable, allowing the same components to be used for different housing configurations. This dynamic design reduces the need for multiple specialized parts, lowering manufacturing costs and improving ease of customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2139306B8Housing for circuit board
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 INTER CONTROL HERMANN KOEHLER ELECTRIC GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The housing (1) has an elongated U-shaped housing base body (10) formed in one-piece. Two lateral walls (20) are fastened at the base body. The base body with the lateral walls forms upwardly-open box-shaped housing such that a printed circuit board (3) is inserted into the housing from upwards and is fixed in the housing. A top of the printed circuit board with its side is arranged downwards and its other side closes the housing. The base body is formed of an extruded section such as extruded aluminum sheath.