Floor Box Sliding Contacts for Equipotential Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor installation cassettes for electrical devices require time-consuming flexible conductor attachments for equipotential bonding, which can interfere with installation and are not efficient.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating electrically conductive sliding contacts between pivoted components, such as a housing and cover, using resilient spring tongues that move along a contact track for reliable equipotential bonding without separate grounding cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible conductors are used for equipotential bonding between components, then reliable potential equalization is achieved, but installation time increases and the flexible conductor interferes with the use and installation of the floor installation cassette
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the equipotential bonding function with the mechanical connection between housing and cover by integrating conductive sliding contacts into the articulation mechanism. The sliding contacts are built into the housing and cover structures themselves, merging the electrical bonding function with the mechanical assembly, thereby eliminating separate flexible conductor attachments and reducing installation time while maintaining reliable potential equalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding contacts automatically establish and maintain equipotential bonding through the natural relative movement between housing and cover during assembly and operation. The resilient contact points continuously engage with contact tracks as components move relative to each other, providing self-servicing equipotential bonding without requiring manual connection of separate conductors.
2Reliability
If flexible conductors are used for equipotential bonding, then reliable potential equalization is achieved, but the flexible conductor interferes with the use of the floor installation cassette
Solution Approach 1:
The equipotential bonding function is merged with the structural components (housing and cover) through integrated sliding contacts. This eliminates protruding flexible conductors that would interfere with the usability and aesthetic appearance of the floor installation cassette, while maintaining continuous electrical contact through the resilient sliding contact mechanism.
3Reliability
If separate flexible grounding cables are used, then equipotential bonding is established, but the installation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the equipotential bonding function from separate flexible grounding cables and integrates it directly into the housing and cover structures through built-in sliding contacts. This extraction eliminates the need for separate cable routing, connection terminals, and attachment fasteners, thereby simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining reliable bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding function is merged with the mechanical assembly components, creating an integrated solution where the housing and cover serve both structural and electrical bonding purposes through their articulated sliding contact design.
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
Facilitates easy and efficient installation by maintaining equipotential bonding during component movement, meeting legal requirements with sufficient contact resistance, and eliminating the need for separate flexible cables.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient contact point that sits on a contact track. If the components, for example the cover and the housing, are moved relative to one another, the resilient contact point can move along the contact track
Implementation Method 2
an electrically conductive sliding contact is provided between the components that can be pivoted relative to one another... the sliding contact creates a conductive connection between two components
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~8
Figure 9~11
AI summary
The box (10) has two housings (12) and a cover (14) movable relative to each other, where the cover is inserted in the housings that are partially made of an electrical conductive material. Electrical conductive sliding contacts (26, 28) are provided between the housings and cover, where the housings and cover are provided with parallel claddings (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) in an opening direction of the housings. The sliding contacts are arranged at the claddings, and include a spring tongue that is fixed to the claddings of the housings.