Integrated Counter-Holder for Fork Contact Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact point designs for electrically and mechanically connecting electrical components to carriers require additional support structures, such as housing contours, which complicate assembly and increase the risk of fork contacts being pushed out or lost during installation.
Innovation Solution
A contact point design featuring a plate-shaped carrier with cutouts and integrated counter-holders that allow fork contacts to be freely inserted and secured without external support, using a stamped and bent metal sheet with U-shaped cutouts and counter-holders that deform to hold the fork contacts in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fork contacts are freely inserted into the carrier, then ease of assembly is improved, but the risk of fork contacts being pushed out or lost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-holder is pre-formed as an integrated feature of the carrier before assembly. This preliminary structure provides automatic retention of the fork contact once inserted, eliminating the need for separate support structures and preventing the fork contact from being pushed out during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter-holder is merged with the carrier as a single integrated component, formed from the same plate-shaped material. This combination eliminates the need for separate support structures and ensures that the retention feature is always present when the fork contact is inserted, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and security.
2Reliability
If additional support structures are added to prevent fork contacts from being pushed out, then security of fork contact is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-holder is merged with the carrier as a single integrated component, formed from the same plate-shaped material through stamping and bending operations. This eliminates the need for separate support structures, reducing device complexity while maintaining the security function.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate-shaped carrier serves multiple functions: it provides the main structural support, contains the cutout for fork contact insertion, and includes the integrated counter-holder for retention. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the assembly.
3Reliability
If housing contours are used to support fork contacts, then security of fork contact is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-holder is formed as an integrated feature of the plate-shaped carrier through standard stamping and bending operations. This eliminates the need for separate housing contours or support structures, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring fork contact security.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter-holder is created by changing the geometric parameters of the plate material through bending and forming operations. This allows the support structure to be created from the same material and manufacturing process as the carrier, avoiding the need for additional housing contours or complex assembly steps.
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 assembly, eliminates the need for additional support structures, and ensures the fork contacts are securely held within the carrier, preventing loss and ensuring reliable electrical and mechanical connections.
Implementation Method 1
the counter-holder pointing in the direction of the Back is bent out of the plane of the carrier and abuts on a remote from the back of the carrier end face of the yoke
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a contact point (100) for electrically and mechanically connecting at least one electrical component to a carrier (102), wherein the carrier (102) is plate-shaped and has at least one cutout (104) at the contact point (100) and adjacent thereto a counter-holder (106) connected to the carrier (102) on one side, wherein a fork contact (110) with two contact fingers (112) and a yoke (114) connecting the contact fingers (112) is inserted into the cutout (104), wherein the contact fingers (112) project from the cutout (104) on a front side (116) of the carrier (102) transversely to a plane (108) of the carrier (102) and the yoke (114) projects from the cutout (104) on an opposite rear side (118) of the carrier (102), wherein the counter-holder (106) extends in the direction of the The back side (118) is bent out of the plane (108) and rests on an end surface (120) of the yoke (114) facing away from the back side (118).