Fuse End Cap Alignment Pin for Rotational Adapter Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical fuse assemblies face challenges with inadvertent rotational and angular displacement of adapters, leading to misalignment and difficulty in securing the fuse properly within assemblies, which can prevent secure engagement with mating features.
Innovation Solution
A fuse assembly with a displaceable pin assembly, where a plunger is selectively movable along a non-parallel axis within the end cap, allowing for precise alignment and orientation by extending or retracting into a notch in the lower adapter, ensuring proper rotational and linear alignment of the adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adapters are secured to fuse ends using conventional coupling methods, then the fuse can be electrically coupled to the assembly, but inadvertent rotational and angular displacement occurs leading to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment pin is pre-positioned within the adapter at a predetermined location. Before the fuse assembly is installed, the alignment pin protrudes to guide the mating feature into proper alignment. This preliminary positioning action prevents misalignment during installation and eliminates the need for complex adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment pin acts as an intermediary element between the adapter and the assembly's mating feature. It mediates the coupling process by providing a physical guide that ensures proper rotational and angular alignment. The alignment pin transfers alignment information from the adapter to the mating feature, enabling accurate engagement without direct complex interfacing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fuse assembly is designed with fixed alignment features, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but adaptability to different assembly configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment pin is designed with selective displacability, allowing it to transition between a protruding state (for alignment during installation) and a retracted state (for final secured engagement). This dynamic characteristic enables the same feature to serve multiple functions: providing alignment flexibility during installation while maintaining manufacturing precision in the final assembled state. The alignment pin can be displaced to accommodate different assembly configurations while ensuring accurate alignment when engaged.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuse assembly having a displaceable pin assembly secured within a cap bore of an end cap of the fuse assembly. The displaceable pin assembly can include a plunger that is selectively displaceable along an axis that is non-parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the first end cap. The plunger can be selectively displaceable between an extended position at which at least a first end of the plunger is outwardly positioned away from an outer surface of the first end cap, and a recessed position at which the first end of the plunger is recessed within, or generally aligned with the outer surface of, the first end cap. The displaceable pin assembly can also include a biasing element that can bias the plunger to the extended position, and a support body that can house at least a portion of the plunger and be securely coupled to the cap bore.