Fuse Terminal Compact Design for Vehicular Electrical Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicular electrical circuits face space constraints, necessitating a reduced package size for fuse terminal assemblies to facilitate easier installation and removal of fuses.

Innovation Solution

A fuse terminal design featuring a central body with extending arms and a connector portion, where the arms create an arm space to engage the fuse ends and a legged connector minimizes vertical height by overlapping with the fuse box receptacles, allowing for compact installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional fuse terminal structures are used, then reliable electrical connections are achieved, but the package size becomes too large for limited vehicular space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackage sizeVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector portion is designed with a leg that extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the terminal axis, allowing the connector to overlap with the receptacle in a vertical direction. This dimensional change enables compact installation by utilizing space in a different orientation rather than extending horizontally, thereby reducing the overall package size while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The fuse terminal assembly is designed to nest within the fuse box receptacle structure. The connector portion with its perpendicular leg extends into the receptacle space, allowing the terminal to be nested within the available volume of the fuse box rather than protruding outward, thus reducing the external package dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of moving object

If the connector portion extends perpendicular to the terminal axis, then compact installation is enabled, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackage sizeVSAvoidterminal structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuse terminal is formed as a single integrated piece where the central body portion, arms, and connector portion with leg are all connected as one continuous structure. This merging of components simplifies manufacturing and assembly while achieving the compact perpendicular extension design, thereby reducing structural complexity despite the unconventional geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9548176B2Fuse terminal for use with an electrical fuse assembly
Publication Date: 2017.01.17 LEAR CORP
  • US9548176B2 patent drawing
  • US9548176B2 patent drawing
  • US9548176B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A fuse terminal includes a central body portion. A first arm extends from the central body portion and defines an arm space that is located on a fuse side of the central body portion. A connector portion also extends from the central body portion and includes a leg that extends on the fuse side of the central body portion.