Vehicle Grounding Braid Spring Structure for Vibration Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grounding devices in vehicles, typically based on arbitrarily shaped braids, face issues with lifetime due to wear, tear, rupture, and corrosion, as well as vulnerability to mechanical loads.

Innovation Solution

A grounding device comprising a conducting means with a flat braided wire assembly configured as a spring element, providing elastic expansion and compression in multiple dimensions, and contact elements for secure attachment to vehicle components, enhancing resistance to mechanical loads and environmental influences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If arbitrarily shaped braids are used for grounding, then the device can be manufactured easily, but the lifetime is reduced due to wear, tear, rupture and corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding device incorporates a spring element that provides dynamic elasticity, allowing the flat braided wire assembly to expand and compress in response to mechanical loads. This dynamic capability enables the grounding device to absorb vibrations and movements, preventing wear, tear, and rupture while maintaining electrical connectivity, thus significantly improving lifetime without compromising manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the grounding device by integrating a spring element, transforming it from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic system. This parameter change allows the device to adapt to varying mechanical conditions, reducing stress concentrations that lead to corrosion and rupture, thereby extending service life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If arbitrarily shaped braids are used for grounding, then the device structure is simple, but the resistance to mechanical loads is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidresistance to mechanical loads
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element introduces dynamic elasticity to the grounding device structure, enabling it to absorb and dissipate mechanical energy from vibrations and movements. This dynamic response mechanism significantly enhances resistance to mechanical loads while adding only moderate complexity to the overall device design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding device combines the flat braided wire assembly (for electrical conductivity) with a spring element (for mechanical resilience), creating a composite structure that leverages the strengths of both components. This composite approach improves mechanical load resistance while maintaining relatively simple device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If the conducting means is rigid, then the electrical connection is stable, but the device is vulnerable to mechanical loads and environmental influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidvulnerability to mechanical loads
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element provides dynamic elasticity that allows the conducting means to maintain stable electrical connection while adapting to mechanical deformations. The elastic expansion and compression enable the device to absorb vibrations and movements, preventing loss of contact and maintaining connection stability under varying mechanical conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element acts as a cushioning mechanism that anticipates and absorbs mechanical shocks and vibrations before they can damage the electrical connection. This beforehand cushioning protects the conducting means from harmful mechanical loads while preserving connection stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The grounding device offers improved resistance to mechanical loads and environmental factors, thereby extending the lifetime of the flat braid wire assembly and ensuring reliable electromagnetic compatibility in vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

The conducting means is formed at least partly as a spring element configured to provide an elastic expansion and/or an elastic compression in at least two dimensions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4325667B1Grounding device for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4325667B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP4325667B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4325667B1 patent drawingFigure 7A~7B

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a grounding device for (100) a vehicle, comprising: a conducting means (106) and two contact elements (108), the conducting means (106) comprising at least one flat braided wire assembly (110) configured to conduct high frequency current; a first contact element of the two contact elements (108) being arranged at a first axial end of the conducting means (106) and a second contact element of the two contact elements (108) being arranged at a second axial end of the first conducting means (106), the first contact element further being configured to be attached to a first component (102) of the vehicle, and the second contact element further being configured to be attached to a second component (102) of the vehicle, the conducting member (106) being formed at least partly as a spring element, configured to provide an elastic expansion and/or an elastic compression in at least two dimensions. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising such grounding device (100).