Grounding Spring for Lamp Housing via Elastic Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lamp designs require an additional production step and are more costly due to the need for screwing in a screw for ground connection, which complicates the production process and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A spring element is inserted into a hole in the lamp housing, expanding to create both mechanical hold and electrical contact, eliminating the need for screwing and reducing production complexity and costs, with V- or L-shaped legs providing retention and a low-impedance connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw is used for ground connection to the lamp housing, then a reliable electrical connection is achieved, but an additional production step and higher costs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mechanical fastening function and electrical grounding function into a single spring element. The spring element simultaneously provides mechanical retention through its expanded legs and electrical ground connection through its conductive body, eliminating the need for separate screws and reducing production steps while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element serves multiple functions: it acts as a mechanical fastener to secure components, provides an electrical ground connection path, and offers elastic compliance for thermal expansion accommodation. This multi-functionality replaces the traditional separate screw and ground wire assembly, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable grounding.
2Strength
If a screw is used for ground connection, then secure mechanical attachment is achieved, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is pre-formed with leg portions that are designed to expand upon insertion into the housing. This preliminary configuration allows the element to automatically secure itself mechanically when installed, eliminating the need for additional tightening operations and accelerating production while maintaining strong mechanical attachment.
3Ease of operation
If a simple plug-in movement is used for insertion, then ease of installation is improved, but secure retention in the housing may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element utilizes elastic deformation to transition from a compressed insertion state to an expanded retention state. During insertion, the legs are compressed to fit through the housing opening; once inserted, the elastic force causes the legs to expand and lock against the housing interior, providing secure retention through a simple plug-in motion.
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
Simplifies the production process and reduces costs by eliminating the need for screwing, while ensuring a reliable and low-impedance ground connection through the spring element's expansion and retention in the housing.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (10, 20, 110) for the production of a ground connection of a lamp housing (110). The spring element has two legs (10, 20) which assume a V-shape. The spring element is inserted into a hole in the housing, expanding to create both mechanical hold and electrical contact
Implementation Method 2
This contact is sufficient to produce a sufficiently low-impedance connection between the contact element on the spring element and the lamp housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
1. Luminaire with a spring element for making an earthing connection, and a luminaire housing (110) with a hole (100), wherein the spring element has at least two legs (10, 20), the legs (10, 20) being inserted into the hole (100), and the legs (10, 20) spreading in the hole (100) to hold the spring element in the hole (100), and the spring element having a contact surface (40) that protrudes above an upper edge of the hole (100), and the contact surface (40) being designed for attaching an earthing cable.