Insulated Terminal With Adjustable Stoppers For Cable Lug Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable terminals fail to ensure a consistent rotation angle for cable lugs due to varying torque, friction coefficients, and tolerances, making it difficult to provide a protection class for cables of different cross-sections and angles, especially with inflexible cables.

Innovation Solution

A terminal design featuring a fixed case with movable case parts that accommodate cable lugs of different sizes and angles, allowing for modular adaptation to various cable cross-sections and angles through recesses in the movable case parts, which can move in multiple directions to compensate for tolerances and rotation variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If cable lugs are simply screwed to the base body without additional constraints, then the terminal structure remains simple, but the rotation angle of cable lugs cannot be ensured and varies widely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal structureVSAvoidrotation angle consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces adjustable parameters including the position of stoppers on the base body and the position of guide elements on the terminal screw. By varying these parameters, the rotation angle of cable lugs can be precisely controlled and adapted to different application requirements, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and rotation angle consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If side stoppers are provided in the base body to define a particular rotation angle, then the rotation angle can be controlled, but the solution only works for a defined pair of terminal and cable lug

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation angle controlVSAvoidcompatibility with different cable lugs
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the stopper positions and guide element positions adjustable rather than fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the terminal to adapt to different cable lug types and dimensions while maintaining precise rotation angle control, thereby achieving both rotation angle control and versatility with different cable lugs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal design incorporates adjustable stoppers and guide elements that can be configured for different cable lug specifications. This universal design allows a single terminal type to work with multiple cable lug variants from different suppliers, achieving broad compatibility while maintaining precise angular positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rotation angle is defined by exterior conditions such as cable routing requirements, then thick cables can be accommodated, but the angle at which cable lug is mounted becomes unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different cable routingVSAvoidmounting angle predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary angular positioning through adjustable stoppers and guide elements before the cable is routed. This preliminary action establishes a precise rotation angle for the cable lug mounting, after which the cable routing can be adapted to exterior requirements without compromising the mounting angle precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4027461B1Insulated terminal for fork type or eyelet cable lugs
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD
  • EP4027461B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4027461B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A terminal (1) for fixing a plurality of cable lugs (2) at the end of cables (3) is disclosed. The terminal (1) comprises at least one base body (4) and a plurality of terminal screws (5) screwed thereto, wherein each terminal screw (5) can clamp an eyelet end or a fork type end of a cable lug (2) between the base body (4) and said terminal screw (5). The terminal (1) also comprises a case (6) with a fixed part (7) and a plurality of movable case parts (10) individually movably arranged in the fixed case part (7). The case (6) encloses the base body (4), the terminal screws (5) and the cable lugs (2). Each movable case part (10) is associated each with a terminal screw (5), and each movable case part (10) comprises a recess (A) forming a feed through for a cable (3) mounted to the cable lug (2).