Insulating Strip Grid Form-Fit Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical insulating strip grids face challenges in reliability and resilience of the connection between carrier strips and strips under high mechanical loads, particularly pressure, shear, and shear loads, while also requiring high production effort.

Innovation Solution

The electrical insulating strip grid employs a form-fitting connection with a strip-receiving incision structure in the carrier strip and a strip-receiving groove structure, securing against relative movement and detachment, and can be manufactured with relatively little effort using materials like pressboard or fiber-reinforced plastic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If adhesive connection is used to fix carrier strip and strip in crossing area, then production effort is reduced, but connection reliability and resilience under mechanical loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction effortVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into two independent components: a form-fit connection providing mechanical interlocking through incisions and grooves, and an adhesive connection providing chemical bonding. This segmentation allows each connection type to optimize its function - the form-fit connection handles mechanical loads while the adhesive provides easy manufacturing and additional bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system combines two different bonding mechanisms (mechanical form-fit connection and chemical adhesive connection) into a composite connection structure. This composite approach leverages the strengths of both connection types - the mechanical interlocking provides load-bearing capacity while the adhesive provides ease of application and supplementary bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional adhesive connection is used, then production is simplified, but resistance to pressure loads, shear loads and detachment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplificationVSAvoidresistance to mechanical loads
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The form-fit connection features (incisions in carrier strip and grooves in strip) are pre-formed during manufacturing before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the mechanical interlocking structure is already in place to withstand mechanical loads, while the adhesive is simply applied during assembly to complete the connection without requiring complex load-bearing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If form-fitting connection with incision and groove structures is added to adhesive connection, then connection resilience improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection resilienceVSAvoidconnection structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The form-fit connection features (incisions and grooves) are self-forming during the assembly process. The strip is inserted into the carrier strip such that the groove and incision structures automatically engage without requiring additional fastening operations or complex alignment procedures. This self-service characteristic maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing enhanced mechanical interlocking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3971924A1Electrically insulating strip grid
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 AUGUST KREMPEL SOHNE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3971924A1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3971924A1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP3971924A1 patent drawing

AI summary

2.1. The invention relates to an electrical insulating strip grid with at least one carrier strip (1) extending longitudinally in one strip direction (BR) and at least one strip (2) extending longitudinally in a strip direction (LR) not parallel to the strip direction (BR), which crosses the carrier strip (1) in a crossing area (3), wherein the carrier strip (1) and the strip (2) in the crossing area (3) abut each other with their connecting sides (1a, 2a) facing each other in a contact plane (4) and are fixed to each other by a connection (5) that prevents loosening perpendicular to the contact plane (4). 2.2.The electrical insulating strip grid according to the invention comprises a positive-locking connection (6) between the carrier strip (1) and the strip (2) in the intersection area (3), wherein the positive-locking connection (6) secures against relative movement of the carrier strip (1) and the strip (2) parallel to the contact plane (4) and includes a strip-receiving recess structure (8) in the carrier strip (1) and a strip-receiving groove structure (7) in the strip (2). 2.3. Use, e.g., for electrical insulation in coil windings of electrical transformers and motors.