Interlocking Box Profile Housing with Integrated Cooling Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing housings for electronic and electrical components are complex and costly to produce, with limited accessibility and cooling options, and often require numerous parts and assembly steps, leading to high production and assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A box profile system comprising interconnected angle sections with cooling ribs and fastening elements, allowing for flexible assembly, improved cooling, and increased accessibility, while reducing the number of required parts and assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional screw connections are used to assemble housing parts, then the housing can be securely assembled, but the assembly process becomes complex and expensive, and screw connections are visible on the exterior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the connection function directly into the profile structure itself. The profile legs are designed with integrated connection elements that allow direct mechanical interlocking without separate fasteners. This merging of structure and connection function eliminates the need for visible screw connections and simplifies assembly while maintaining secure joining.
Solution Approach 2:
The profile structure is designed to be self-connecting through integrated connection elements. The profile legs automatically align and interlock with complementary profiles, and the connection is secured through the profile's own structural features rather than requiring external fastening components. This self-service approach reduces assembly complexity and eliminates visible fasteners.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual parts are used to form the housing, then the housing can be assembled with standardized components, but the number of parts increases and assembly time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal profile sections that can serve multiple functions and be configured in various arrangements. The same basic profile design can be used for different housing configurations by changing the arrangement and number of profiles rather than using specialized parts for each configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of different part types needed while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is divided into modular profile sections that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. These standardized segmented profiles can be combined in different numbers and configurations to create various housing sizes and shapes, reducing the need for custom-made parts for each application while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If L-profiles are used to enclose electronic components, then accessibility during assembly and maintenance is improved, but the electronic components are exposed to environmental influences in an unprotected manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nested profile structures where inner profiles are positioned within or between outer profiles. This nesting creates multiple levels of protection while maintaining access points. The components are protected by the nested arrangement of profiles that can be opened or removed to provide accessibility when needed, while closed profiles provide environmental protection during operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the box profile has a fixed enclosed volume, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the arrangement of further components is limited and requires increased design effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable and reconfigurable profile sections that allow the enclosed volume to be dynamically modified. The profiles can be positioned at different locations and orientations, and sections can be added or removed to change the internal volume and configuration. This dynamic adaptability allows the same basic profile structure to accommodate different component arrangements without requiring custom design for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
The angular profile (10) has two side pieces (11, 12) formed such that the side pieces are mechanically connected with another angular profile (30) for forming a closed box profile, where the latter angular profile is rotated around 180 degrees with respect to the former angular profile. A set of cooling ribs running parallel to each other are arranged at one of the side pieces, where two of the ribs (14, 15) has profile elements (16) that are formed such that the profile elements connect auxiliary parts (20) at the ribs in two translatory degrees of freedom in a form-fit manner. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a system comprising two box profiles connected with each other (2) a method for producing a box profile.