Iron comprising a housing, a heating body and a functional plate inserted between the heating body and the housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irons with welding connections for electrical resistors are costly and complicated, making assembly and after-sales service difficult due to the complexity of disassembly for repairs.
Innovation Solution
The iron features male plug connection terminals that automatically engage with elastically deformable female connectors on a functional plate, allowing for simplified assembly and reliable electrical connections, with features like transverse movement and pivoting to compensate for manufacturing dispersions and misalignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welding is used to connect connection terminals, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but assembly complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding process (thermal/chemical joining) with a mechanical insertion system where male plugs are inserted into female connectors. The elastically deformable body provides automatic mechanical engagement and electrical contact through spring-loaded contact blades, eliminating the need for welding operations while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The female connector with elastically deformable body performs self-alignment and self-centering during assembly. The elastic deformation automatically accommodates positioning tolerances and misalignments between male plugs and female connectors, making the assembly process self-correcting and eliminating the need for complex precision alignment procedures.
2Strength
If welding is used to connect connection terminals, then electrical connection strength is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is segmented into separable male plug and female connector components. This allows the functional plate to be easily removed from the heating body by simply disconnecting the male plugs from the female connectors, enabling rapid repair and replacement operations without destructive welding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system transitions from a static welded joint to a dynamic mechanical connection that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The elastically deformable body maintains strong electrical contact during operation but allows simple separation when needed for repair, providing both strength during use and ease of repair when required.
3Reliability
If precise alignment is required for connection terminals, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing tolerance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the female connector by incorporating an elastically deformable body that can change shape during assembly. This elastic deformation absorbs positioning errors and misalignments, allowing reliable electrical connection even when manufacturing tolerances are not tightly controlled, thereby reducing the required manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The female connector with elastically deformable body performs self-alignment during assembly. The elastic material automatically deforms to accommodate positioning differences between male plugs and female connectors, making the system self-correcting and eliminating the need for high-precision manufacturing and complex alignment procedures.
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
This design simplifies assembly, enhances repairability, and ensures reliable electrical connections by automatically centering and securing the male plugs within the female connectors, reducing assembly time and costs while maintaining high connection reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the female connector comprising an elastically deformable body (57) allowing movement of the two contact blades (52, 53) in a transverse direction T
Implementation Method 2
the two blades of the female connector form a clamp which clamps the male plug under the effect of the elastic return of the body of the female connector
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5A~6
Figure 7A~7C
AI summary
Iron comprising a housing, a heating element (4) and a functional plate (5) interposed between the heating element (4) and the housing, the heating element (4) comprising an electrical resistance (40) having at each of its ends a connection terminal (40A), characterized in that the two connection terminals constitute male plugs (40A) which are engaged in female connectors (7) carried by the plate (5), the female connectors (7) having an elastically deformable body comprising two contact blades extending longitudinally between a proximal end, at the level of which the two blades are connected to each other by a connecting arm, and a distal end where the two blades provide between them an opening for the passage of the male plug, the male plug being pinched between the two contact blades of the female connector (7).