Electrical Junction Box Guide Device for Precise Connector Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation process of connecting elements in electrical junction boxes is complex and lacks guidance, leading to difficulties in accurately positioning and securing electrical lines during connection.

Innovation Solution

An electrical junction box design featuring a housing base with a guide device and elongated holes in the fastening section, allowing the connecting element to be guided and fixed using a screw or pin, ensuring precise installation and providing a metal fastening mechanism for secure attachment to a wall, even if the housing is damaged in a fire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the connecting element is freely movable during installation, then it is easy to position, but it lacks guidance leading to inaccurate positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of positioningVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device acts as an intermediary between the connecting element and the housing base. It provides guided movement through the elongated hole, allowing the connecting element to be easily positioned while ensuring accurate alignment with the housing base during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the connecting element is securely fixed, then connection reliability is improved, but installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device enables the connecting element to guide itself into the correct position during installation. The elongated hole allows the connecting element to be inserted and positioned without complex alignment procedures, while the guide device ensures secure fixation once in place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If the housing is made of combustible material, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but functionality is lost during fires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfire resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite construction where the housing base is made of non-combustible material (such as metal) to ensure fire resistance, while other parts of the housing may use combustible materials. This composite approach maintains manufacturing feasibility while ensuring the critical housing base remains functional during fires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3454441B1Electrical junction box
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 GUNTHER SPELSBERG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3454441B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3454441B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3454441B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrical junction box with a housing (1) having a base (2) and walls (3) and being closable with a cover, and a connecting element (4) provided in the housing (1) for connecting electrical conductors supplied from the housing (1) to each other and/or to other electrical or electronic devices, wherein the connecting element (4) has connection devices (5) for electrically connecting the conductors and a fastening section (6) in which at least one cam guide (7) in the form of a groove is provided in the base (2), and the fastening section (6) has an engagement element (8) that engages in the cam guide (7).According to the invention, a guide device (9) projecting into the interior of the housing (1) is arranged on the base (2) of the housing, and the mounting section (6) runs parallel to the base (2) and has an elongated hole (10) into which the guide device (9) extends. This provides an electrical junction box in which the installation process of the connecting element (4) with the connection devices (5) for electrically connecting electrical conductors is simplified.