L-Shaped Electrical Connection Lug for Multi-Oriented Cable Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle electrical equipment, such as heating and air conditioning devices, require redesigning of electrical connections for various cable orientations, leading to inefficiencies in power supply due to the need for multiple terminal designs.
Innovation Solution
A connection device with a tubular terminal and elastic retaining ribs allows for flexible orientation of the cable end, enabling a single terminal to accommodate different cable orientations by using interchangeable portions and clamping mechanisms, ensuring secure contact with the power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple terminal designs are used for various cable orientations, then the power supply can accommodate different vehicle configurations, but the device complexity increases due to needing multiple terminal designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single terminal structure that can serve multiple cable orientations (front, rear, left, right) through interchangeable portions. The terminal body includes multiple portions that can be selectively positioned, allowing one terminal design to replace what would traditionally require multiple orientation-specific terminals, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal is segmented into a body and multiple interchangeable portions, each designed to establish contact in different orientations. This segmentation allows the terminal to be configured for various cable arrival directions by simply changing which portion is used, rather than designing completely different terminal structures for each orientation
2Device complexity
If a single terminal design is used for all cable orientations, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to various cable orientations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal incorporates dynamic adaptability through interchangeable portions that can be selectively positioned based on cable orientation requirements. The retaining mechanism allows dynamic reconfiguration of the terminal's contact portions without changing the overall terminal structure, enabling a single design to adapt to different operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal's functional parameters are changed by selecting different portions for different orientations. Instead of designing multiple terminals with different geometries, the invention changes which portion of the terminal is active, effectively altering the terminal's contact characteristics while maintaining the same base structure
3Reliability
If multiple terminal designs are implemented for different orientations, then each orientation can be optimized, but the manufacturing cost and time increase due to producing multiple terminal types
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal terminal body that can accommodate multiple orientations through interchangeable portions, the invention reduces manufacturing complexity. Instead of producing multiple types of terminals, manufacturers produce one terminal body design with standardized portions, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining optimized connections for each orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple terminal functions into a single terminal structure. The interchangeable portions are integrated into one terminal body, combining what would traditionally be separate terminal designs into a single manufacturable unit that provides multiple orientation capabilities
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 solution simplifies the connection process by allowing a single terminal to adapt to multiple cable orientations, reducing the need for multiple designs and enhancing the reliability of power supply to motor vehicle electrical equipment.
Implementation Method 1
said retaining rib is made of elastic material and has an opening to allow the introduction of said portions of terminal
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The device (1) has an L-shaped connection lug (9) connected to a cable (11) of a supply source and connected to a supply terminal (7) carried by an electrical equipment (3) e.g. electrical air heating device. The supply terminal is extended along an orientation direction (D). The connection lug has two concurrent portions (17a, 17b), where the portions are connected to the supply terminal by being arranged along a direction parallel to the orientation direction for respective cable incoming directions (D1, D2).