Lid Structure with Protective Rib for Flat Cable Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lid structures for flat-cable insertion openings in sheet metal casings often damage the flat cable during insertion due to edge contact, requiring complex and costly edge-modification processes to prevent damage.
Innovation Solution
A lid structure with a protective rib and temporarily fixing claws that surrounds the edge of the insertion opening, allowing the flat cable to be inserted through a slit while the lid is temporarily fixed, preventing contact with the edge and ensuring secure attachment post-insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conventional lid structure is used without edge protection, then the assembly process is simple, but the flat cable is damaged or broken due to contact with the sheet metal edge
Solution Approach 1:
The protective rib is pre-formed as an integrated feature of the lid body, creating a protective barrier before the flat cable insertion process begins. This preliminary protective structure prevents direct contact between the cable and sheet metal edge throughout the assembly operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective rib is nested within the lid structure itself, forming an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. The rib is formed as part of the lid's molding process, creating a compact nested structure that provides protection without adding external complexity.
2Reliability
If edge-rounding working or bending working is applied to the sheet metal edge, then the flat cable is protected from damage, but the die structure becomes complicated and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is extracted from the sheet metal edge treatment process and transferred to the lid structure. Instead of modifying the sheet metal edge through complex die operations, the protection is provided by the lid's protective rib, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining cable safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective rib acts as an intermediary element between the flat cable and the sheet metal edge. Rather than directly protecting the cable through edge modification, the rib mediates the interaction by providing a protective barrier, simplifying the manufacturing approach.
3Reliability
If the lid is completely closed during insertion, then the edge is protected, but the flat cable cannot be inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The lid structure is segmented into functional zones: the protective rib provides continuous edge protection, while the slit creates a localized opening for cable insertion. This segmentation allows the lid to simultaneously protect the edge and enable insertion operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid exhibits local quality differences: the protective rib provides continuous protection along the edge, while the slit area provides localized access for cable insertion. This spatial variation in functionality allows both protection and insertion operations to occur simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A guide lug 3, lateral side temporarily fixing claws 4a, and slit side temporarily fixing claws 4b are hooked on a flat-cable insertion opening opened in a sheet metal casing to thereby temporarily fix a lid 1 with the lid half-opened. When the lid 1 in a half-opened state is adapted as a guide, a flat cable is inserted into a slit 5 from the inside of the casing and pulled out to the outside of the casing. The pulled out flat cable is pinched between a flange 8 of the lid 1 and the peripheral face of the flat-cable insertion opening to be screwed.