Reinforcement Device for Automotive Lighting Socket Catch Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
High performance lamps in automotive applications experience premature loosening due to permanent deformation of catch flanges in lighting device sockets under mechanical stress and heat exposure, leading to undesirable dislodging and reduced useful life.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement device comprising a ring with integral leaf springs that brace catch flanges against the lamp base, preventing deformation and ensuring secure engagement, which can be positioned rotationally or axially within the socket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a catch element with catch flanges is used to secure the lamp in the socket, then the lamp can be firmly positioned and electrically connected, but the catch flanges undergo permanent deformation under prolonged mechanical stress and heat exposure, causing the lamp to become loose
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement device is segmented into a ring component and multiple bracing means (leaf springs) that are integral to the ring. This segmentation allows the bracing means to independently contact and support each catch flange, distributing the mechanical stress across multiple contact points rather than concentrating it on the catch flanges alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement device acts as an intermediary structural element between the socket housing and the catch flanges. The bracing means extend from the ring to contact the catch flanges, providing additional support and preventing direct stress transmission from the lamp base to the catch flanges, thereby preventing permanent deformation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lamp socket is made of heat resistant plastic material to prevent damage to the lamp, then the lamp is protected from heat damage, but the catch element still undergoes permanent deformation under combined mechanical stress and heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement device combines a ring structure with integral leaf spring bracing means, creating a composite structural system. The ring provides circumferential support while the leaf springs provide flexible bracing contact with the catch flanges. This composite structure distributes both mechanical and thermal stresses across different components with potentially different material properties, preventing permanent deformation of the catch element.
3Ease of operation
If the catch flanges extend perpendicularly to the socket plane to engage with the lamp base, then the lamp can be securely clicked into position, but the perpendicular orientation makes the catch flanges susceptible to bending and permanent deformation under axial load
Solution Approach 1:
The bracing means are pre-positioned to contact the catch flanges before the lamp is fully inserted. This preliminary bracing action provides support to the catch flanges during the assembly process, preventing them from bending or deforming under the axial load applied during lamp insertion, while still allowing the perpendicular geometry needed for clickable assembly.
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
The reinforcement device effectively prevents catch flange deformation, maintaining the lamp's secure positioning and extending the useful life of the lighting device assembly by mitigating mechanical stress and heat-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
bracing means integral with said ring and capable of bracing at least one catch flange of said catch element against the base of a lighting device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a reinforcement device (5) for a catch element (31) of a lighting device socket (3), said catch element (31) comprising a plurality of catch flanges (32) for engaging with the base (22) of a lighting device (2) when said lighting device (2) is pushed in said lighting device socket (3), said catch flanges (32) extending perpendicularly to the lighting device socket plane. The reinforcement device (5) comprises a ring (6) and bracing means (7) integral with said ring (6) and capable of bracing at least one catch flange (32) of said catch element (31) against the base (22) of a lighting device when a lighting device (22) is positioned in said lighting device socket (3). The invention also relates to a lighting device socket (3) comprising such a reinforcement device (5), a lighting device assembly and a vehicle.