Metal Protective Conductor Connection Element for Series Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metallic protective conductor connection elements for electrical terminal blocks require high forces to snap onto or off mounting rails, making handling difficult and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates two types of metal feet with distinct spring elements, where one type forms a positive connection and the other a non-positive contact with the mounting rail, reducing the necessary latching force for removal without compromising current-carrying capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If all metal feet have both spring elements locked positively to the mounting rail, then the connection stability is improved, but the handling difficulty increases due to high removal forces
Solution Approach 1:
The metal feet are segmented into two types: first metal feet with one spring element for positive connection and another for non-positive contact, and second metal feet with both spring elements for positive connection. This segmentation allows different regions of the connection element to have different locking characteristics, providing overall stability while enabling easier removal through the non-positive contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local regions (metal feet) have different connection qualities: some areas provide strong positive locking (second metal feet) while others provide weaker non-positive contact (first metal feet). This local differentiation allows the connection element to maintain stability during operation while reducing the force required for removal at specific points.
2Force
If the number of positively locked spring elements is reduced, then the removal force is decreased, but the current-carrying capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The current path is segmented across multiple metal feet, where first metal feet provide current conduction through non-positive contact and second metal feet provide both current conduction and positive locking. This segmentation allows reduction of locking points while maintaining sufficient current-carrying capacity through the distributed contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal feet serve multiple functions: electrical conduction, mechanical support, and connection stability. By distributing these functions across different metal feet types, the system maintains current-carrying capacity even when reducing the number of positively locked elements for easier removal.
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 significantly reduces the forces required to snap the terminal block off the mounting rail while maintaining a high-quality electrical contact and current-carrying capacity, even with large conductor cross-sections.
Implementation Method 1
the first metal foot (10) being a first spring element (11a, 11b)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a metal protective conductor connection element for arranging on an electric series terminal (50) which has a terminal housing (52), comprising a metal foot arrangement (30) which has at least one first metal foot (10) and at least one second metal foot (20) for supporting on a support rail (60). The first metal foot (10) has a first spring element (11a) with a contact region (12) for forming a force-fitting connection of the first spring element (11a) of the first metal foot (10) to the support rail (60) and a second spring element (11b) with a securing region (13) for forming a form-fitting connection of the second spring element (11b) of the first metal foot (10) to the support rail (60), and the second metal foot (20) has a first spring element (21a) with a securing region (22) for forming a form-fitting connection of the first spring element (21a) of the second metal foot (20) to the support rail (60) and a second spring element (21b) for forming a form-fitting connection of the second spring element (21b) of the second metal foot (20) to the support rail (60).