Mirrored Wedge Connection for Variable Wall Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection arrangements for attaching terminals to device walls require multiple configurations to accommodate varying wall thicknesses, leading to increased complexity, assembly effort, and costs, as well as potential protrusion and large dimensions due to the need for spacer elements.
Innovation Solution
The connection arrangement features a connecting body with first and second connection abutment wedges, each with a contact surface oriented at a specific wedge angle, allowing the same arrangement to be used for different wall thicknesses by rotating the connecting body 180°, thus simplifying production and assembly while maintaining flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the contact wedge on the connecting body is designed to be comparatively long to achieve high flexibility for different device wall thicknesses, then the flexibility and adaptability improve, but the connecting body protrudes comparatively far and has undesirably large dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting body is segmented into multiple connection abutment wedges (first and second connection abutment wedges) with different orientations. Instead of using one long contact wedge, the invention divides the clamping function into separate wedges that can be selectively engaged, reducing the need for a single long protruding element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses connection abutment wedges with contact surfaces that enclose wedge angles mirrored in relation to the assembly direction. By inverting the wedge orientation (first wedge with angle α, second wedge with angle -α), the connecting body can achieve adaptability to different wall thicknesses without requiring a long protruding contact wedge.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple housing contact wedges are provided at a distance from one another with spacer elements to accommodate different device wall thicknesses, then the adaptability improves, but the assembly effort increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting body is designed as a universal component with both first and second connection abutment wedges that can accommodate different device wall thicknesses (0.5 mm to 5.5 mm) without requiring different connecting body designs. The same connecting body can be used for various wall thicknesses by rotating it 180° to engage different wedges, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting body can be rotated by 180° around an assembly axis of rotation to switch between first and second assembly positions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same connecting body to engage different housing contact wedges depending on the device wall thickness, providing adaptability without requiring manual selection of different components or complex assembly procedures.
3Reliability
If the geometry of the housing body or connecting body is matched to a specific wall thickness to fix the connection terminals, then the fixing reliability improves, but the device complexity increases requiring multiple connection arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
A single connecting body design with mirrored wedge configurations serves multiple functions by accommodating different device wall thicknesses. The first connection abutment wedge with contact surface at wedge angle α and the second connection abutment wedge with contact surface at wedge angle -α allow the same connecting body to be used across a wide range of wall thicknesses (0.5 mm to 5.5 mm), eliminating the need for multiple specialized connecting bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection abutment wedges are designed with asymmetric orientations relative to the assembly direction. The first wedge has its contact surface oriented at wedge angle α, while the second wedge has its contact surface oriented at wedge angle -α (mirrored). This asymmetric design allows the connecting body to engage different housing contact wedges when rotated, providing adaptability to different wall thicknesses without increasing device complexity.
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 reduces tool costs, simplifies assembly, and allows the same connection arrangement to be used for device wall thicknesses ranging from 0.5 mm to 5.5 mm, preventing unintentional loosening through self-locking mechanisms, and reduces assembly effort.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first connection abutment wedge and a second connection abutment wedge are provided on the connection body, with a first contact surface being provided on the first connection abutment wedge and a second contact surface being provided on the second connection abutment wedge, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface enclose the same amount of wedge angle with the direction of assembly and wherein the wedge angle formed between the first contact surface and the direction of assembly is mirrored in relation to the second wedge angle formed between the second contact surface and the direction of assembly with respect to the direction of assembly
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A connection arrangement comprising a housing body (1) with a connection section (3) on which, on each of two opposing sides (5, 6), there is formed at least one housing bearing wedge (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) with a bearing face (8) oriented at a wedge angle (10) with respect to a mounting direction (29), and with a bearing section (4), wherein a clamping face (12) formed on the bearing section (4) is provided at a distance from the bearing face (8) of the at least one housing bearing wedge (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4), and comprising a connection body (2) which can be placed against the housing body (1) in the region of the connection section (3), and on which there is provided at least one connection bearing wedge (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4) which has a bearing face (22) oriented at the same wedge angle (10) with respect to the mounting direction (29), wherein, in a mounted state, the bearing faces (8, 22) of the housing bearing wedge (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) and of the connection bearing wedge (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4) are in contact with one another, characterized in that at least one first connection bearing wedge (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4) and one second connection bearing wedge (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4) are provided on the connection body (2), wherein a first bearing face (22) is provided on the first connection bearing wedge (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4) and a second bearing face (23) is provided on the second connection bearing wedge (21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4), wherein the first bearing face (22) and the second bearing face (23) enclose, with the mounting direction (29), a wedge angle (10) of the same magnitude, and wherein the wedge angle (10) formed between the first bearing surface (22) and the mounting direction (29) is the mirror image, in relation to the mounting direction (29), of the second wedge angle (10) formed between the second bearing surface (23) and the mounting direction (29), such that, in a first mounting position, the connection body (2) is placed with the first bearing face (22) against the bearing face (8) of the housing bearing wedge (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4), and in that, in a second mounting position adopted by rotating the connection body (2) by 180° about a mounting rotation axis (34), the connection body (2) is placed with the second bearing face (23) against the bearing face (8) of the housing bearing wedge (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4).