Modular Control Device Pivot Contact Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Control devices with pivotable module parts face issues with contact errors and faulty connections during assembly, particularly in smaller designs, leading to potential short circuits due to the radial distance of contacts from the pivot point.
Innovation Solution
The first module part has an exposed contact surface with an outer contour that includes an inclined section towards the pivot axis plane, ensuring precise contact by preventing adjacent contacts from engaging during pivoting movement, thus avoiding faulty connections and short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If module parts are assembled by pivoting movement in smaller designs, then device compactness is improved, but contact reliability deteriorates due to contact errors and faulty connections
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is given a specific local geometric property (inclination) at its leading end, while other parts of the contact surface maintain their standard configuration. This localized modification creates a directional contact sequence that prevents faulty connections during pivoting assembly, resolving the contradiction between compact design and contact reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact surface is pre-configured with an inclined leading end before the assembly process begins. This preliminary geometric preparation ensures that during pivoting movement, the contact engagement occurs in a controlled sequence from the inclined leading end, preventing adjacent contacts from engaging simultaneously and avoiding short circuits.
2Ease of manufacture
If contact surfaces have standard rectangular contours during pivoting assembly, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but contact precision deteriorates leading to contact errors
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire contact surface complex, only the leading end portion is given an inclined configuration while the rest remains standard. This localized modification maintains ease of manufacture for the majority of the contact surface while achieving the precision needed to prevent contact errors during pivoting assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
Control device (1) for automatically controlling a technical system, with at least one module (100) that comprises at least one first module component (102) and one second module component (104), which can be combined mechanically and electrically into a compound arrangement. The first module component (102) and the second module component (104) comprise a respective housing (103, 105) with a respective boundary surface (103a, 105a). The boundary surfaces (103a, 105a) face one another in the compound arrangement in such a manner that a boundary plane (G) is defined. The first module component (102) has a pivot mounting element (110) on which the second module component (104) can be detachably retained. The pivot mounting element (110) defines a pivot point (S) with a pivot axis (A), such that the first module component (102) and the second module component (104) can be combined into the compound arrangement by a pivoting movement along a defined movement path. A pivot axis plane (E) arranged perpendicular to the boundary plane (G) is defined by the pivot axis (A). One of the module components (102) comprises a plurality of contacts (120, 120a-d) with a first electrical contact (120), and the other module component (104) comprises a plurality of mating contacts (130, 130a-d) with a first electrical mating contact (130), each electrical contact (120, 120a-d) contacting the corresponding mating contact (130, 130a-d) for electrical connection between the first and second module parts (102, 104) in the compound arrangement. The contacts (120, 120a-d) and the mating contacts (130, 130a-d) are arranged in a contact plane that runs perpendicular to the pivot axis (A). Each contact (120, 120a-d) is a printed conductor on a nonconductive board, so that a circuit board (121) is formed. The first electrical contact (120) has an exposed contact surface (F120), delimited by a first outer contour, with a leading end (127) lying in the movement path and at least the leading end (127) of the first outer contour in the compound arrangement comprises at least one section that is inclined towards the pivot axis plane (E).