Modular Adapter for Electrical Units with Removable Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adapters for mounting electrical units, such as contact and LED units, are complex, expensive, and limited in modularity, making them unsuitable for typical applications, as they require complete disassembly for unit replacement and complicate wiring due to the need to run cables through a box-like body, especially when mounted on supports like DIN rails.
Innovation Solution
A modular adapter with a hollow, box-like anchoring body featuring a removable upper and lower portion, allowing easy access for wiring and enabling snap-fit coupling to supports, with first and second holding means for secure attachment to the bottom and upper faces respectively, facilitating easy unit replacement without full disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a box-like adapter body is used to house electrical units, then the units are protected and organized, but wiring becomes difficult as cables must be run through the box-like body
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter body is divided into a removable upper portion and a fixed lower portion. The upper portion can be detached to provide direct access to the electrical units for wiring operations, while the lower portion remains mounted on the support structure. This segmentation allows wiring to be performed without running cables through the enclosed box-like structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a complex assembly with multiple coupling elements is used to secure electronic devices, then the mounting is stable, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes very complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is segmented into modular portions (upper and lower) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. Each portion has simplified coupling features that engage with each other, avoiding the need for multiple side blocks and complex coupling elements. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter employs dynamic coupling mechanisms that allow for quick assembly and disassembly of the upper portion from the lower portion. The coupling elements are designed to engage and disengage easily, enabling rapid replacement of electrical units without complex procedures.
3Reliability
If the lid is snap-coupled to the bottom wall to enclose the electronic device, then the device is secured, but removal of the lid also causes decoupling of the electronic device from the bottom wall
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is divided into a fixed lower portion that remains mounted on the support structure and a removable upper portion that can be detached independently. Electrical units are secured to the lower portion, so when the upper portion is removed for unit replacement, the units remain firmly attached to the support structure. This segmentation allows lid removal without causing device decoupling.
4Device complexity
If a single-piece cubic adapter with arms is used for mounting, then the structure is simple and robust, but the adapter is not suitable for both DIN rails and support plates
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is designed with universal mounting capabilities that allow it to be attached to different types of supports (DIN rails, support plates, etc.). The lower portion incorporates versatile coupling features that can interface with various support structures, making the same adapter design applicable across multiple mounting scenarios without requiring design modifications.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An adapter for mounting electric units to be wired to an electric system comprises a substantially box-like and internally hollow anchoring body (10) having an upper portion (17) with an upper face (11) provided with a hole (12) for the passage of a control (6) for driving one or more electric units (2), a lower portion (16) removably coupled with the upper portion (17) and having a bottom wall (13), a pair of reciprocally opposite side faces (15) at least partially open to allow the wires to access to the at least one electric unit (2) housed into the anchoring body (10), means (14) for removably mounting the anchoring body (10) to a support (R), which means (14) being associated with the lower portion (16), first holding means (27) adapted to removably fix at least one electric unit (2) to the bottom wall (13). The first holding means (27) are firmly associated with the bottom wall (13) and comprise at least one first and one second recesses (29) formed in the bottom wall (13) at respective of the open side faces (15) and adapted to house and snap-hold the electric unit (2) to fix it to the lower portion (16) also in absence of the upper portion (17).