Modular Housing System with Floating PCB Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing housing systems are not easily assembled, flexible, or secure, particularly in electrical devices where tolerance compensation and secure connections are challenging.

Innovation Solution

A housing system comprising trough-shaped parts with plug-in modules and connector parts that allow for easy, flexible, and secure electrical and mechanical connections, featuring movable printed circuit boards and insertion aids for form-fitting engagement, ensuring a high degree of protection and variance in assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If housing parts are rigidly connected with fixed circuit boards, then structural stability is improved, but assembly difficulty and tolerance sensitivity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a floating mounting system where circuit boards are not rigidly fixed but can move dynamically within the device housing. The circuit boards are retained by holding means that allow controlled movement in insertion direction while maintaining electrical connection, enabling the system to adapt to dimensional tolerances and thermal expansion without requiring precise rigid alignment during assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The housing system is divided into separate detachable housing parts that can be assembled independently. Each housing part contains its own device housing with floating mounting capability, allowing modular assembly where tolerance accumulation is minimized and complex alignment is avoided by assembling simpler units separately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If housing parts are rigidly connected with fixed circuit boards, then connection reliability is improved, but adaptability and ease of assembly decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The floating mounting allows circuit boards to move dynamically to accommodate dimensional variations and thermal effects, maintaining reliable electrical connection through the device for electrical connection while adapting to different assembly conditions and tolerance ranges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device for electrical connection serves multiple functions: it provides electrical connection between housing parts, allows relative movement of circuit boards, compensates for dimensional tolerances, and enables thermal expansion. This multi-functional design achieves both reliable connection and assembly flexibility without requiring separate mechanisms for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If circuit boards are firmly fixed in device housing, then structural stability is improved, but tolerance compensation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidtolerance compensation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit boards are mounted to be movable in the insertion direction within the device housing, allowing them to compensate for dimensional tolerances in the housing parts while still maintaining stable electrical connection through the floating mounting system with holding means

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2505050B1Housing system
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2505050B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2505050B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2505050B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A housing system comprises at least two housing parts, each having an associated housing cover. Each of the housing parts is moulded in a tub shape, whereby the housing part and the associated housing cover each enclose an inner chamber. Two housing parts each are releasably interconnected electrically and/or mechanically by means of a device for electrical connection, which is designed as a plug-in module having a first und a second plug-in connector part.