PCB Terminal Pivotable Actuating Element Durability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printed circuit board connection terminals with integral actuating elements are prone to breaking and difficult to actuate, especially with a finger, due to their one-piece design and bending points, which limits their usability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A printed circuit board connection terminal with a pivotable actuating element mounted on the housing, featuring legs with a pivot axis at their free ends and an actuating surface on the opposite end, allowing for multiple actuations without breaking and enabling good force transmission to the clamping spring without excessive user effort, while maintaining a flat design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the actuating element is integrally connected to the housing as a one-piece arrangement, then the structure is simplified, but the actuating element breaks at the bending point after just a few operations
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is divided into separate components: a lever (50) that pivots on the housing and a clamping spring (40) that is displaceably received in the housing. This segmentation eliminates the integral one-piece construction that caused breaking at bending points, allowing each component to perform its specific function independently and improving overall reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the actuating element is integrally connected to the housing, then manufacturing is simplified, but the actuating element cannot be easily actuated, in particular not with a finger
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element employs a dynamic pivoting mechanism where the lever (50) rotates about a pivot axis on the housing. This dynamic design allows the lever to amplify small finger movements into sufficient force to displace the clamping spring (40), making the terminal easy to operate with a finger while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized pivot and lever components.
3Force
If a pivotable actuating element with legs is used, then force transmission to the clamping spring is improved, but the height of the housing is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element uses a pivoting lever mechanism that operates in a rotational dimension rather than requiring additional linear height. The legs of the lever pivot within the existing housing depth, transmitting force to the clamping spring through rotational motion. This dimensional approach allows effective force transmission without increasing the housing height.
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
The pivotable actuating element design enhances the terminal's durability and ease of use by allowing numerous actuations without breaking and reduces the force required for operation, while maintaining a compact and flat profile.
Implementation Method 1
a clamping spring for clamping the inserted electrical conductor against the contact element
Implementation Method 2
the actuating element is two by an actuating surface has connected legs, wherein the pivot axis is arranged in the region of the free ends of the legs and wherein a clamping portion of the clamping spring, in particular the clamping spring, between the free ends of the legs rseits and the actuating surface is arranged on the other hand
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a printed circuit board terminal block with a housing having two end faces and with at least one insertion opening arranged in one of the end faces, through which an electrical conductor can be inserted into the housing in an insertion direction, with a contact element arranged in the housing and a clamping spring in the housing in an electrically conductive connection with the contact element for clamping an inserted electrical conductor against the contact element, and with an actuating element for releasing an inserted electrical conductor, wherein the actuating element is pivotably arranged on the housing about a pivot axis, such that the actuating element has two legs connected by an actuating surface.wherein the pivot axis is arranged in the area of the free ends of the legs and wherein a clamping section of the clamping spring is arranged between the free ends of the legs on the one hand and the actuating surface on the other hand.