Plastic Clip Connection for Hot Pre-Assembly and Cooling Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic components often deform during molding cycles, leading to assembly issues due to shrinkage, which complicates subsequent assembly steps.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a clip on one component and snap-engaging teeth on the other, allowing pre-assembly while hot, cooling together, and final assembly when cooled, with a centering pin and seat for precise alignment and easy disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plastic components are assembled immediately after molding while hot, then assembly can be performed quickly, but the components deform during cooling causing assembly issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a first assembly operation while the plastic components are still hot and flexible from molding. The connection device is installed during this pre-assembly phase when the material is more compliant, allowing the components to be positioned and connected before cooling and potential deformation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the assembly process into three distinct phases: pre-assembly while hot, cooling phase, and final assembly after cooling. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently - the pre-assembly phase captures the flexibility of hot plastic, the cooling phase allows stabilization, and the final phase achieves precise alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If components are cooled separately before assembly, then deformation is minimized, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling process with the assembly process by having components cool together while already connected through the pre-assembly phase. This combination eliminates the need for separate cooling and assembly operations, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining shape stability.
3Strength
If a rigid connection device is used, then structural strength is improved, but ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the connection device with elastic elements that provide different mechanical properties during different phases. During pre-assembly and normal operation, the elastic elements provide rigid-like strength, but during disassembly, they allow controlled deformation to facilitate easy removal of the connection device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection device by utilizing the temperature-dependent properties of plastic materials. The device is installed when the plastic is hot and more compliant, allowing easier assembly, and then maintains strength when the plastic cools and becomes more rigid. The elastic elements are designed to deform at specific force thresholds to enable disassembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection device for interconnecting two components of plastics material is provided. The components include a first wall and a second wall, which have respective edges arranged against one another, when the two components are assembled. The device includes at least one clip on the first wall and extending beyond the edge thereof, at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth on the second wall and designed to be snap engaged by the clip when the two components are in the pre-assembled state and in the assembled state, respectively. The first tooth is closer than the second tooth to the edge of the second wall such that, when pre-assembled, the two components are connected by the edges of the first wall and the second wall, the edges being spaced apart from one another. The first tooth has an inclined locking face for facilitating decoupling of the two components.