Plastic Fastening Device for Conductor Rail with Sliding Jaws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for conductor rails are costly to produce and primarily made of metal, which limits their cost-effectiveness and flexibility, particularly in terms of accommodating temperature changes and electrical insulation needs.
Innovation Solution
A plastic fastening device with sliding jaws and insulating components, incorporating metal connectors where necessary, that allows for easy assembly and disassembly, temperature adjustment, and enhanced electrical insulation, reducing production costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fastening devices are made of metal material, then mechanical strength and durability are improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device uses a composite structure combining plastic material for the main body with metal components (screws, clamping elements) for critical fastening functions. This allows the device to achieve sufficient mechanical strength through the metal components while the plastic body reduces overall production cost and enables complex geometries through injection molding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a plastic holder body that can be produced cost-effectively through injection molding, replacing expensive metal casting or machining. The plastic material, while less durable than metal, provides adequate service life for the application and significantly reduces unit production cost, especially when produced in large quantities.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fastening devices are made of metal material, then structural stability is improved, but electrical insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device combines plastic material for the holder body, which provides excellent electrical insulation properties, with metal components for clamping and fastening functions. This composite approach allows the device to maintain structural stability through the metal elements while the plastic body ensures electrical insulation between the conductor rail and supporting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional parts: the plastic holder body for insulation and structural support, and separate metal clamping elements for mechanical fastening. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function - plastic for electrical insulation and structural stability, metal for secure mechanical attachment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional spacers or sliders are added for conductor rail adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic holder body integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, electrical insulation, and built-in adjustment mechanisms through molded-in features such as recesses, protrusions, and flexible walls. The conductor rail can be adjusted by deforming the plastic holder walls, eliminating the need for separate spacers or sliders and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic holder incorporates flexible or deformable walls that allow dynamic adjustment of the conductor rail position. The plastic material's inherent flexibility enables the holder to accommodate length changes of the conductor rail due to temperature variations, providing adaptability without requiring additional mechanical adjustment components.
4Ease of manufacture
If fastening devices are made of plastic material, then production cost and handling ease are improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device uses a composite structure where the plastic holder body provides cost-effective production and adequate mechanical strength for support functions, while metal components (screws, clamping arms) provide the critical high-strength fastening functions. This composite approach allows the plastic material to reduce production cost while metal elements compensate for any strength deficiencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic holder is designed with localized reinforcement features such as rib structures, thickened walls, and integrated metal mounting elements positioned at critical stress points. This local quality enhancement provides sufficient mechanical strength where needed while maintaining cost-effective plastic material usage in less critical areas.
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 plastic fastening device significantly lowers production costs, simplifies handling, and provides effective electrical insulation, enabling flexible and cost-efficient installation and maintenance of conductor rails, while accommodating length changes due to temperature variations.
Implementation Method 1
the properties which result from plastic material as an electrical insulator
Implementation Method 2
the plastic material allows the conductor rail to be glidingly adjusted in the fastening device... changes in length of the conductor rail as a result of temperature changes
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening device for a conductor rail and a contact line system having fastening devices to which the conductor rail is fastened. The fastening device is in the form of a plastic component. The plastic component has sliding jaws which enclose the conductor rail laterally and can be fixed in a position in which they enclose the fastening piece of the conductor rail from both sides. The fastening device can be produced inexpensively by methods known from plastic processing, for example injection molding methods. Further advantages arise from the fact that plastic material is an electrical insulator. In addition, the plastic material allows the conductor rail to be adjusted in a sliding manner in the fastening device before it is fastened.