Plastic Holder for Vibration-Isolated Electrical Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for establishing an electrically conductive connection between a component in a housing and a supply source often transmit mechanical stresses like shocks and vibrations, complicating the connection process and potentially leading to contamination.

Innovation Solution

A method using a plastic holder with dimensions smaller than the housing opening to guide a plug-in element with insulated conductors, allowing for easy assembly and subsequent detachment within the housing, preventing vibration transmission and ensuring a moisture-tight seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the plug-in element is directly connected to the component through the housing opening, then the electrical connection is established, but mechanical stresses like shocks and vibrations are transmitted to the component

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidmechanical stress transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a holder as an intermediary component between the plug-in element and the housing opening. The holder remains in the housing opening after the plug-in element is installed, serving as a mediator that blocks the transmission path for mechanical stresses while allowing the electrical connection to function normally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the holder is made with outer dimensions larger than the housing opening, then the holder can be easily attached and detached, but the holder cannot remain inside the housing to provide protection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholder attachment and detachmentVSAvoidprotection against contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is segmented into two functional parts: the protective portion that remains in the housing opening to block contamination and transmit no stresses, and the gripping portion that extends outward to enable easy attachment and detachment of the plug-in element. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the housing opening is left open for electrical connection, then the connection process is simple, but the component and housing are exposed to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection process simplicityVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is pre-installed in the housing opening before the plug-in element is connected. This preliminary action ensures that the opening is already protected against contamination, and the plug-in element can be attached and detached without exposing the housing interior to contaminants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the holder is detached from the plug-in element after installation, then vibration transmission is prevented, but the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmission preventionVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is extracted from the plug-in element after the electrical connection is established. The holder remains in the housing opening while the plug-in element is removed from the holder, separating the protective function (holder) from the electrical connection function (plug-in element). This extraction prevents future vibration transmission while maintaining assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP1986281B1Method for manufacturing a conducting electrical connection
Publication Date: 2009.04.22 NEXANS SA
  • EP1986281B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1986281B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP1986281B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The method involves connecting a plug-in element (6) with insulated conductors (8), which are connected to the plug-in element initially to ends of a fastener (9), which is made of plastics, where external dimensions of the fastener are smaller than clearance of an opening of housing. The plug-in element is conducted through the opening of the housing, and mounted on a contact of the component. The fastener is unfastened subsequently after reaching an end position of the plug-in element under disposition in the housing and/or in the opening from the plug-in element.