Pluggable Fuse-Adapter for Automotive Electrical Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical distributor devices for automotive applications face challenges in cost-effectively distributing electrical potential across multiple lines and consumers while maintaining reliability under thermally loaded, dirty, damp, and chemically aggressive conditions.

Innovation Solution

A pluggable electrical potential-distribution fuse-adapter that integrates a fork contact or pin contacts within an adapter housing, allowing for integral contact devices to securely connect with a cable harness or additional contact devices, enabling cost-effective distribution of electrical potential without the need for a pin and socket housing, and can be used as a retainer in hybrid housings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional pin and socket housing are used for electrical distribution, then reliability under harsh conditions is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability under harsh conditionsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential electrical contact function from the traditional pin-and-socket housing structure. The adapter housing contains only the necessary contact elements (pin contacts or fork contacts) without requiring a complete pin and socket housing assembly, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the core electrical distribution function under harsh conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter housing is designed to be universally applicable by integrating multiple contact types (pin contacts and fork contacts) within a single housing structure. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate pin and socket housings, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable electrical distribution across various connection scenarios

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

2Reliability

If multiple separate contact devices are used for potential distribution, then electrical integrity is maintained, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical integrityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple contact devices into a single integrated adapter housing. The housing contains both pin contacts and fork contacts that are electrically connected through internal conductive paths, combining what would traditionally be separate devices into one unit. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining electrical integrity through the integrated design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional distributor designs are used, then electrical potential distribution is reliable, but cost-effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical potential distribution reliabilityVSAvoidcost-effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conventional distributor design into a modular adapter housing that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for simplified production processes, reduced material usage, and easier assembly, thereby improving cost-effectiveness while maintaining reliable electrical potential distribution through the preserved contact functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2909897B1Pluggable electrical potential-distribution fuse-adapter
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GMBH
  • EP2909897B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2909897B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2909897B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrical potential distribution plug type adapter (20), in particular a fused plug type adapter (20), for electrically contacting a connection device (50) of an electrical component (5) for the automotive sector, having an adapter housing (200), the adapter housing (200) being constructed in such a manner that it can be directly received, in particular engaged, in a distributor housing (2) and an electrical potential distributor contact device (300) is received inside the adapter housing (200). The invention further relates to a method for equipping an electrical distributor device (1), in particular a fuse box (1), for connection devices (50) of electrical components (5) for the automotive sector, the distributor device (1) having at least one conventional insertion location (12) for a connection device (50) and an electrical potential distribution plug type adapter (20) which is manufactured with an electrical cable (4) or an electrical cable harness (4) is provided on/in the distributor device (1), in particular engaged.