Power Module Retaining Mechanism for Secure Rail Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power modules lack an efficient mechanism for secure retention and easy installation/detachment, which complicates cable management and heat dissipation when multiple modules are densely arranged.
Innovation Solution
A power module design incorporating a housing, support bracket, sliding member, and resilient recovery member with a hook and latch mechanism, along with a lever structure, allows for easy locking and unlocking to a support rail, facilitating row arrangement and proper heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a power module is designed with a simple structure, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the retention security and ease of installation/detachment are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a support bracket fixed to the housing, a sliding member with latch that moves independently, and a resilient recovery member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient recovery member automatically pushes the sliding member to engage the latch with the support rail without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems. The mechanism self-locks upon installation and self-unlocks when force is applied to the unlocking end, eliminating the need for powered retention systems.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple power modules are densely arranged, then the space utilization is improved, but the cable management and heat dissipation become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket and retaining mechanism are designed as modular components that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This modularity allows power modules to be arranged in standardized rows with consistent spacing, making cable routing predictable and systematic rather than chaotic.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism uses standardized hooks and latches on both sides of the support rail, creating a uniform attachment interface. This homogeneity allows all power modules in a row to be installed and managed using the same procedures, simplifying cable management and maintenance across the entire array.
3Reliability
If a secure retention mechanism is implemented, then the reliability of module fixation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and unlocking functions are extracted into a dedicated sliding member with latch that operates independently from the main housing. This separation allows the retention mechanism to be added to a simple housing design without significantly increasing overall complexity, as the retaining components are self-contained and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a mechanism that requires active engagement (such as screws or clips that must be deliberately fastened), the design uses a resilient recovery member that passively maintains the locked position. The default state is locked/secured, and unlocking requires active force application, inverting the typical lock/unlock paradigm.
4Ease of operation
If an easy-to-operate unlocking mechanism is provided, then the ease of installation and detachment is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding member acts as an intermediary between the user's manual force and the latch mechanism. By providing a sliding member with an unlocking end that translates simple pushing motion into latch disengagement, complex multi-step unlocking procedures are avoided while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding member is designed to move dynamically along the support bracket, transitioning between locked and unlocked positions. This dynamic capability allows the mechanism to adapt to different operational states (installed vs. removed) without requiring fundamentally different structural configurations, maintaining simplicity across both states.
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 design enables convenient installation and detachment of power modules, improving cable management and ensuring effective heat dissipation by providing a secure and easy-to-use retaining mechanism for multiple modules.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient recovery member having a first end connected to the support bracket and a second end connected to the sliding member, the resilient recovery member being configured to push the sliding member
Data Source
AI summary
A power module includes a housing, a support bracket, a sliding member and a resilient recovery member. The housing has a first surface and a second surface. The support bracket is fixed to the first surface. The support bracket has a hook to retain a first side of a support rail. The sliding member is slidably connected to the support bracket. The sliding member has a latch member to retain a second side of the support rail. The resilient recovery member has a first end connected to the support bracket and a second end connected to the sliding member. The resilient recovery member is to push the sliding member to cause the hook member and the latch member to sandwich the support rail. The sliding member has a first unlocking end for applying a force against the resilient recovery member. The first unlocking end projects beyond the second surface.