Power Unit Terminal Housing With Protective Cap and Water Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical power units for work machines, such as ground leveling devices and brush cutters, face challenges in protecting connection terminals from dust, dirt, and rain, particularly when the terminals are disconnected, leading to potential damage during transport and exposure to the environment.
Innovation Solution
The electrical power unit design includes a connection terminal that can be mounted to a mounting part on the power unit main body, allowing it to be detached from the electrical component, and a protective cap that can be attached to the terminal to prevent contamination and damage, with a compact configuration that minimizes the length of the conductive path member and incorporates a labyrinth structure to mitigate water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connection terminal is left exposed outside the electrical power unit when disconnected, then the terminal is accessible and easy to connect, but the terminal is vulnerable to damage from external objects and environmental contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The connection terminal is nested within a recessed cavity in the electrical power unit housing. When not in use, the terminal resides inside this cavity, protected from external damage and contamination. The cavity acts as a protective enclosure that maintains terminal accessibility while providing physical protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective cap is provided that can be placed over the connection terminal before it is exposed or during transport. This preliminary protective action prevents contamination and damage to the terminal before actual connection operations occur, addressing the vulnerability of exposed terminals.
2Reliability
If a protective cap is used to cover the connection terminal, then the terminal is protected from contamination, but the protective cap can be easily lost when removed during connection
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is merged with the electrical power unit housing through a retention structure. Instead of being a separate, loose component, the cap is integrally connected to the housing via a retention groove and elastic retention member, ensuring it cannot be easily lost while still allowing easy removal and reattachment.
Solution Approach 2:
An elastic retention member acts as an intermediary between the protective cap and the housing. This intermediary component provides the retaining force to hold the cap in place while allowing it to be easily removed and reattached, solving the problem of cap loss during connection operations.
3Reliability
If the connection terminal is made retractable into the electrical power unit, then the terminal is protected from damage, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical power unit housing is segmented into an outer housing and an inner recessed cavity structure. This segmentation allows the connection terminal to be positioned in a recessed area without requiring complex retractable mechanisms, achieving protection through structural division rather than active movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the terminal retractable into the housing, the housing structure is inverted to create a recessed cavity that naturally accommodates and protects the terminal. This approach achieves protection through the housing geometry itself rather than through active retraction mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The electrical power unit is provided with: a power unit body; an electrical component for driving the power unit body; and a connecting terminal which is disposed at the tip end of an electrically conductive path member extending from the power unit body and connectable to the electrical component. The connecting terminal is provided detachably to an attaching portion of the power unit body.