Pump Housing with Molded Interconnects for Compact Terminal Boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pump units face challenges in easily arranging and electrically contacting operating or display elements within the terminal box, often requiring additional circuit boards which complicate assembly and increase space usage.

Innovation Solution

The integration of electrical conductor tracks directly onto the housing part where operating or display elements are located, allowing these elements to be attached and contacted directly, eliminating the need for separate printed circuit boards and simplifying assembly while reducing the overall size of the terminal box.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate printed circuit board is used to contact operating or display elements, then electrical connections can be established, but the device complexity increases and the terminal box area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the housing part with the electrical conductor tracks by attaching the tracks directly to the housing surface, eliminating the need for a separate printed circuit board. This merging of functions reduces the number of components and simplifies assembly while maintaining reliable electrical connections for operating and display elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing part serves multiple functions: it provides structural enclosure and simultaneously carries the electrical conductor tracks for contacting operating and display elements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated circuit boards and reduces overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate printed circuit board is used for operating or display elements, then electrical contact is achieved, but the terminal box area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact capabilityVSAvoidterminal box area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the conductor tracks directly onto the housing part surface, the patent eliminates the space required for a separate printed circuit board. The housing simultaneously serves as both the enclosure and the electrical connection carrier, reducing the terminal box area while maintaining full electrical contact capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple separate components are used for housing and electrical connections, then functional separation is achieved, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional separabilityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the number of components by merging the housing part with the electrical conductor tracks. Instead of having separate housing and circuit board components, the tracks are attached directly to the housing surface, eliminating the need for additional mounting hardware and reducing assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2589817B1Pump power unit

Publication Date: 2017.12.13 GRUNDFOS HLDG

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AI summary

The pump device has a housing unit (28), which is made from a plastic, at which an electrical operating element (22b) or display element (24b) is arranged. The electrical conducting paths are mounted directly to the housing unit. The operating element or the display element is contacted by the conducting paths. The housing unit is formed with the conducting paths in molded interconnect devices technology.