Pushbutton Component Assembly via Locking Slides and Mandrel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pushbutton components for safety applications, such as emergency stop devices, face challenges in ensuring a secure mechanical connection and assembly efficiency, leading to potential functional failures and increased assembly time due to complex requirements and limited installation space.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a compact pushbutton component involving an actuating head with a spring element and a sleeve, where locking slides with their own springs are arranged parallel to each other, allowing for secure locking and unlocking, and assembly is facilitated by a production tool with a mounting mandrel that guides the component into an outer housing, enabling flexible and automated production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual functional components are assembled and secured in a fixed functional assembly, then the mechanical connection security is improved, but the assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking slides are pre-assembled with the actuating head and spring elements to form a complete pushbutton component before final installation. This preliminary assembly ensures all mechanical connections are secured in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site assembly and verification of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional components (actuating head, locking slides, spring elements) are merged into a single integrated pushbutton component. This consolidation maintains mechanical connection security while reducing the number of separate assembly operations required, thereby decreasing overall assembly time.
2Reliability
If locking slides are arranged parallel to each other, then the security against material wear and failure is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent locking slides arranged parallel to each other. Each slide operates independently with its own spring element, providing redundant locking paths. This segmentation enhances reliability against material wear and failure while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pushbutton component have specialized functions: the parallel locking slides provide redundant mechanical locking, the spring elements provide restoring force, and the guide projections ensure proper alignment. This local specialization of qualities optimizes each component's performance while maintaining overall system simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a production tool with mounting mandrel is used for assembly, then the manufacturing precision and assembly consistency are improved, but the device complexity and initial setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mandrel acts as an intermediary tool during assembly, providing precise positioning and alignment for the pushbutton component. The mandrel's projection engages with the recess on the sleeve, ensuring consistent mechanical alignment. This intermediary tool simplifies the assembly process while maintaining high manufacturing precision, despite the initial complexity of the production tool.
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
This approach ensures a secure and reliable assembly process, reducing the risk of mechanical separation and allowing for efficient, flexible, and automated production, enhancing assembly time and safety by providing double security against material wear and failure.
Implementation Method 1
an actuating head (2) with a first spring element (6) and a sleeve (11), in which at least one locking slide (8, 12) including a second spring element (13) is arranged
Implementation Method 2
Pushing the pushbutton component over the recess on the sleeve onto a projection on the top of a mounting mandrel (19) in the production tool, the mounting mandrel being guided through an outer housing (3) including a third spring element (15), pressing and snapping the pushbutton component into the outer housing (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a push-button compact component. The method comprises the steps of combining an operation head part (2), a first spring member (6) and a sleeve (11) into a push-button part and arranging at least one locking slider (12) and a second spring member (13) in the sleeve, the sleeve provided with a gap (23) at the bottom; mounting the push-button part to a projection (22) at the upper side of an assembling pin (19) of a production tool (20) via the gap (23) of the sleeve (11), the assembling pin (19) guided to penetrate an outer shell (3) including a third spring member (15); pressing and clamping the push-button part in the outer shell (3).