Rail-Type Grounding Terminal With Elastic Bow Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rail-type grounding terminals are difficult to detach from the rail due to the rigid connection between the metal grounding member and the insulating housing, making it troublesome for servicemen to separate them, even with applied force.
Innovation Solution
The rail-type grounding terminal structure incorporates a metal insertion leg with a slightly outward deflected head end and a recessed neck wall, along with bow sections that provide greater movement elasticity, allowing for easy latching and unlatching by creating a gap between the grounding member and the housing, and utilizing bending sections with grooves and bight sections to facilitate detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the grounding member is rigidly connected to the insulating housing, then the connection strength is improved, but the ease of detachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding member is divided into separate functional sections: a rigid connection portion that attaches to the housing and a flexible bow section with latching ends that engage the rail. This segmentation allows the connection strength to be maintained at the housing interface while the latching portion remains flexible for easy detachment
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding member incorporates a bow section with elastic deformation capability that transitions from a rigid fixed state during normal operation to a flexible movable state during detachment. The elastic material allows the latching ends to be deflected from the rail when force is applied, enabling easy removal while maintaining secure connection during use
2Reliability
If the grounding member is tightly latched to the rail, then the electrical contact reliability is improved, but the difficulty of detachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism utilizes changes in the elastic properties of the bow section. During normal operation, the elastic material maintains constant contact pressure against the rail for reliable electrical connection. During detachment, sufficient force causes the elastic material to exceed its elastic limit and deflect, releasing the latching action. This parameter change allows the same structure to provide both reliable connection and easy detachment
3Strength
If the grounding member is made of rigid material, then the structural strength is improved, but the operation flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding member is constructed from elastic material that combines the structural strength needed for reliable electrical connection with the flexibility required for easy installation and removal. The elastic material properties allow the member to maintain its shape and contact pressure while being deformable enough to facilitate manual manipulation and latching/unlatching operations
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 design enables the grounding member to be securely latched onto the rail for effective current removal while allowing easy detachment, overcoming the difficulty of prior art designs that required significant force to separate the terminal from the rail.
Implementation Method 1
The leaf spring mount will exert an action force onto the metal insertion leg to make the metal insertion leg tightly attach to lower side of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The grounding member includes a metal insertion leg and a bow section connected with the metal insertion leg. The bow section has a first end and a second end. The first and second ends outward extend and are latched on the grounding rail
Implementation Method 3
When an operator operates the grounding member to derail from the rail, the rail will exert a reaction force onto the wall of the groove to push the first end and make the first end loosened from the rail
Data Source
AI summary
A rail-type grounding terminal structure composed of a metal grounding member and an insulating housing. The grounding member has better operation elasticity and can be easily tightly connected with a grounding rail. The grounding member includes a metal insertion leg mountable on a leaf spring mount, a bow section connected with the metal insertion leg and a first end and a second end respectively outward extending from the bow section and latched on a grounding rail. The metal insertion leg has a slightly outward deflected head end and a neck wall formed thereunder. When the metal insertion leg is mounted on the leaf spring mount, the leaf spring mount exerts a reaction force to urge the grounding member to tightly attach to lower side of the housing. Therefore, a gap is defined between the grounding member and the housing for a serviceman to separate the grounding member from the rail or connect the grounding member with the rail.