Rail Terminal Conductor Assembly for Stable Grounding Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rail-type terminal devices experience unstable fastening and elastic fatigue due to improper operation or long-term use, leading to reduced electric conduction efficiency and increased material costs and laborious operations, especially when multiple grounding members are connected side by side.
Innovation Solution
A conductor assembly structure with a pivotally connected base portion, bowed sections, and integrated load arms and elastic members that accumulate and release energy to enhance elastic fixing, reducing material waste and improving contact surface area for stable fastening and efficient electric conduction across various wire diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple grounding members are connected side by side, then the grounding capacity is improved, but the material cost increases and the operation becomes laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple grounding members into a single integrated conductor assembly with a unified base portion and multiple bowed sections. This merging approach maintains the grounding capacity of multiple members while reducing material cost and simplifying the overall structure, eliminating the need for separate grounding members connected side by side.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor assembly is segmented into multiple functional areas (first area, second area, third area) with distinct bowed portions and load arms, allowing each section to independently engage with the mounting rail. This segmentation provides grounding capacity similar to multiple members while maintaining a single integrated structure that reduces complexity and cost.
2Ease of operation
If the grounding member is pulled outward by the operator, then the disengagement from mounting rail is achieved, but the fastening and fixing effect is reduced due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The load arm is designed as a dynamic elastic component that can deform during the disengagement operation and then recover its original shape. When the operator pulls the hooked foot area, the load arm deforms to enable disengagement, and when the force is released, the elastic material property causes it to return to its initial position, automatically restoring the fastening effect without permanent deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material property of the load arm provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing the deformation energy during the pulling operation. This elastic cushioning prevents permanent deformation and protects the fastening effect, allowing the conductor assembly to withstand repeated disengagement and reengagement operations without losing its fixing capability.
3Productivity
If the conductor assembly is designed with integral structure, then the manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the contact surface area may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor assembly extends in multiple spatial dimensions with the base portion providing a broad foundation and multiple bowed sections extending outward to engage with the mounting rail. This multi-dimensional configuration maintains a large contact surface area for efficient electric conduction while preserving the integral structure that improves manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the conductor assembly are designed with locally optimized properties: the base portion provides a large contact surface area for electric conduction, while the bowed sections and load arms are optimized for mechanical engagement. This local quality differentiation ensures both manufacturing efficiency and adequate contact surface area are achieved.
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 redesigned conductor assembly structure provides a stable elastic fixing mechanism, reduces material costs, and enhances electric conduction efficiency by integrating components and increasing the contact surface area, suitable for both large and small wire diameters, while minimizing manufacturing waste and labor-intensive operations.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (20) connected to the load arm (16). The elastic member (20) is movable in response to movement of at least one of the first section (14) and the second section (15) to establish a mechanism for accumulating and releasing energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A conductor assembly structure for a rail-type terminal device includes a conductor assembly (10) and an insulating housing. The conductor assembly structure can reduce manufacturing waste and has a larger contact surface and a better electric conduction effect. The conductor assembly (10) has a base portion (10a) that can be pivotally connected with a conductive connector (40), and a first area (11) and a second area (12) connected to the base portion (lOa). The first area (11) and the second area (12) are respectively formed with a bowed portion (13) and a first section (14) and a second section (15) connected to the bowed portion (13) to be snapped onto a grounding mounting rail. At least one of the first area (11) and the second area (12) is provided with a load arm (16) and an elastic member (20) connected to the load arm (16) for increasing the elastic fixing effect (force) of the first section (14) and/or the second section (15) on the grounding mounting rail, thereby improving the problem that the prior art is likely to cause unstable fastening and elastic fatigue to affect the fixing effect due to long-term or high frequency use.