Electromechanical Relay Housing with Deformable Fixing Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromechanical relays used in harsh environments such as space face challenges with vibrations and shocks leading to accidental switching, and existing damping methods like silent blocks are heavy and inefficient in heat dissipation, while counterweights are complex and prone to functional play issues.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight electromechanical relay box design featuring fixing elements with deformable connecting parts that absorb shocks and vibrations, allowing direct heat transfer to the support without additional damping materials, and an optional elastomer-based damping system for further stress reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silent blocks (synthetic material dampers) are inserted between fixing screws and the support to attenuate shocks and vibrations, then the relay is protected from accidental switching, but the weight of the relay housing increases and heat dissipation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fixing function and the shock attenuation function into a single integrated component. The fixing elements include both the fixing part (for mounting to support) and the connecting part (for structural connection), which together provide both mechanical fixation and vibration damping through their elastic deformation capability. This eliminates the need for separate silent blocks, reducing weight while maintaining protection against accidental switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical fixing to the support structure, transmit heat from the relay housing to the support, and attenuate shocks and vibrations through elastic deformation. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate components for each function, particularly eliminating heavy synthetic dampers while improving heat dissipation through direct thermal contact.
2Reliability
If silent blocks (synthetic material dampers) are inserted between fixing screws and the support to attenuate shocks and vibrations, then the relay is protected from accidental switching, but the heat dissipation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing elements merge the shock attenuation function with the thermal conduction function. The connecting part provides elastic deformation for vibration damping while simultaneously serving as a thermal pathway from the relay housing to the support structure, eliminating the thermal insulation barrier created by synthetic silent blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing elements perform multiple functions including mechanical fixing, shock attenuation through elastic deformation, and heat dissipation through direct thermal contact with the support. This multi-functionality particularly addresses heat dissipation by providing a direct thermal pathway, unlike silent blocks which act as thermal insulators.
3Reliability
If moving masses (counterweights) are equipped to dampen shocks and vibrations, then the relay is protected from accidental switching, but the device complexity increases and functional play in joints causes issues during high intensity shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the shock attenuation function from complex mechanical counterweight systems and implements it through the elastic deformation property of the fixing elements themselves. This simplifies the structure by eliminating separate counterweights, joints, and balancing mechanisms, reducing functional play and complexity while maintaining vibration damping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing elements serve as both structural support components and shock attenuation devices through their elastic deformation capability. This eliminates the need for separate counterweight systems with their associated complexity, joints, and potential functional play, while providing effective vibration damping.
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 design effectively prevents accidental switching due to shock and vibration, maintains a lightweight and simple structure, and ensures efficient heat dissipation, addressing the limitations of existing solutions in aerospace applications.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting parts are designed to deform in bending at least along the main direction... the connecting parts of the fixing elements of the case deform in bending when the relay is subjected to stresses resulting from shocks and/or vibrations, which attenuates these stresses, by damping
Implementation Method 2
the synthetic materials used for the manufacture of the silent blocks do not satisfactorily transmit the heat generated by the relay to the support on which it is fixed... allow direct contact between the fixing elements and the support, without requiring the addition of damping parts
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
This housing (3) is designed to house an electromechanical relay (1) comprising a switching element (2) including electrical contact switching parts that are movable in translation along a principal direction (D2). The housing comprises: - a hollow body (4) for receiving the switching element (2), - elements (5a1, 5a2, 5b1, 5b2) for attaching the body to a support (6). Each of the attachment elements comprises a mounting portion having a bearing surface (S52) on the support and means (53) for attaching to the support. The attachment elements further comprise a connecting portion (51) linking the mounting portion to the body (4), and the connecting portions (51) are designed to deform in bending at least along the principal direction (D2). The invention also relates to a support assembly comprising such a housing (3) and damping elements.