Relay Housing Snap Structure With Flexible Deformation Buffer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing relay housings with snap structures are prone to cracking at weak engagement points, affecting the overall reliability due to their split construction.

Innovation Solution

A housing design featuring a flexible deformation portion that surrounds the snap, allowing for elastic deformation and reducing stress at weak engagement points, enhancing the snap's flexibility and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the housing is made into a split structure with two parts fixed by snaps, then the housing can be assembled and disassembled easily, but the snap structure is weak and prone to cracking during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassemblyVSAvoidsnap structure strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a flexible deformation portion that at least partially surrounds the snap, allowing the snap to deform flexibly during assembly. This flexible portion acts as a buffer that absorbs assembly stresses, preventing cracking while maintaining the snap's holding function. The flexible membrane structure enables the rigid snap to accommodate deformation without breaking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If the snap structure is used to fix the two housing parts, then the assembly process is simplified, but the reliability of the relay is affected due to cracking at snap positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidrelay reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a flexible deformation portion that surrounds the snap before assembly occurs. This flexible portion pre-prepares the structure to absorb and buffer assembly stresses, preventing cracking during the assembly process. The cushioning effect is built into the design, ensuring reliability is maintained from the moment of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Force

If the snap is made rigid for strong engagement, then the engagement strength is improved, but the snap is prone to cracking during assembly due to lack of flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement strengthVSAvoidsnap resistance to cracking
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines rigid and flexible elements by making the snap rigid for strong engagement while surrounding it with a flexible deformation portion. The rigid snap provides the necessary engagement strength to hold the housing parts together, while the flexible membrane surrounding it absorbs assembly stresses and prevents cracking, allowing the rigid snap to function without breaking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 flexible deformation portion reduces the risk of cracking and improves the structural stability of the housing, facilitating easy assembly and detachment while maintaining positional integrity.

Implementation Method 1

The flexible deformation portion at least partially surrounds the snap for flexible deformation of the snap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4604156A1Shell and relay
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 XIAMEN HONGFA ELECTRIC POWER CONTROLS CO LTD
  • EP4604156A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4604156A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4604156A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a shell and a relay, which relate to the technical field of power devices. The shell comprises a first shell (1) and a second shell (2), the second shell (2) is arranged directly opposite the first shell (1), and the first shell and the second shell are connected to each other; one of the first shell (1) and the second shell (2) is provided with a buckle (11) and a flexible deformation portion (12), and the other is provided with a clamping portion (21); and the buckle (11) is configured to selectively clamp onto the clamping portion (21), wherein the flexible deformation portion (12) at least partially wraps and is annularly arranged around the buckle (11) and is used for the flexible deformation of the buckle (11). The flexible deformation portion (12) increases the flexibility of the buckle (11) to form an elastic buckle structure, so that the buckle (11) is easy to deform during the process of matching between the first shell (1) and the second shell (2), thereby reducing the stress of the first shell (1) and the second shell (2) at a weak clamping position.