Ring-Style Terminal Block for Submersible Pump Connections

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional vertical terminal boards in electric machines complicate the connection process, leading to potential bad connections, increased maintenance costs, and difficulty in assembly and disassembly due to the need for wire bending.

Innovation Solution

A ring-style terminal block with an annular component and circumferentially spaced terminals, allowing for perpendicular extension of terminals relative to the power cable, which simplifies connections and reduces assembly challenges by eliminating the need for wire bending.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vertical terminal boards are used to connect wires to terminals, then electrical connections can be made between multiple wires, but wires must be bent to make adequate connections which increases the likelihood of bad connections and complicates assembly and disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connectionVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional vertical terminal board design by using horizontal terminals that extend perpendicular to the cable axis. Instead of cables running vertically and bending to reach terminals, the terminals now extend horizontally from the cable, allowing straight wire connections. This inversion eliminates the need for wire bending and simplifies the connection process while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a vertical terminal arrangement (one dimension) to a horizontal terminal arrangement extending perpendicular to the cable axis (another dimension). This dimensional change allows wires to connect directly without bending, as the terminals now extend in a direction perpendicular to the cable length rather than parallel to it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If vertical terminal boards are used, then electrical connections can be established, but assembly and disassembly become more difficult which increases maintenance and labor costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidease of disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional vertical terminal board design by using horizontal terminals that extend perpendicular to the cable axis. Instead of cables running vertically and bending to reach terminals, the terminals now extend horizontally from the cable, allowing straight wire connections. This inversion eliminates the need for wire bending and simplifies the connection process while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a vertical terminal arrangement (one dimension) to a horizontal terminal arrangement extending perpendicular to the cable axis (another dimension). This dimensional change allows wires to connect directly without bending, as the terminals now extend in a direction perpendicular to the cable length rather than parallel to it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11735839B2Ring-style terminal block and submersible pump with ring-style terminal block

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 PENTAIR FLOW TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention provide an electrically-powered submersible pump. The pump has a pump housing, a ring-style terminal block including an annular component having a plurality of terminals, a motor contained within the pump housing, and a power source in communication with at least one of the plurality of terminals. Each of the plurality of terminals is spaced apart about the annular component and at least one terminal of the plurality of terminals extends outwardly from the annular component. The motor in communication with at least one of the plurality of terminals.