Rotary Socket Accessory Notched Spring Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotating electrical socket mechanisms experience uneven wear and torque sensations due to notches and teeth interactions, leading to user discomfort and accelerated wear, and require complex lubrication for ball-bearing systems, increasing production costs.

Innovation Solution

A notched elastic rotation mechanism using a spring blade with complementary notches on a cylindrical part, allowing the active part to rotate relative to the support, which reduces wear and eliminates the need for lubrication, providing a balanced rotational feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a rotary accessory is provided separately from the socket body, then the socket structure becomes more modular and easier to manufacture, but the assembly complexity increases and may create gaps between components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular manufacturingVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary accessory is nested within the socket body such that it rotates inside the recessed cavity. The accessory fits tightly within the socket body with minimal clearance, creating a compact integrated assembly that reduces overall complexity while maintaining modular manufacturing benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The design transitions from a flat two-dimensional socket face to a three-dimensional structure with a recessed cavity that accommodates the rotary accessory. This vertical dimension allows the accessory to be housed within the socket body, eliminating gaps and creating a more integrated appearance while preserving modular assembly advantages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the accessory fits tightly within the socket body, then the aesthetic appearance improves and gap formation is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidfitting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The socket body features a specifically designed recessed cavity with controlled dimensions and tolerance zones that accommodate the rotary accessory. The local geometry of the cavity is optimized to provide tight clearance fits in critical areas while maintaining manufacturability, achieving good aesthetic appearance without requiring extreme precision across the entire assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design specifies particular dimensional parameters and tolerance ranges for the recessed cavity and accessory interface. By carefully selecting and controlling these geometric parameters, the design achieves tight fitting for aesthetic purposes while remaining within achievable manufacturing precision limits through proper tolerance stacking and tolerance zone selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3876363B1Rotary accessory for power socket
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 LEGRAND FRANCE SA
  • EP3876363B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3876363B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP3876363B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

One aspect of the invention relates to an electrical socket accessory 1 comprising: - a support 13a, 13b and an active part 11 rotating relative to the support 13a, 13b, about an axis of rotation X; - a notched rotation mechanism 3a, 3b allowing the rotation of the support 13a, 13b, relative to the active part 11, comprising: - a spring blade 30a, 30b comprising at least one notch 300; and - a cylindrical part 31a, 31b, comprising notches 311, of a shape complementary to the notch 300; - wherein the spring blade 30a, 30b deforms elastically by flexing when the active part 11 rotates relative to the support 13a, 13b, from one angular position to another angular position, and in that, in each angular position, the notch 300 of the spring blade 30a, 30b, is in contact with respectively one of the notches 311.