Rotatable Luminaire Receptacle With Indexed Photocell Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotatable electrical receptacles for luminaires lack efficient mechanisms for optimizing the positioning of photoelectric devices, such as photocells, which are crucial for optimal operation and energy management in outdoor lighting systems.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable receptacle design featuring an outer ring and a rotatable insert with interlocking features, allowing for precise orientation of the photoelectric device to ensure optimal positioning, with indicia for direction alignment and a gasket for secure mounting, enabling easy adjustment and secure fixing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotatable insert with interlocking features is used to orient the photoelectric device, then the positioning precision and operational efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle is divided into an outer ring and a rotatable insert, allowing independent rotation and positioning of the insert to optimize photoelectric device orientation without redesigning the entire receptacle structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Locating holes are pre-positioned at specific angular intervals (e.g., 15 degrees) on the outer ring, enabling quick alignment and locking of the rotatable insert at predetermined optimal orientations without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple locating holes are provided at angular intervals for precise orientation, then the manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy are improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The outer ring serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the receptacle opening, and contains the locating holes for orientation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying manufacturing despite the precision requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12126115B2Rotatable electrical receptacle for luminaire

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 AMPHENOL CORP

AI summary

A rotatable receptacle and method of assembling and mounting a rotatable receptacle. The receptacle includes an outer ring that has a mounting surface for mounting to a housing, and a rotatable insert that is received in the outer ring. An inner surface of the outer ring surrounds an outer surface of the rotatable insert. The rotatable insert has an electrical face configured to mate with a photoelectric device and an opposite mounting face for mounting to the housing. The rotatable insert is rotatable with respect to the outer ring to orient the rotatable insert in a desired direction for optimal positioning of the photoelectric device. The outer ring and the rotatable insert have corresponding interlocking features configured to fix the rotatable insert in the desired direction.