Scraper Spring Coupling for Luminaire Rail Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing luminaire systems face challenges in securely and efficiently connecting elongated mounting rails, particularly due to the complexity of attaching scraper springs, which require robust attachment, sufficient contact, minimal space usage, and ease of maintenance and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A system with a coupling that includes a scraper spring with deflected spring sections and a fastening section, where the scraper spring is fixed to the coupling body through a positive connection in three spatial directions, ensuring precise and reliable spring force application, and is made from sheet metal with varying thickness for enhanced resilience and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the scraper spring is firmly attached to the coupling body to ensure robust connection, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the ease of disassembly and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper spring is divided into functional segments: spring sections for connection and a separate fastening section for attachment. This segmentation allows the spring to be firmly connected where needed while maintaining accessibility of the fastening section for tool engagement, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and disassembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
A disassembly tool acts as an intermediary element that engages with the fastening section of the scraper spring. This mediator enables the disengagement of the spring from the coupling body without requiring direct manipulation of the spring itself, thus maintaining both firm attachment during operation and ease of disassembly when needed.
2Reliability
If the scraper spring is designed with robust attachment features to ensure sufficient contact, then the reliability of spring force application is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening section is merged with the scraper spring as an integral component rather than a separate attachment mechanism. This merging ensures reliable spring force application through the unified structure while avoiding the complexity of additional separate fastening devices or mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper spring's own structure provides the fastening capability through its fastening section, eliminating the need for external fastening mechanisms. The spring serves both its elastic function and its attachment function through its integrated design, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If the scraper spring uses minimal space to maintain large clear cross-section, then the volume efficiency is improved, but the reliability of attachment may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper spring exhibits local quality variation with different thickness sections: a thinner spring section for minimal space occupation and a thicker fastening section for reliable attachment. This local differentiation ensures both volume efficiency in the spring's operational area and attachment reliability in the fastening area, resolving the contradiction between space usage and connection strength.
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 system provides a robust, space-efficient, and easily maintainable connection between mounting rails, ensuring reliable fixation and easy disassembly, while maintaining a large clear cross-section within the mounting rails.
Implementation Method 1
the spring sections (51, 52) are deflected from a rest position, wherein in an operating state of the system the first spring section (51) presses with a first spring force against the first support rail (1) and the second spring section (52) presses with a second spring force against the second support rail (2)
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for realizing a longitudinally elongated luminaire, comprising several elongated support rails designed to accommodate mounting bodies equipped with light sources, having a U-shaped cross-section extending in a vertical and a transverse direction and being open at one vertical end, and formed by a support rail base and two support rail side walls, wherein the system includes a coupling for mechanically connecting a first and a second of the support rails, the coupling having a coupling body formed by a coupling base and two coupling side walls, wherein the coupling is arranged with a first longitudinal section in the first support rail and with a second longitudinal section in the second support rail and fixes these support rails to each other, wherein the coupling has a scraper spring with a first and a second spring section.which are deflected from a rest position, wherein the scraper spring has a fastening section outside the spring sections, wherein a position of the fastening section relative to the coupling body is determined by a positive fit in all three spatial directions.