Shield Contact Element With Inverted Spring Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shield contact elements for high-voltage cables are prone to spring tongue bending during assembly and storage, leading to functional failures or insufficient shielding.

Innovation Solution

The design features external spring elements at one end of a hollow-cylindrical base body for contact with electrical devices and internal spring elements at the other end for cable shielding, with recesses and ring elements to prevent bending and ensure secure attachment, using methods like stamping and bending for production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spring tongues are arranged as external protruding elements on the contact sleeve, then contact with the cable shielding is achieved, but the spring tongues may be bent during assembly and storage leading to functional failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding contact reliabilityVSAvoidspring tongue shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spring elements are inverted from external protruding elements to internal elements that protrude inward into the hollow cylindrical base body rather than outward. This inversion protects the spring elements from bending during assembly and storage while maintaining their contact function with the cable shielding through the hollow cylindrical base body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Stability of the object's composition

If spring elements are arranged internally within the hollow cylindrical base body, then bending is prevented, but contact with the electrical device housing must be achieved through protected areas only

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring element shape stabilityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring elements are segmented into distinct functional zones: protected internal portions within the hollow cylindrical base body that prevent bending, and free external portions that protrude outward to establish electrical contact with the housing. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the hollow cylindrical base body includes recesses for spring element insertion, then secure attachment is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring element attachment reliabilityVSAvoidbase body structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses for spring element insertion are merged into the hollow cylindrical base body structure itself, creating an integrated design where the base body simultaneously provides structural support, guidance, and secure attachment for the spring elements, rather than requiring separate attachment components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration ensures correct assembly and maintains effective shielding by preventing spring element bending and ensuring secure contact with both the electrical device and cable shielding.

Implementation Method 1

several spring elements are arranged on a hollow cylindrical base body (2), wherein the spring elements provide contact to a shield of a cable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3235070B1Shield contact element
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 HIRSCHMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3235070B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Shield contact element (1) with axially spaced-apart spring elements arranged on a hollow cylindrical base body (2), wherein contacting with a shield of a cable on the one hand and contacting with an electrical device on the other hand are achieved by means of the spring elements, characterized in that the spring elements are designed as external spring elements (3) which are arranged on one end of the hollow cylindrical base body (2) and intended for contacting with the electrical device and as internal spring elements (4) which are arranged on the other end of the hollow cylindrical base body (2) and intended for contacting with the shield of the cable.