Shouldered Conduit Part Assembly for Reliable Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assemblies of parts, particularly in voltage converters, lack reliability in their fixation mechanism, leading to potential instability and inefficiency in securing components to electrical machines.

Innovation Solution

A part assembly design where the second part is clamped between the folded-down upper part of a conduit and its upper face, using a fixing rod with a stop resting on the second part's upper face, ensuring a stable fixation through a conduit and hole continuity across multiple parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the upper part of the conduit is folded down against the second part to fix both parts together, then the assembly becomes compact with fixing done in the same location, but the reliability of fixation is reduced because the stop rests on the folded conduit which may deform or shift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompactness of assemblyVSAvoidreliability of fixation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (the shoulder in the hole of the second part) between the folded conduit and the stop. This shoulder provides a stable reference surface for the stop, preventing direct contact between the stop and the potentially deformable folded conduit, thereby improving fixation reliability while maintaining the compact assembly structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the stop rests on the folded upper part of the conduit, then the fixing mechanism is simpler with fewer components, but the assembly stability is compromised due to potential deformation or shifting of the folded conduit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of fixing mechanismVSAvoidstability of assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder structure acts as a mediator that provides a stable reference plane for the stop. This allows the fixing mechanism to remain simple in design while achieving enhanced stability, as the stop rests on the rigid shoulder rather than the potentially deformable folded conduit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The hole with the shoulder is pre-formed in the second part before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the conduit is folded down and the stop is inserted, the stop immediately finds a stable reference surface, preventing any shifting or deformation issues during the fixation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3646682B1Assembly of parts and method of producing one such assembly
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 VALEO ELECTRIFICATION
  • EP3646682B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3646682B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3646682B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The assembly of parts comprises: - a first part (202) provided with a vertical pipe (203) having a lower part (401) and an upper part (402) rising up from an upper surface (404) of the first part (202); and - a second part (304) provided with a hole (409) receiving the upper portion (402) of the pipe (203). The second part (304) has, in the hole (409) a shoulder (410) against which the upper portion (402) of the pipe (203) is folded down so as to enclose the shoulder (410) between the folded upper part (402) of the pipe (203) and the upper surface (404) in order to attach the second part (304) to the first part (202).