Slotted Contact Head for Large Flat Partner Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact devices are limited in the number of contact processes they can perform and are not well-suited for large contact partners, often leading to material fatigue and potential damage during contact.
Innovation Solution
A contact device with robust, rigid contact elements guided by slotted guides that move towards or away from each other transversely to the insertion direction, allowing for increased durability and versatility in contacting various sizes of contact partners, with adjustable force settings to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If elastic contact elements are used for testing, then small surface sections can be tested, but material fatigue occurs quickly and the number of performable contact processes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of contact element rigidity from elastic to rigid. This allows the same rigid contact elements to perform multiple contact processes indefinitely, replacing the need for different elastic elements and eliminating material fatigue limitations while maintaining testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid contact elements are designed to be universally applicable for various contact processes and contact partner sizes. Through the slotted guide mechanism, the same contact elements can adapt to different testing scenarios, replacing the need for specialized elastic elements for each application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If contact elements are moved actively to contact large partners, then large contact partners can be contacted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic guidance mechanism where the slotted guides allow contact elements to move transversely during insertion. This passive dynamic adjustment enables adaptation to different contact partner sizes without complex active control systems, achieving versatility through simple geometric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted guide mechanism automatically adjusts the contact elements' positions transversely during the insertion process itself. The system uses the insertion motion to drive the transverse movement, eliminating the need for separate actuation systems and reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If contact elements are directly inserted without transverse movement, then the insertion process is simple, but relative movement causes scraping and damage to contact partners
Solution Approach 1:
The slotted guides are pre-configured with inclined guide paths that automatically execute the transverse movement of contact elements during insertion. This preliminary geometric arrangement ensures damage-free contact is achieved automatically as part of the insertion process itself, without requiring separate adjustment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted guides act as intermediary elements between the insertion motion and the contact elements. They mediate the transformation of longitudinal insertion movement into transverse contact element movement, preventing direct scraping contact while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A contact device (1) for electrically conductively contacting, in particular flat contact partners (34), with a contact head (42), which has two contact elements (7,8), which are mounted on a common carrier (2) so as to be longitudinally shiftable in a sliding direction for contacting the contact partner (34), wherein the contact elements (7,8) are mounted in such a way that they can be moved towards one another or away from one another at least partially. It is provided that the contact elements (7,8) are formed as, in particular rigid, individual parts and are guided on the carrier (2) by means of at least one slotted guide (19,20) in such a way that when inserting the contact elements (7,8) in an insertion direction (25) towards the carrier (2), the contact elements (7,8) are moved towards one another or away from one another at least partially.