Solid Wire Terminal Multi-Point Contact Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical terminal technologies face challenges in providing secure and reliable connections for solid wires without disrupting their continuity, often requiring splicing or additional material, which can compromise conductivity and increase assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A solid wire terminal with a receptacle design featuring multiple contact locations along its longitudinal axis, utilizing upper and lower cantilever members with half-cylinder sections and bridges for flexible and resilient contact points, allowing secure engagement without splicing, and incorporating crimp wings for external connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If splicing or additional material is used to connect solid wires, then secure electrical connection is achieved, but conductivity is compromised and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is divided into multiple contact locations (first, second, third contact locations) along the longitudinal axis, each providing independent electrical contact with the solid wire. This segmentation allows distributed contact forces that secure the wire without requiring splicing, maintaining conductivity while improving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional single-point or two-point contact to multi-point contact along the longitudinal axis of the wire. By distributing contact points across multiple dimensions (first, second, and third contact locations), the terminal achieves secure wire retention without compromising wire integrity or requiring additional materials.
2Reliability
If multiple contact points are provided along the wire, then electrical contact reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple contact locations are integrated into a single terminal body structure. The first, second, and third contact locations are combined within one terminal component, providing multi-point contact without requiring multiple separate parts or complex assembly procedures, thus maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical contact at multiple locations, secures the solid wire through distributed contact forces, and maintains wire continuity without splicing. This multi-functionality achieves high reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If conventional single-point contact is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but electrical contact stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single contact point is segmented into multiple contact locations (first, second, third contact locations) distributed along the longitudinal axis. This segmentation distributes the electrical contact and mechanical retention forces, significantly improving contact stability while adding only moderate structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the terminal (first, second, third contact locations) provide localized electrical contact with the solid wire. Each contact location is positioned to optimize local contact quality and force distribution, improving overall electrical contact stability while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
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
Enables reliable and stable electrical contact along the length of solid wires with multiple contact points, maintaining conductivity and reducing assembly costs by eliminating the need for splicing and additional material, while ensuring cleanliness and stability against foreign matter.
Implementation Method 1
four resilient cantilever contact members extending forwardly from a base
Data Source
AI summary
A wire terminal is provided for conductively engaging a conductive wire having a generally round cross section. The wire terminal includes an electrical receptacle portion with first and second forwardly-projecting portions that conductively contact opposite sides of the conductive wire. The forwardly-projecting portions each include a respective wire-engaging contact portion, each of which is configured to contact the conductive wire at a respective elongated contact location along opposite sides of the conductive wire.