Spring-Force Connector With Pivoting Lever And Segmented Contact Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring-loaded connections have complex geometries and are difficult to handle due to their intricate designs, making them cumbersome and less flexible for use in connecting electrical conductors.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded connection with a pivoting lever that can be easily switched between open and closed positions, featuring a contact spring with a pressure leg and clamping leg connected via a flexible joint, allowing for indirect force application to pivot the contact spring between release and clamping positions, simplifying assembly and operation while ensuring secure conductor connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex cage clamp spring geometry with numerous bends and window recess is used, then the spring clamp connection can ensure functionality, but the device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The contact spring is divided into functionally distinct segments: a pressure leg for applying force, a clamping leg for securing the conductor, and a flexural joint connecting them. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring complex overall geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary geometric features from the contact spring design. By removing the window recess and excessive bends that were present in prior art, the design achieves functionality with a simpler, more manufacturable geometry.
2Reliability
If a complex cage clamp spring with window recess is used, then clamping functionality is achieved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The contact spring is segmented into a pressure leg, clamping leg, and flexural joint, allowing each component to be manufactured using standard processes without requiring complex forming operations for window recesses or multiple bends.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the window recess feature entirely from the contact spring design, eliminating the manufacturing complexity associated with creating such recesses while maintaining the essential clamping functionality through the simplified pressure-leg/clamping-leg configuration.
3Reliability
If the cage clamp spring requires release position for conductor insertion, then clamping security is ensured, but ease of operation worsens due to additional steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The contact spring is designed as a dynamic component that can be actively pivoted between release and clamping positions by the user. This dynamic operation allows the spring to be in a ready-to-accept state during insertion, providing both security and ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact spring automatically transitions to the clamping position when the conductor is inserted and force is applied, eliminating the need for separate manual positioning steps. The spring self-adjusts to secure the conductor after insertion.
4Ease of manufacture
If a simple contact spring design is used, then ease of manufacture improves, but reliability of positive coupling between lever and spring may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The contact spring is designed with locally optimized features: the pressure leg has specific geometry for force application, the clamping leg has geometry for secure engagement, and the flexural joint has optimized curvature for reliable pivoting. These local quality enhancements ensure reliable coupling without increasing overall design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexural joint incorporates a curved, arc-shaped geometry that provides smooth pivoting motion and reliable engagement with the pivoting lever. This curvature ensures positive coupling through geometric interlocking while maintaining a simple, manufacturable form.
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 solution simplifies the assembly and operation of spring-loaded connections, allowing for easy one-handed use and secure conductor connection, with the pivoting lever's movement directly controlling the contact spring's position, ensuring reliable clamping and release without complex geometry, thus enhancing handling and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the contact spring can be pivoted into its clamping position, so that a conductor inserted into the housing part via the conductor entry opening is subjected to force on the connecting device
Implementation Method 2
the push button at least indirectly exerts force on the pressure arm such that the contact spring is pivoted into its clamping position
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3A~4B
Figure 5A~6B
AI summary
The present invention discloses a spring-force connection (10) having a housing part (11), having a pivot lever (20) which can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position, having an electrically conductive connecting device (30) which is accessible via a conductor insertion opening (13) of the housing part (11), and having a contact spring (40) by means of which a conductor (L) which is inserted into the housing part (11) via the conductor insertion opening (13) can apply force to the connecting device (30), wherein the spring-force connection is characterized in that the contact spring (40) which can be pivoted between a release position and a clamping position has a pressing limb (41) and a clamping limb (45) which is connected to said pressing limb by means of a bending joint (44), and in that the pivot lever (20) has a pressing device (21) and a driver (22), wherein the pressing limb (41) is arranged between the pressing device (21) and the driver (22) at least in the closed position of the pivot lever (20), and in that, by pivoting of the pivot lever (20) into its closed position, the pressing device (21) can at least indirectly apply force to the pressing limb (41) in such a way that the contact spring (40) is pivoted into its clamping position, so that a conductor (L) which is inserted into the housing part (11) via the conductor insertion opening (13) applies force to the connecting device (30) by means of the clamping limb (45), and in that, by pivoting of the pivot lever (20) into its open position, the driver (22) can at least indirectly apply force to the pressing limb (41) in such a way that the contact spring (40) is pivoted into its release position.