Spring Grounding Assembly for Cable-Free Appliance Earthing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance devices lack a cost-effective design for safety grounding connections that ensure reliable conductivity and operator safety without the risk of defective cable connections, while also providing easy assembly and robustness.
Innovation Solution
A safety grounding unit with a spring means that forms a conductive connection between the surface construction unit and a protective conductor terminal, using a carrier unit and grounding means made from beryllium copper, which exerts a spring force for secure contact and has a curved surface area for low resistance, allowing for easy assembly and robust conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable connection is used for safety grounding, then the connection can be established between protective contact and socket, but the risk of defective cable connections and higher costs arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cable from the safety grounding connection. Instead of using a cable to connect the protective contact to the socket, the invention creates a direct conductive connection through the carrier unit and surface construction unit, removing the harmful element (cable) that could fail or cause safety issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier unit serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the surface construction unit, establishes the safety grounding connection through its conductive structure, and eliminates the need for separate cable connections. This multi-functionality reduces both cost and safety risks.
2Reliability
If a robust safety grounding connection is implemented, then operator safety is ensured, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mechanical support function and the electrical grounding function into a single integrated carrier unit. The conductive connection is built into the carrier unit's structure itself, combining structural and electrical functions to reduce overall device complexity while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier unit is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical support and establishes the safety grounding connection. This universality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure while ensuring operator safety.
3Reliability
If a spring means is used for grounding, then reliable contact force is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spring means that provides dynamic, elastic contact force to the surface construction unit. This dynamic mechanism ensures reliable electrical contact through continuous pressure while accommodating thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances, achieving high reliability without excessive cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring means changes the contact force parameter dynamically, providing sufficient pressure for reliable electrical connection while maintaining cost-effectiveness through simple spring mechanics rather than complex active control systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If openings are provided in the carrier unit, then versatility for different devices is achieved, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier unit is designed with strategically placed openings that segment the structure to accommodate different device configurations and mounting requirements. These openings provide versatility for installation in various appliance types while the overall structural design maintains sufficient integrity for mechanical support.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier unit's design with openings enables universal application across different household appliance devices. The structural configuration allows adaptation to various mounting scenarios while maintaining the necessary strength through optimized material distribution and support geometry.
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 achieves a reliable, cost-effective, and safe conductive connection with low ohmic resistance, ensuring operator safety and easy assembly, while being adaptable for various appliance designs, and also functions as a functional grounding unit to prevent static charges and electromagnetic interference.
Implementation Method 1
the safety grounding unit has at least one grounding means which is designed as a spring means and at least in an installed state exerts a spring force on the surface construction unit
Implementation Method 2
which forms a safety grounding connection for the surface construction unit, wherein the conductive connection is in particular free of connecting cables... and for which the ohmic resistance which prevails between the first end point and the second end point... is less than or equal to one hundred ohms
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention is based on a domestic appliance device with at least one surface module (10). In order to achieve a cost-effective construction, it is proposed that the household appliance device has at least one safety grounding unit (12) which forms a safety grounding connection for the surface module (10).