Spring Loaded Clamping Terminal Leverage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring-loaded clamping connection terminals are not well-suited for flexible wires or conductors, requiring significant pushing force for engagement and often failing to secure the mechanical connection due to the short length of wire engaged, which can slip or disintegrate, and typically require a tool for disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A spring-loaded clamping connection terminal with a lever-activated mechanism that allows automatic engagement and disengagement of the clamping arm using a minimal pressure force, ensuring secure connection and easy release without tools, utilizing a single metal strip construction for the clamping arrangement, trigger, and reset mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a spring-loaded clamping connection terminal uses a conventional clamping mechanism, then it can establish a mechanical link with rigid wires, but it requires considerable pushing force for engagement which cannot be transmitted by flexible wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic triggering mechanism where the spring-loaded arm is held in a retracted position by a trigger that can be actuated by the wire itself during insertion. This allows the system to adapt to different wire types - rigid wires can provide the necessary triggering action, while flexible wires can be guided into position without requiring high pushing forces. The mechanism transitions from a static high-force requirement to a dynamic low-force insertion with automatic clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire insertion process itself triggers the clamping action. As the wire is inserted into the terminal, it automatically activates the trigger mechanism which releases the spring-loaded arm to clamp onto the wire. This self-triggering mechanism eliminates the need for separate manual activation and reduces the force required from the user, making the terminal suitable for both rigid and flexible wires.
2Ease of operation
If the mechanical link is established near the front end of the wire by clamping, then the connection is secured by a very short length of wire, but this allows the wire to slip or disaggregate into separate filaments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the clamping action along the wire by incorporating a channel that receives and guides the wire. The spring-loaded arm clamps the wire within this channel, and the channel structure provides additional lateral support and constraint. This dimensional extension prevents the wire from slipping or disintegrating by distributing the mechanical constraint over a longer portion of the wire within the channel, rather than concentrating it at a single clamping point.
3Strength
If a conventional connection terminal is used, then the unlocking requires the use of a tool, but this increases the complexity of disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal incorporates a reset lever that can be manually actuated to release the trigger mechanism and disengage the spring-loaded arm from the wire. This self-service release mechanism allows users to disconnect the terminal without requiring special tools - they simply operate the reset lever which automatically reverses the clamping action. The system provides both secure connection and easy disconnection through this integrated manual release mechanism.
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 provides reliable electrical and mechanical connections for flexible wires by leveraging a lever-activated mechanism that generates sufficient force for engagement and disengagement, ensuring secure and tool-free operation, even with flexible conductors, while preventing wire slippage and disintegration.
Implementation Method 1
at least one clamping arrangement (5) comprising a spring force loaded arm (6) automatically movable between a retracted position wherein said arm (6) is located outside a passage or channel (7)
Implementation Method 2
the trigger means (10) consists of a lever arm extending in said direction D, the contact part (11) consisting of a free end portion of said lever arm (10)
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
The present invention concerns a spring clamping connection terminal comprising a housing or cage for receiving the bare end portion of an electrical conductor or wire and lodging at least one clamping arrangement which comprises a spring force loaded arm automatically movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which said arm is able to come into contact under elastic constraint with the end portion of an electrical wire, wherein said clamping arrangement (5) also comprises: means (8, 9) for locking said arm (6) in its retracted position, trigger means (10) able to release the spring loaded arm (6) activatable by the end portion of said wire or conductor, a contact part (11) on said trigger means (10), to be hit or pressed on by the bare end portion, connection terminal (1) characterized in that said trigger means (10) is located and arranged after or beyond the arm (6) and the anchoring site (9), in the direction (D) of insertion of the wire or conductor, and consists of a lever arm extending in said direction (D), the contact part (11) consisting of a free end portion of said lever arm (10).