Spring-Loaded Connection Actuating Lug Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring-loaded connections face challenges in actuating the clamping point without applying substantial lever force on other components, particularly the insulating housing, which complicates the opening and closing of the clamping mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The actuating lug extends beyond the bearing limb and includes an abutment for an actuating element, allowing for self-supporting actuation of the clamping spring with minimal lever force on other components, and is designed to follow the busbar piece for space-saving and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the actuating lug is positioned close to the clamping limb for compact design, then the device complexity is reduced, but substantial lever force is exerted on the insulating housing during actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating region is positioned in a different spatial dimension (behind the bearing limb rather than beside it), allowing the actuating lug to extend into this rearward space. This dimensional relocation enables the application point to be far from the clamping limb while maintaining overall device compactness, thereby reducing lever force on the housing.
2Force
If the actuating region is separated from the clamping point, then the load on insulating housing is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional spatial arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating lug is formed as an integral extension of the clamping spring itself, merging the actuating function into the existing spring structure. This eliminates the need for separate actuating mechanisms and reduces overall device complexity while achieving the desired separation between actuating region and clamping point.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating region is relocated to the rearward space behind the bearing limb, utilizing previously unused spatial volume. This clever spatial arrangement achieves functional separation without increasing the device's footprint or complexity, as the actuating lug simply extends into this existing rearward space.
3Force
If the actuating lug extends far behind the bearing limb, then self-supporting actuation is achieved with minimal housing load, but the length of the actuating lug increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping spring with its extended actuating lug serves its own actuation needs without requiring external actuating mechanisms or additional components. The spring's own structure provides the lever arm necessary for self-supporting actuation, eliminating the need for separate actuators and reducing overall system complexity.
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
This design provides a space-saving and cost-effective solution that reduces the load on insulating housing components, enabling easy actuation of the clamping spring with a separate actuation area from the clamping point, allowing for efficient conductor insertion and removal without straining the housing.
Implementation Method 1
a bent clamping spring (7), which has a bearing limb (10), a spring bend (9) adjoining the bearing limb and a clamping limb (8)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a spring-loaded connection with a busbar piece and a bent clamping spring, which has a bearing limb, a spring bend adjoining the bearing limb and a clamping limb which adjoins the spring bend opposite the transition between the bearing limb and the spring bend. The clamping limb is aligned with the busbar piece so as to form a clamping point for an electrical conductor. An actuating lug extends away from the clamping limb. The actuating lug extends from the clamping limb past the bearing limb into an actuating region located behind the bearing limb, when viewed from the clamping limb in the direction of the bearing limb. The actuating lug has, in this actuating region, an abutment for an actuating element which can be arranged in the actuating region between the bearing limb and the abutment.