Spring-Loaded Terminal for Reversible PCB Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connection terminals for printed circuit boards are not easily reversible, requiring additional work steps and tools for connection and disconnection, and do not allow for on-site conductor replacement or modification.

Innovation Solution

A spring-loaded terminal with a plug-in contact design that uses a U-shaped or V-shaped clamping spring, allowing for easy connection and disconnection of conductors without preassembly, and a two-part housing that decouples forces from the contact area to prevent damage, enabling axial displacement of the contact legs for secure insertion into printed circuit board holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If soldering or pressing techniques are used to connect contact pins to printed circuit boards, then reliable electrical contact is ensured, but the connection becomes irreversible and requires additional work steps and tools for disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contact reliabilityVSAvoidconnection reversibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a spring-loaded contact element that can dynamically change its state between connected and disconnected positions. The contact element is resiliently mounted to allow automatic return to the connected position after insertion, enabling reversible connection without soldering or pressing tools while maintaining reliable electrical contact through spring force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If conductors are connected to plug-in contacts before use, then the terminal is ready for installation, but on-site conductor replacement or modification becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreassembly readinessVSAvoidon-site modification capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the conductor connection function from the printed circuit board connection function. The spring-loaded contact element can independently accept conductors at any time before insertion into the housing, allowing flexible preassembly or on-site conductor attachment without compromising the integrity of the PCB connection or requiring pre-assembly of the entire terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If contact legs are directly inserted into printed circuit board holes, then simple installation is achieved, but forces during connection may damage the contact area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidcontact area damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a resilient mounting structure as an intermediary between the contact element and the housing. This spring-loaded mounting mechanism absorbs and decouples forces generated during conductor insertion and terminal assembly, preventing direct transmission of damaging forces to the contact area while still enabling simple insertion into printed circuit board holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 easy and secure connection and disconnection of conductors to printed circuit boards without damaging the contact area, allowing for on-site conductor replacement and reducing the need for specialized tools, while ensuring reliable electrical contact.

Implementation Method 1

a clamping spring (3), in particular a V-shaped or U-shaped clamping spring, which has a clamping limb (5) and a contact limb (6), with the clamping limb (5) and a section (7) of the metal part (4) forming a spring clamp connection for an electrical conductor (8) to be connected, by which the electrical conductor (8) inserted into a conductor insertion opening (9) is pressed against the opposite side of the section (7) of the metal part (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a spring-loaded terminal connection for conductors inserted into a conductor insertion opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3375046B1Electric connection terminal
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3375046B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP3375046B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3375046B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electric connection terminal (1) comprising a housing (2), a clamping spring (3), and a metal part (4). The clamping spring (3) has a clamping limb (5) and a contact limb (6), and the clamping limb (5) together with a portion (7) of the metal part (4) forms a spring force clamping connection for an electric conductor (8) to be connected. The housing (2) is equipped with a conductor insertion opening (9) for inserting the electric conductor (8) to be connected and an actuation opening (10) for opening the spring force clamping connection. By using the electric connection terminal (1) according to the invention, an electric conductor (8) can be easily connected to a circuit board (16) in that the metal part (4) is electrically and mechanically connected to a plug contact (12) via at least one connection region (11), and the plug contact (12) has two contact limbs (13, 14), which are resilient relative to each other, for plugging into a contact hole (15) of a circuit board (16).