Sunshade Motor Connector Segmentation for Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolling sunshade devices face challenges during maintenance and disassembly due to the need for long cables and specific coupling parts, which lead to potential safety hazards and loss of manufacturer guarantees, as well as the requirement for additional electrical certification.

Innovation Solution

A device with a connector system that allows easy plugging and unplugging of the electric motor, utilizing a support plate, spacer, and interface parts to maintain electrical connection without altering the connector, ensuring compatibility and maintaining manufacturer guarantees by avoiding the need for new certification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cable is made long enough to allow easy disconnection during maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cable length becomes excessive and creates safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of disconnectionVSAvoidcable length
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection system is segmented into a fixed support plate with integrated connector and a movable stator assembly. The connector remains fixed to the support plate while the stator can be easily detached, eliminating the need for long cables while maintaining ease of disconnection during maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If coupling parts are designed to be specific to each electric motor manufacturer's detachable connector, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different connectorsVSAvoidcomplexity of coupling parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate with integrated connector serves multiple functions: it provides a fixed mounting point for the electrical connection, acts as a reference plane for positioning, and eliminates the need for separate coupling parts. This universal approach works with standard detachable connectors from any manufacturer without requiring custom-designed coupling components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the detachable connector is replaced with a coupling part, then the ease of operation during maintenance is improved, but the reliability of electrical connection is worsened due to loss of manufacturer guarantees

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is pre-integrated into the support plate during manufacturing, establishing a permanent and reliable electrical connection point that maintains manufacturer guarantees. This preliminary integration ensures that the electrical connection integrity is preserved while still allowing easy disconnection of the stator assembly during maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4183968B1Device for winding and unwinding a sun screen or the like
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 SOPROFEN SARL
  • EP4183968B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4183968B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4183968B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device (1) for rolling up and unrolling a sunshade or similar, comprising at least one electric motor connected to an external power supply by means of a power cable (2) having a connector (3) defining an internal interface plane (4) and removably plugged into a stator (5) of the electric motor, said device (1) being notable in that it comprises at least: - a support plate (9), - a spacer (10) fixed to said support plate (9) and supporting the connector (3), - a first interface piece (11) fixed to the support plate (9), and - a second interface piece (14) fixed to the stator (5).