Terminal Block Wiring Securement via Orthogonal Side Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminal blocks fail to securely fix wiring members against twisting forces, leading to a high possibility of the wiring members coming off from the plate spring and terminal portion interface.
Innovation Solution
The terminal block design incorporates a housing with a through hole and side wall portions that intersect with the plate spring and terminal portion's holding direction, using a U-shaped recessed groove to curb movement in orthogonal directions, enhancing the securement of the wiring member between the plate spring and terminal portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a wiring member is held between a plate spring and a terminal portion, then the wiring member is fixed in the direction of the holding forces, but the wiring member can move in directions intersecting with the holding forces (e.g., orthogonal directions)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces side wall portions that extend in a direction intersecting with the holding direction of the plate spring and terminal portion. These side wall portions create a multi-dimensional constraint system, adding restraint in orthogonal directions to the original single-direction holding force, thereby preventing movement and twisting of the wiring member.
2Reliability
If side wall portions are added to curb movement in intersecting directions, then the wiring member is more securely fixed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall portions are integrated into the housing structure as a unified component rather than being separate parts. This merging approach allows the housing to simultaneously provide containment and directional constraint functions, reducing the number of discrete components while achieving enhanced wiring member securement.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the through hole for wiring insertion, contains the plate spring and terminal portion, and through its side wall portions, constrains wiring member movement in multiple directions. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while improving reliability.
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 configuration significantly reduces the likelihood of the wiring member coming off, even under twisting forces, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection.
Implementation Method 1
the plate spring portion (93) is pressed by a wiring member (11) inserted into the accommodation portion (43) through the through hole (41), the plate spring portion (93) undergoes elastic deformation
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal block (20A) includes a housing (30) having an accommodation portion and a through hole (41), a terminal portion (72) disposed in the accommodation portion, and a plate spring portion (93) that is disposed in the accommodation portion and, together with the terminal portion (72), holds a wiring member (11) inserted into the accommodation portion through the through hole (41). A first side wall portion (52U1) and a second side wall portion (52U2) are formed in the accommodation portion of the housing (30), the first side wall portion (52U1) and the second side wall portion (52U2) facing each other in a direction that intersects with a direction in which the plate spring portion (93) and the terminal portion (72) hold the wiring member (11). A movement, in the intersecting direction, of a portion of the wiring member (11) that is inserted into the accommodation portion is curbed by disposing the portion of the wiring member (11) that is inserted into the accommodation portion between the first side wall portion (52U1) and the second side wall portion (52U2). It is possible to obtain a terminal block capable of inhibiting the wiring member (11) held between the plate spring portion and the terminal portion from coming off.