Terminal Bolt Section Rib Design for Assembly Simplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal assembly methods require separate parts and complex, costly fixation elements, increasing assembly time and costs due to the need for precise placement of bolts within ring terminals.
Innovation Solution
A terminal with a bolt section featuring ribs on its sidewall that protrude into the body passageway, allowing the bolt to be pre-positioned and securely held, eliminating the need for additional parts and complex production steps by acting like an internal thread to securely engage the bolt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate bolt is inserted through the passageway of the ring terminal to form a connection with the element, then the terminal can be mechanically and electrically connected to another element, but the installation requires the inventory and assembly of two separate parts which increases costs and assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ring terminal and bolt into a single integrated unit. The bolt section is formed as an integral part of the ring terminal body, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these two components. This merging reduces the number of parts from two to one, simplifying inventory management and assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt is pre-positioned within the ring terminal body during manufacturing, rather than being assembled separately during installation. The bolt section is formed integrally with the terminal body, so the bolt is already in its correct position and orientation before the terminal is installed, eliminating the need for separate bolt insertion and positioning steps.
2Ease of operation
If a nut is attached to the terminal at the passageway to allow pre-positioning of the bolt, then the bolt can be pre-positioned prior to installation, but the fixation elements become complex and costly to produce
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attaching a separate nut to the terminal body, the patent merges the bolt function directly into the terminal body structure. The bolt section is formed as an integral part of the terminal, eliminating the need for separate nuts and complex fixation elements like bent arms or welding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the bolt from being a separate component and integrates it directly into the terminal body. By taking the bolt function out of the assembly process and embedding it in the terminal manufacturing, the need for separate fixation elements is eliminated, simplifying both production and installation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a nut with bent arms or welding is used to fix the bolt in place, then the bolt can be held at the passageway, but time-consuming and costly production steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal body and bolt are merged into a single integral structure, eliminating the need for separate fixation operations. The bolt section is formed together with the terminal body in one manufacturing process, removing the need for time-consuming assembly steps like bending arms or welding nuts.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt is pre-fixed to the terminal body during terminal manufacturing rather than during final assembly. By performing the fixation action in advance during terminal production, the complex and time-consuming operations are done once during manufacturing rather than repeatedly during assembly, improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal includes a body and a bolt section at a first end of the body. The bolt section has a body passageway extending through the body and a sidewall defining the body passageway. The bolt section has a rib disposed on the sidewall and protruding into the body passageway.