Terminal Connection Joint Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminal blocks experience increased electrical resistance due to loosening of fastening components under vibration, leading to a decrease in contact area.
Innovation Solution
A terminal connection joint with a tubular portion, receiving portion, and clamping portion formed from a single plate material, incorporating a coil spring and a fixing bolt to ensure contact between the terminal and the plate-like terminal through both fastening and elastic forces, preventing detachment and maintaining contact area even under weakened fastening forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fastening portion using a bolt and nut is used to fix the terminal, then the terminal can be securely fastened initially, but the fastening force weakens over time due to vibration causing the nut to loosen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fastening system into a dynamic one by introducing a coil spring that can continuously adjust and maintain contact pressure. The spring absorbs vibration energy and compensates for loosening, ensuring the fastening force remains stable despite external vibrations, thus resolving the contradiction between initial secure fastening and long-term fastening force stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil spring is pre-compressed during assembly to store elastic potential energy. This preliminary action ensures that the spring is already exerting a restoring force on the terminal before any loosening occurs, proactively maintaining contact pressure and preventing the fastening force from weakening due to vibration-induced loosening.
2Reliability
If a rigid fastening structure is used to maintain contact area, then electrical resistance remains low initially, but the structure cannot accommodate vibration-induced loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the fastening system from rigid to flexible by introducing the coil spring. This allows the system to adapt to vibration-induced changes while maintaining sufficient contact pressure, thereby preserving low electrical resistance while gaining vibration resistance. The spring's elasticity enables the structure to accommodate loosening without increasing electrical resistance.
3Device complexity
If a simple bolt-nut fastening system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the system cannot prevent loosening under continuous vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring acts as an intermediary element between the bolt-nut fastening system and the terminal. It mediates the vibration forces and loosening tendencies, converting them into continuous contact pressure. This simple addition of a spring component significantly improves fastening force maintenance under vibration while keeping the overall device complexity low.
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
The solution effectively maintains contact and prevents an increase in electrical resistance by utilizing elastic forces to counteract reduced fastening forces from vibrations, ensuring stable connection and preventing heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
a contact portion for pressing another surface of the plate-like terminal; the contact portion is configured to press the plate-like terminal by being elastically supported on the tubular portion
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal block (10) includes a terminal portion (14) having an end surface formed with a screw hole and a peripheral surface, a terminal connection joint (16) including a tubular portion (31) having an inner peripheral surface which faces the peripheral surface of the terminal portion (14), a contact portion (32c) having a first contact surface which comes into contact with the end surface of the terminal portion (14) and a second contact surface which comes into contact with a plate-like terminal (20) and a clamping portion (33) for clamping the plate-like terminal (20) between the contact portion (32c) and the clamping portion (33), a fixing bolt (18) including an externally threaded portion to be threadably engaged with the screw hole and a head portion (18b) for pressing the clamping portion (33) in a direction to press the plate-like terminal (20). The contact portion (32c) is configured to press the plate-like terminal (20) by being elastically supported on the tubular portion (31).