Terminal Strip Segmented Housing for Interface Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection strips for telecommunications and data technology are difficult to adapt to various electrical interfaces, leading to increased manufacturing costs due to non-interchangeable housing parts.

Innovation Solution

A connection strip design featuring a housing with interchangeable middle and non-changing upper and lower parts, allowing adaptation to different electrical interfaces through the middle part, which includes receptacles formed by chambers between partitions, enabling easy modification without altering the upper and lower housing parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the housing is designed as a single integrated structure to ensure structural stability, then the structural strength is improved, but the adaptability to different electrical interfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability to electrical interfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into three separate parts: upper housing part, middle housing part, and lower housing part. The middle housing part can be exchanged to adapt to different electrical interfaces, while the upper and lower parts remain unchanged, maintaining structural integrity while enabling adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If different housing parts are designed for different electrical interfaces to ensure compatibility, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with electrical interfacesVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper and lower housing parts serve multiple functions across different interface configurations, while only the middle part varies. This reduces the total number of unique components needed while maintaining compatibility with various electrical interfaces.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple complete housing sets are produced for different interfaces to ensure compatibility, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface compatibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the housing into reusable upper and lower parts with only the middle part being interface-specific, the manufacturing cost is reduced through economies of scale in producing the common components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upper and lower housing parts are designed as universal components that can be used across multiple interface configurations, reducing the total manufacturing volume required and thereby lowering costs.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2441128B1Terminal strip
Publication Date: 2014.03.12 TYCO ELECTRONICS SERVICES GMBH
  • EP2441128B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2441128B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2441128B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a terminal strip (1) for telecommunications and data processing technology, comprising a housing and conductor connection contacts (50, 60), wherein first conductor connection contacts (50) are accessible from the upper face (19) of the housing and second conductor connection contacts (60) are accessible from the lower face (29) of the housing, wherein electrical interfaces (70, 74) connected to the first and/or second conductor connection contacts (50, 60) are accessible from the upper side (19) of the housing and, wherein the housing comprising a upper housing part (10), a lower housing part (20), and a center housing part (30, 30'), wherein the center housing part (30, 30') comprises receptacles in which the first and second conductor connection contacts (50, 60) and the electrical interfaces (70, 74) are partially guided and mechanically supported.