Terminal Strip Spring Clamp Adapter Alternating Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal blocks with spring clamp adapters are typically permanently connected to electronics, lacking a detachable connection option while maintaining a compact design, which limits flexibility and safety distances between connections.
Innovation Solution
The terminal block features spring clamp adapters with alternatingly arranged connection elements and openings, allowing for detachable connections to external electronics, ensuring safety distances and a compact design through the use of non-insulated flat plugs or blade contacts, and symmetrically designed spring clamp adapters that can clamp wires from both sides, enabling easy insertion in different orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring clamp adapters are permanently connected to electronics, then connection reliability is improved, but adaptability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal block is divided into separable components: the housing with spring clamp adapters and the electronics module with corresponding connection elements. This segmentation allows the connection to be either permanent or detachable, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is designed to be dynamically configurable - connection elements can be inserted to create detachable connections or omitted for permanent connections. This dynamic flexibility allows the system to adapt to different application requirements while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
2Device complexity
If connection elements are arranged in a single row, then device complexity is reduced, but safety distances between adjacent connections are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements are arranged in an alternating pattern across two rows rather than a single row. This dimensional change from one row to two rows allows adequate safety distances to be maintained between adjacent connections while keeping the overall structure compact and manageable.
3Manufacturing precision
If spring clamp adapters are designed for single-sided wire clamping, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clamp adapter is designed with asymmetric features that enable it to function properly in two different orientations. The asymmetric design includes the positioning of the spring element and contact surface, allowing the adapter to clamp wires reliably whether inserted in the first or second orientation, thus improving ease of operation without compromising manufacturing precision.
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 design enables easy, inexpensive, and safe connections between wires and electronics, maintaining a compact form factor while allowing for easy release and reduced manufacturing complexity, ensuring adequate safety distances and efficient electrical conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
Each spring clamp adapter has at least one spring element suitable for clamping a wire stripped at the end against a contact surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a terminal strip (1) for establishing electrically conductive connections between a plurality of wires (6), which are stripped of insulation at the ends, and an electronics system. Said terminal strip has a housing (2) and a plurality of spring clamping adapters (3) which are arranged in a linear row next to one another in the housing (2), wherein each spring clamping adapter (3) has at least one spring element (5a, 5b) which is suitable for clamping a wire (6), which is stripped of insulation at the end, against a contact area (4a, 4b), and wherein the housing (1) has, for each spring clamping adapter (3), a first aperture (7) for the wire (6) which is to be connected to the spring clamping adapter (3) to be routed through. Each spring clamping adapter (3) further has a connection element (8) for establishing a releasable connection to a corresponding connection element (9) of the electronics system, and the housing (2) has, leading to each spring clamping adapter (3), a second aperture (10), through which the correspondingly arranged connection element (8) of the spring clamping adapter (3) is accessible. In this case, the spring clamping adapters (3) and the housing (2) are designed in such a way that the apertures (10) which make the connection elements (8) accessible are arranged in an alternately offset manner in at least two rows (R2, R3).