Track Adapter Gear Layout for Concealed Phase Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional track adapters have an exposed phase adjustment portion that is aesthetically unpleasing and increases manufacturing costs, limiting the flexibility of track light designs and power supply configurations.

Innovation Solution

A track adapter with a compact phase adjustment knob positioned on top and a drive mechanism using intermeshing gears, allowing for flexible structural design and reduced external components, enabling the adapter to be integrated with a driving power supply for improved aesthetics and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the phase adjustment portion is placed at the bottom of the adapter, then the adapter can be installed in the track, but the exposed parts increase manufacturing costs and degrade appearance aesthetics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidappearance aesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The phase adjustment knob is relocated from the bottom dimension to the top dimension of the adapter. The drive mechanism uses a first drive gear on the electrical supply column and a second drive gear on the mounting seat, with the adjustment knob positioned at the top to operate the phase adjustment portion, changing the spatial arrangement from bottom-exposed to top-accessible configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the phase adjustment portion is placed at the bottom of the adapter, then the adapter can be installed in the track, but exposed parts are not beautiful in appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidappearance aesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The phase adjustment knob is relocated from the bottom dimension to the top dimension of the adapter. The drive mechanism uses a first drive gear on the electrical supply column and a second drive gear on the mounting seat, with the adjustment knob positioned at the top to operate the phase adjustment portion, changing the spatial arrangement from bottom-exposed to top-accessible configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If conventional track adapter design is used, then the structure is simple, but the lamp holder cannot wrap the whole track and design flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddesign flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical supply column is made rotatable around the first central axis through the drive mechanism. This dynamic capability allows the lamp holder to wrap the whole track by rotating the electrical supply column to different angular positions, enabling flexible adaptation to various track configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4016758B1A track adapter and the driving power supply and track light thereof
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 SELF ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4016758B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4016758B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4016758B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a track adapter, including a mounting seat, an electrical supply column, an adjustment conductive portion, and an adjustment knob, and a drive mechanism. As to the track adapter and the driving power supply with the track adapter and the track light of the present invention, the lamp holder of the track lamp can wrap the whole track, which is neat and beautiful, and solve the problem of difficult phase adjustment of adaptor in the prior art at the same time. The phase adjustment knob is shrunk and put on the top of the adaptor, which solves the adjustment problem and adapts to more occasions, so that the structural design of the track lamp is more flexible.