Track Lamp Coupling Lock to Prevent Rail Wall Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems with mounting rails and elongated support profiles face issues with secure mechanical and electrical coupling, as forces during coupling can lead to deformation and loosening of the support profile, and operating temperature fluctuations affect material flexibility, compromising both mechanical and electrical connections.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system design featuring a mounting rail with an elongated support profile and a current-conducting profile, where the component has a coupling element with a locking mechanism that engages with the side walls to prevent lateral migration and ensure secure mechanical and electrical coupling, using a rotary toggle mechanism for actuation and multiple locking sections for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotary toggle coupling element is used for mechanical and electrical coupling, then electrical connection is achieved, but forces during coupling cause deformation and loosening of the support profile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidsupport profile stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is divided into functionally separate components: a rotary toggle portion for electrical contact and a locking element with locking sections for mechanical coupling. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other, preventing the electrical coupling forces from compromising mechanical stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the coupling element and the support profile. It transfers and distributes the mechanical coupling forces through locking sections that engage with the side walls, preventing direct force transmission to the support profile that would cause deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the support profile is made more flexible to accommodate coupling forces, then ease of installation improves, but mechanical coupling stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidmechanical coupling reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element is designed to engage in a preliminary locking action before full coupling is achieved. The locking sections are positioned to initially engage with the side walls, pre-establishing mechanical stability before the coupling element is fully actuated, thereby maintaining reliability regardless of support profile flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If locking sections are provided on both side walls, then mechanical coupling stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical coupling stabilityVSAvoidcoupling element complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element is designed as a single integrated component that combines multiple locking sections into one unified structure. This merging approach provides stable mechanical coupling through both side walls while avoiding the complexity of separate locking mechanisms for each side, as the single locking element simultaneously engages both locking sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4094329B1Lamp system with mechanical locking element
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP4094329B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4094329B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4094329B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a light system (1) having: a supporting rail (2) which has an elongate supporting profile (20), which delimits an inner space (I) and has a longitudinal extent (L), and a current-conducting profile (21), which is arranged extending longitudinally in the inner space (I) and has wires (22) for power supply and/or transmission of digital control commands, the supporting profile (20) being formed at least by two side walls (24, 25), which delimit an elongate opening (23) in a laterally opposing manner, and a rear wall (26), which connects the side walls (24, 25); and a component (3) with a coupling element (30), which can be introduced via the opening (23) into the inner space (I) of the supporting profile (20) and can be operated there so that, at the same time, a contacting element (31) of the coupling element (30) electrically contacts the wires (22) of the current-conducting profile (21) for electrical connection of the component (3), and a locking element (32) of the coupling element (30) interacts with locking sections (202), provided on both sides of the opening (23), of the side walls (24, 25) of the supporting profile (20) for mechanical coupling of the component (3) to the supporting profile (20), wherein the component (3) also has a blocking element (4) with blocking sections (41, 42), which are arranged adjacently to in each case one of the side walls (24, 25) on an outer side (242, 252) facing away from the inner space (I) when the coupling element (30) is inserted, such that the blocking sections (41, 42) prevent the mechanical coupling from coming undone by migration of the respective side wall (24, 25) away from the inner space (I) when the coupling element (30) is operated.