Industrial Truck Charging Connector Retaining Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial trucks with integrated charging devices face challenges in easily accessing and managing the charging cable connector, leading to tangling and difficulty in assembly, as the connector is often not easily accessible and requires complex routing during assembly.

Innovation Solution

A detachable retaining ring is used to hold the charging cable connector on the industrial truck, allowing it to be easily accessed and preventing tangling, with the ring being designed to accommodate the connector without disconnecting it from the cable, and featuring snap connections and elastic latching projections for secure mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the charging cable is routed through fixed openings in the vehicle paneling, then the cable routing is stable and organized, but the connector is not easily accessible and requires complex assembly procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of connectorVSAvoidAssembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the retaining ring movable and adjustable. The retaining ring can be detached and repositioned along the opening in the vehicle paneling, allowing the connector to be accessed at different locations. This dynamic positioning capability resolves the contradiction by enabling easy accessibility without requiring complex fixed routing structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cable management system into separate functional components: the charging cable, the connector, and the movable retaining ring. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and adjusted, making assembly simpler while maintaining organized cable routing and connector accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the charging cable is allowed to move freely inside the vehicle, then the connector is easily accessible, but the cable becomes tangled and disorganized

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of connectorVSAvoidCable organization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the movable retaining ring - that mediates between the need for cable organization and connector accessibility. The retaining ring acts as a guide and constraint that keeps the cable organized while allowing the connector to be accessed by moving the ring to appropriate positions. This resolves the contradiction by providing structured flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the connector is fixed in position during assembly, then the assembly process is simplified, but the connector cannot be easily accessed during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAssembly simplicityVSAvoidConnector accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by designing the retaining ring as a movable component rather than a fixed one. During assembly, the ring can be temporarily positioned for easy connector access, and during operation, it can be moved to optimize accessibility. This dynamic design simplifies both assembly and operation compared to fixed positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2251296B1Industrial truck with an integrated loading device
Publication Date: 2012.09.19 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP2251296B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2251296B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2251296B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The industrial truck has an integrated charging device, which is connected with connector to an electrical power network over a charging cable. A holding ring (10) is detachably inserted in an opening, where the ring opening has a diameter. The holding ring holds the connector of the charging cable guide through the ring opening.