Two-Component Connector Body for Fire Safety and Flexible Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliance connectors with high power and current strengths pose a risk of fire, and existing materials fail to meet stringent fire safety standards like the Nichrome Wire Test, while maintaining mechanical properties for flexible assembly and production.

Innovation Solution

A connector body composed of two components, where the first component made from fire-retardant plastic accounts for over 80% of the volume, providing high fire safety, and the second component with lower ignition point and greater elasticity allows for flexible assembly and mechanical advantages, enabling compliance with strict fire safety standards and automated production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the connector body is made from fire-retardant plastic to meet fire safety standards, then fire safety is improved, but mechanical properties such as flexibility and elasticity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoidmechanical flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connector body is divided into two separate components: a first component made from fire-retardant plastic for fire safety, and a second component made from elastic material for mechanical flexibility. These components are combined to form the complete connector body, allowing each component to fulfill its specific functional requirement independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector body uses a composite construction combining fire-retardant plastic and elastic material in two distinct components. This composite approach allows the connector to simultaneously achieve fire safety properties from the first component and mechanical flexibility properties from the second component, resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the connector body is made from a single fire-retardant material, then fire safety is improved, but ease of manufacture and automated production are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoidautomated production

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector body is segmented into two separately manufacturable components that can be produced using different manufacturing processes optimized for each material type. The first component (fire-retardant plastic) and second component (elastic material) can be manufactured independently and then assembled, facilitating automated production while maintaining fire safety standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector design incorporates a movable second component that can be elastically deformed during the assembly process. This dynamic characteristic allows the component to be snapped or clamped onto the first component during automated assembly, enabling easy manufacturing and integration into automated production lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the connector body is made from flexible material for mechanical advantages, then ease of operation is improved, but fire safety is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical flexibilityVSAvoidfire safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connector body is divided into two components with distinct functional responsibilities: the first component made from fire-retardant plastic provides fire safety protection, while the second component made from elastic material provides mechanical flexibility for ease of operation. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the connector body have different material properties tailored to local requirements. The first component (fire-retardant plastic) provides fire resistance where thermal protection is critical, while the second component (elastic material) provides flexibility where mechanical deformation is needed. This local differentiation of material qualities resolves the contradiction between fire safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11205871B2Domestic appliance having at least one plug for an electrical connection

Publication Date: 2021.12.21 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A household appliance includes a connector for electrical contacting. The connector includes a body configured to mechanically retain at least one electrically conductive contact, which is accessible on an exit side of the body for contacting. The body is constructed from at least two different components, with one of the at least two components at least substantially forming the exit side and being made from a fire-retardant plastic.