Detachable Ventilator Terminal Box for Safer Motor Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fan connection devices require significant effort and manual disconnection of electrical lines for maintenance and repair, posing safety risks and inefficiencies, especially when switching off mains voltage.

Innovation Solution

A detachable terminal box with an integrated off switch and plug connections allows for easy separation and reconnection of motor cables, enabling safe and quick maintenance or replacement without opening the terminal box, using external screw connections and plug connections for secure attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the terminal box is permanently fixed to the device part with manual wire connections, then the electrical connection is stable and reliable, but the maintenance and repair work requires significant effort and time to manually disconnect and reconnect electrical lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidconnection device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal box is divided into separable components: the terminal box itself, the additional connection part with plug connectors, and the device part. This segmentation allows the terminal box to be easily detached and reattached during maintenance, eliminating the need for manual wire disconnection while maintaining stable electrical connections through the plug connector interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Plug connectors are introduced as an intermediary element between the external electrical connection lines and the motor lines. These plug connectors enable quick connection and disconnection of electrical lines without manual wiring work, significantly reducing maintenance effort while ensuring reliable electrical contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the terminal box is permanently fixed to ensure stable electrical connections, then the connection reliability is high, but the time required for maintenance and repair work increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The plug connectors are pre-assembled on the additional connection part before the terminal box is mounted to the device. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid connection and disconnection during maintenance operations, significantly reducing the time required for repair work while ensuring reliable electrical connections are maintained throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If manual disconnection of electrical lines is required for safety during repairs, then the safety isolation is achieved, but the maintenance process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of terminal box handlingVSAvoidconnection device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal box is extracted as a separate, detachable unit from the device part, connected through the additional connection part with plug connectors. This extraction allows the terminal box to be easily removed and reattached without complex manual disconnection procedures, simplifying maintenance operations while maintaining safety through controlled connection and disconnection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2904673B1Ventilator having an electrical connection device
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 EBM PAPST MULFINGEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2904673B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2904673B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2904673B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a ventilator, having an electrical ventilator motor (M) and an electrical connection device (2) for connecting electrical motor lines (4) leading to the motor (M) to external electrical connecting lines (6). The connection device (2) has a terminal box (8) mounted to a device part (12) comprising electrical contact elements (10), and has an additional connection part (14), to which the motor lines (4) are connected. The terminal box (8) is releasably connected to the additional connection part (14) via electrical plug-in connections (16).