Wedge-base bulb socket with flexible clamping jaws for vibration resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wedge-base bulb sockets for automotive lights are sensitive to mechanical vibrations, leading to misalignment and potential ejection of the light bulb, and existing solutions with centering sleeves increase production costs and are not adaptable to different bulb sizes.
Innovation Solution
A wedge-base bulb socket design featuring electrically conductive elements with additional supporting jaws made of high heat-dispersion materials that clamp the light bulb, providing stability and heat management, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various bulb sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional wedge-base bulb sockets are used in automotive lights, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the socket is extremely sensitive to mechanical vibrations causing misalignment and potential ejection of the light bulb
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the supporting jaws flexible rather than rigid. The jaws are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing them to adapt to vibrations and movements while maintaining secure grip on the bulb. This dynamic flexibility enables the socket to absorb vibration energy without causing misalignment or ejection, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the supporting jaws from rigid to flexible. By modifying the mechanical properties (rigidity) of the supporting jaws to be elastically deformable, the socket gains vibration resistance while maintaining structural simplicity. This parameter change allows the same basic structure to perform reliably under vibrational conditions.
2Reliability
If an additional centering sleeve is provided to hold the light bulb in position, then the light bulb remains centered under vibration, but the production costs increase and the solution is not adaptable to different bulb sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the centering function with the existing supporting structure. Instead of adding a separate centering sleeve, the supporting jaws themselves are designed to provide both support and centering functions. The jaws are positioned and shaped to naturally guide and center the bulb during insertion and to maintain centering under vibration, eliminating the need for additional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting jaws are designed to perform multiple functions: electrical connection, mechanical support, and centering. By making the jaws multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate centering components. The same structural elements that provide electrical and mechanical support also provide centering, reducing part count and improving adaptability to different bulb sizes.
3Reliability
If the supporting jaws are made flexible to reduce vibration sensitivity, then the socket becomes more reliable under vibration, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the supporting jaws to be elastically deformable rather than rigid. This parameter change allows the jaws to tolerate variations in manufacturing precision while still providing reliable vibration resistance. The flexibility compensates for minor positioning inaccuracies, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The socket effectively centers and supports wedge-base light bulbs under vibration, reduces heat-related issues, and accommodates different bulb sizes, enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of automotive lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
two electrically conductive elements (14) which extend on the surface of the supporting base (11) up to the edge of the entrance of the coupling seat (21), on opposite sides of said entrance, and then descend into the coupling seat (21) to reach each a respective coupling and connecting member (3)
Implementation Method 2
two reciprocally-facing additional supporting jaws (5) which are supported by the two electrically conductive elements (14) and which are structured to clamp the wedge-base light bulb fitted into the socket, so as to firmly hold said wedge-base light bulb in the wedge-base bulb socket
Implementation Method 3
additional supporting jaws (5) made of high heat-dispersion materials
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
Wedge-base bulb socket (10) comprising: a supporting base (11) provided with a coupling seat (21) dimensioned to house the plug (31) of the light bulb (30); two coupling and connecting members (3, 13) which are located inside the coupling seat (21), and are structured to separately hold the wedge-shaped plug (31) of the light bulb (30) fitted into the coupling seat (21), and to feed electric current to said light bulb (30); two electrically conductive elements (14) which extend on the surface of the supporting base (11) up to the edge of the entrance of the coupling seat (21), on opposite sides of said entrance, and then descend into the coupling seat (21) up to reach each a respective coupling and connecting member (3, 13); and two respectively-facing additional supporting jaws (5) which are supported by the two electrically conductive elements (14) so as to be located substantially on opposite sides of the entrance of the coupling seat (21), and structured to clamp the wedge-base light bulb (30) fitted into the socket (10), so as to firmly hold said wedge-base light bulb (30) in the wedge-base bulb socket (10).