System and method for reconfiguring a harness board

• US 8,225,498 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Lin, Xiao
• Primary Examiner(s): ANGWIN, DAVID PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/110,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 298/32, 298/50, 297/45, 297/47, 297/48, 297/49, 297/55, 140/92.1, 140/93.R
• US Class Current: 29/745
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01227 using a layout board
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/532 Conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53213 Assembled to wire-type conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53217 Means to simultaneously assemble multiple, independent conductors to terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53243 Multiple, independent conductors

Abstract

A reconfigurable harness board system is provided for assembling a wire harness for an electrical panel and comprises a plurality of sub-harness modules. Each sub-harness module defines a swappable template for a wire harness for a respective electrical component for the electrical panel. Select ones of the sub-harness modules are mounted to a frame according to a first layout of electrical components for the electrical panel to create a reconfigurable harness board system in which each sub-harness module is detachable from the frame to be swapped with a different sub-harness module in order to reconfigure the harness board system according to a second layout of electrical components.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable harness board system for assembling a wire harness for an electrical panel comprising:

a plurality of sub-harness modules, wherein each sub-harness module defines a swappable template for a wire harness for a respective electrical component for the electrical panel;

a frame; and

means for mounting the plurality of sub-harness modules to the frame according to a first layout of electrical components for the electrical panel to create the reconfigurable harness board system, wherein each of the plurality of sub-harness modules is detachable from the frame to swap a respective sub-harness module with a different sub-harness module to reconfigure the harness board system according to a second layout of electrical components.

2. The reconfigurable harness board system of claim 1 wherein each sub-harness module includes a sub-harness index identifying an electrical component and an orientation on the harness board.

3. The reconfigurable harness board system of claim 2, wherein the reconfigurable harness board system is identified by a harness index identifying a size of the harness board and a plurality of sub-harness indices corresponding to the plurality of sub-harness modules.

4. The reconfigurable harness board system of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a DIN rail.

5. The reconfigurable harness board system of claim 1 wherein the electrical panel comprises a motor control center and the plurality of sub-harness modules comprises a sub-harness for a pilot light and a sub-harness for a terminal block.

6. The reconfigurable harness board system of claim 1 wherein each sub-harness module comprises a planar substrate having a plurality of posts and wire path lines on the substrate identifying wire length and routing relative to the posts.