Delphi Debuts Patented Electrical Center Design for 'No Tools Required' Installation

In a high-content underhood electrical center, as many as six separate wiring harnesses and 150 connections must be mated during the assembly process, said Mark Potesta, global product line director, Delphi Electrical Centers. When these connections are made simultaneously, the combined insertion force is so great that additional tooling is usually required to complete the installation.

Delphi's patented design addresses this issue and requires no tools during the installation process. Using a pair of mechanical assist levers with integrated cams to reduce the force required to make the connection, assembly operators simply lock the levers into final position, ensuring a complete and secure connection. This unique solution can yield up to a 20 percent time savings during the vehicle assembly process.

In addition to their ergonomic design, the levers also prove beneficial over the life of the vehicle.

The levers are permanently mounted to the electrical center so they can be used in removal and re-installation if service or repairs are required, said Potesta.

This patented electrical center technology is currently in production and available for use in a variety of customer applications.

Delphi has the benefit of more than 20 years of experience designing and producing robust electrical centers. Delphi possesses the proprietary design tools and the technology portfolio to deliver complete, optimized, expertly managed E/E architecture solutions.