Antirotation Coupling for Electrical Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signal connectors with radial gear ratchets take up considerable radial space, and when the coupling nut walls are made thinner to accommodate this, they become too thin for plastic formation, while mechanisms that allow easier mating than unmating and conserve space are lacking.
Innovation Solution
A coupling nut with a ring of nut teeth and a clicker ring that is spring-biased forward, featuring clicker teeth that offer low resistance during mating and high resistance during unmating, along with anti-rotation tabs and washers to prevent clicker ring rotation and maintain the nut's position, allowing controlled torque in both directions without increasing the connector's diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radial gear ratchet mechanism is used to allow coupling nut turning in mating direction while resisting unmating direction, then the directional control function is achieved, but the radial space occupied increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: a clicker ring with clicker teeth, a coupling nut with nut teeth, and a spring washer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently within limited radial space, replacing the bulkier radial gear ratchet with a more compact toothed interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The clicker ring is nested within the coupling nut structure, with the clicker teeth engaging the nut teeth in a compact arrangement. The spring washer is positioned between the clicker ring and the barrel, creating a nested configuration that minimizes radial space while maintaining the one-way rotation function.
2Area of stationary object
If the coupling nut walls are made thinner to accommodate the ratchet mechanism without increasing overall diameter, then the radial space is conserved, but the walls become too thin for plastic formation
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is divided into separate components (clicker ring, coupling nut, spring washer) that can be manufactured independently using standard plastic molding techniques. This segmentation allows each part to maintain adequate wall thickness for manufacturability while the assembled mechanism achieves compact radial dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the toothed interface (clicker teeth and nut teeth) to achieve the required mechanical function with smaller dimensions, allowing the overall mechanism to fit within the original radial space constraints without compromising wall thickness.
3Ease of operation
If a mechanism is designed to allow coupling nut to turn more freely in mating direction than unmating direction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The teeth are designed with asymmetric geometry where the leading faces are inclined to facilitate easy engagement during mating rotation, while the trailing faces provide mechanical interference to resist unmating rotation. This local variation in tooth geometry achieves directional control without requiring a complex multi-component mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring washer automatically applies force to maintain engagement between the clicker teeth and nut teeth, and the asymmetric tooth geometry automatically provides ease of rotation in the mating direction while resisting the unmating direction. The mechanism serves itself without requiring external control systems or complex actuation mechanisms.
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 solution enables easy mating with low torque and high resistance during unmating, ensuring secure connection without enlarging the connector's diameter or thinning the nut or barrel walls, achieving a balance in space usage and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A spring washer lies behind the clicker ring to bias it forward
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism (20) for connecting the coupling nut (14) and barrel (12) of an electrical or optical connector to resist but not prevent their relative rotation, includes a clicker ring (22) that has forward-projecting teeth (36) and that fits into a circular recess (32) at the rear of the coupling nut to engage rearward-projecting nut teeth (34). The clicker ring also has slots (40) that receive radially-outward projections (42) on the barrel, to prevent clicker ring turning.