Axially Movable Contact Pin for Tolerance Compensation in Electrical Sockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical socket designs face challenges in establishing a secure, quick, and conductive connection to plugs and welding points, often failing to provide a reliable and simple material connection.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a contact body housing with a latching element and a counter-latching element, surrounded by a securing sleeve, along with a contact pin that moves axially within the socket housing, featuring a stop for limiting movement and a snap-on element for secure electrical contact, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tight tolerance is used for the socket to ensure reliable conductive connection with the plug, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces axial movement capability of the contact pin, changing the degree of freedom parameter. This allows the contact pin to compensate for radial misalignment through axial displacement, thereby maintaining reliable electrical connection without requiring tight radial tolerances in the socket housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact pin is designed to be axially movable rather than fixed, introducing dynamic adjustment capability. This dynamic feature enables the connection to self-adjust and compensate for manufacturing tolerances, ensuring reliable contact without requiring precision manufacturing of the socket housing.
2Strength
If a metallurgical bond such as welding is used to connect the socket to the mounting point, then connection strength is improved, but assembly time and production efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the metallurgical bonding process (welding) with a mechanical pressing connection. The contact pin is simply pressed into the socket housing through the through-hole, creating a secure mechanical and electrical connection without requiring welding equipment or processes, thereby dramatically improving assembly speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structure is segmented into separate components (contact pin and socket housing) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The contact pin is inserted through a through-hole in the socket housing, allowing for simple, quick assembly without complex bonding processes.
3Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented to ensure reliable engagement, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the simple pressing insertion action. The same axial pressing motion that positions the contact pin also creates the electrical connection and provides the securing effect. This merging of functions achieves reliable engagement without adding complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing connection design allows the contact pin to self-secure within the socket housing through the friction and interference fit created during insertion. The structure itself provides the locking effect without requiring additional external locking components, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable engagement.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric socket which is easy to mount and provides a secure connection; the contact pin that is slidably mounted in the socket allows tolerances to be compensated.