Battery Connector Housing With Inclined Alignment Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery units and compartments face terminal damage due to insufficient alignment, leading to contact issues.

Innovation Solution

The power supply apparatus features a housing portion with inclined surfaces and aligned side surfaces that guide the connector portion into alignment, preventing terminal contact until a secure fit is achieved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If tapered surfaces are used to ensure terminal interconnection despite displacement, then ease of operation is improved, but terminal damage risk increases due to insufficient alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connector insertionVSAvoidterminal alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector portion is preliminarily aligned with the connector accommodation portion through the inclined surfaces before terminal contact. The inclined surfaces guide the connector to the correct position in advance, ensuring proper alignment before the terminals make contact, thus preventing terminal damage while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined surfaces act as an intermediary mechanism between the connector and connector accommodation portion. These surfaces mediate the insertion process by gradually guiding the connector into proper alignment, transitioning from a state of potential misalignment to precise terminal alignment before contact occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If terminals are allowed to contact during insertion to ensure electrical connection, then ease of operation is improved, but terminal damage occurs due to misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connector connectionVSAvoidterminal damage from contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Proper terminal alignment is achieved preliminarily through the inclined surfaces before the terminals make contact. This preliminary alignment action ensures that when terminals contact during insertion, they are already correctly positioned, preventing damage while maintaining ease of connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined surfaces provide preliminary anti-action against misalignment by guiding the connector into correct position before terminal contact. This counteracts the potential harmful effect of misalignment that would otherwise cause terminal damage during insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS20250303882A1Power supply apparatus, electrically-powered vehicle including the same, and power storage device

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

In a power supply apparatus, a connector accommodation portion can accommodate a connector portion. In the connector portion, a connection surface faces a second direction and is provided with a first terminal, a first side surface faces a third direction, a second side surface faces a fourth direction, a first inclined surface connects the first side surface to the connection surface, and a second inclined surface connects the second side surface to the connection surface. In the connector accommodation portion, a facing surface faces the connection surface in an accommodation state in which the power storage device is accommodated in the housing portion, is provided with a second terminal, a first side wall portion faces the first side surface in the accommodation state, and a second side wall portion faces the second side surface in the accommodation state.