Booster Connector Gear Layout for Compact High-Force Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors with booster mechanisms face challenges in miniaturization due to limited allowable rotation angles and increased operation forces, which require larger pitch diameters and extended arms, leading to enlarged connector sizes.
Innovation Solution
A connector design with a speed-reduction mechanism that includes a large-diameter gear and a small-diameter gear, where the drive gear is coaxial with the rotation center shaft and positioned differently from the arm portion, allowing for increased rotation angles without interference and enabling arm shortening for miniaturization, along with a cam groove and rack system for sliding motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the pitch diameter of the partial gear is increased to obtain desired boosting performance under limited rotation angle, then the boosting performance is improved, but the connector is enlarged due to extended arm length
Solution Approach 1:
The drive gear is positioned at a different axial location from the arm portion, utilizing the axial dimension to separate interfering components. This allows the arm to achieve sufficient rotation angle without requiring increased pitch diameter, thereby maintaining compact connector size while preserving boosting performance.
Solution Approach 2:
A speed-reduction member with multiple gears of different pitch diameters is introduced as an intermediary between the drive gear and the rack. This member enables the drive gear to have a smaller pitch diameter while still achieving the necessary boosting effect through the gear train, thus reducing the arm length requirement and overall connector size.
2Force
If the arm of the operation lever is extended to avoid increase of necessary operation force, then the operation force is maintained, but the connector is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The speed-reduction member acts as a mechanical intermediary that provides force multiplication through its gear train. This allows the arm to be shorter while still achieving sufficient operation force at the rack, as the force is amplified through the gear ratio rather than relying on arm length.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical advantage parameter through the gear ratio of the speed-reduction member instead of changing the arm length parameter. This allows force multiplication to be achieved through gear ratio adjustment rather than extending the arm, maintaining compact dimensions.
3Volume of moving object
If the allowable rotation angle of the arm is limited by interference with the large gear, then the structural compactness is maintained, but the boosting performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the drive gear at a different axial location from the arm portion, the invention utilizes the axial dimension to eliminate interference between components. This allows the arm to rotate through a sufficient angle for desired boosting performance without the rotation being limited by interference with the large gear, while maintaining compact connector size.
Solution Approach 2:
The speed-reduction member with multiple gears serves as an intermediary that transmits and amplifies the rotational motion of the arm. This allows the system to achieve sufficient boosting performance even with a limited rotation angle, as the gear train multiplies the effect of the arm's rotation.
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
This design achieves miniaturization by allowing increased rotation angles without arm interference, reducing the size of the speed-reduction member and connector, while maintaining high boosting performance and flexibility in component selection based on cost and functionality requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the speed-reduction member includes a large-diameter gear to be meshed with the drive gear
Implementation Method 2
the slider includes a cam groove and a rack to be meshed with the small-diameter gear
Implementation Method 3
the slider includes a cam groove
Data Source
AI summary
A connector with booster mechanism includes a housing, an operation lever rotatably mounted on the housing and including an arm portion, a drive gear integrally rotatably provided on the operation lever, a speed-reduction member rotatably mounted on the housing, and a slider. The drive gear is coaxial with a rotation center shaft and disposed at a position different from the arm portion in an axial direction of the rotation center shaft. The speed-reduction member includes a large-diameter gear to be meshed with the drive gear and a small-diameter gear having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter gear and coaxial with the large-diameter gear. The slider includes a rack to be meshed with the small-diameter gear and is mounted on the housing movably in a direction intersecting a connecting direction to a mating connector.