Cable Connector Release Mechanism for Excess Stress Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable connectors in computer networking are prone to damage from excessive stress due to binding or off-axis forces, leading to broken release mechanisms and difficult removal of damaged connectors.
Innovation Solution
A strain-limiting release mechanism with a releasable coupling that breaks apart in response to a predetermined excess stress event, protecting the cable connector from damage by absorbing or decoupling under excessive force or moment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latching mechanism is used to securely connect the cable connector to the connector receptacle, then the connection reliability is improved, but the connector becomes vulnerable to damage from excessive stress or binding forces
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is divided into a pull release portion and a tab portion that can separate from each other. The pull release portion remains attached to the connector while the tab portion breaks away, allowing the connector to be released without the entire release mechanism being damaged by excessive stress
Solution Approach 2:
The tab portion of the release mechanism is designed as a disposable component that is intended to break away after a single use or when excessive stress is applied. This sacrificial component protects the more valuable cable connector and latching mechanism from damage
2Stability of the object's composition
If the release mechanism is made robust to prevent accidental release, then the connection stability is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism transitions from a static, fixed structure to a dynamic, two-state structure. In the first state, the pull release and tab are coupled together providing stable latching. In the second state, they separate to enable release, with the tab breaking away to prevent further complexity issues
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the pull release is designed to be easily breakable to protect the connector, then the protection capability is improved, but the ease of operation for normal release is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the release mechanism have different structural properties. The tab portion is designed with local quality characteristics that make it brittle and prone to breaking, while the pull release portion maintains sufficient strength for normal operation. This localized differentiation allows easy operation under normal conditions while providing protection when excessive force is applied
Data Source
AI summary
A release mechanism is provided to connect to a cable connector, with the cable connector being latchable to a connector receptacle. The release mechanism includes a pull release to operatively couple to a latching mechanism of the cable connector to selectively release a latch of the latching mechanism from latching the cable connector to the connector receptacle when operatively coupled to the connector receptacle. The pull release is adapted to, at least in part, break apart in operation in response to a predetermined excess stress event on the pull release to facilitate protecting the cable connector from excessive stress due to the stress event.