Captive Insulating Body for Plug Connector Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors for electrical conductors face challenges in field assembly, particularly with incorrect orientation of insulating bodies and interchange of different insulators during the contacting process, which complicates the simultaneous pressing of multiple conductors into their respective insulation displacement connectors.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a cuboid insulating body with cylindrical pins that engage guide means on the housing, allowing captive insertion and rotation, along with guide channels and pockets for deflection bevels to guide electrical conductors transversely and ensure correct alignment with insulation displacement connectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple insulating bodies are used for different connectors, then each connector can be assembled, but the risk of incorrect orientation and interchange of insulators increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector assembly capabilityVSAvoidinsulator orientation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating body is divided into multiple sections with guide channels for different conductors, allowing simultaneous insertion and orientation control of multiple conductors while reducing the risk of incorrect assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating body features asymmetric guide channels with deflection bevels at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) that only fit into the housing in the correct orientation, preventing incorrect insertion of insulators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If all electrical conductors are introduced into a common pressure part in a first process and then pressed into insulation displacement terminals in a second operation, then mechanical contacting is suitable, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical contacting suitabilityVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide channels and insulation displacement terminals are merged into a single integrated insulating body structure, allowing conductor insertion and insulation displacement to occur simultaneously in one operation rather than requiring separate processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide channels are pre-formed with deflection bevels that automatically guide the conductors into the correct position and orientation before they reach the insulation displacement terminals, preparing the conductors for contact in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If individual connection units with carriages are provided for each wire, then field assembly is enabled, but the device complexity and number of components increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield assembly capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual connection functions are merged into a single insulating body with multiple guide channels, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining field assembly capability for multiple conductors simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2599164B1Plug connector comprising insulation displacement terminals and a captive insulating body
Publication Date: 2016.10.05 HARTING ELECTRIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2599164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2599164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2599164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An insulating body (3) is captively secured on the housing (1) for a plug connector (1) comprising insulation displacement terminals (23). The insulating body (3) is held on guiding means of the housing in a rotatable manner and in an insertable manner into the housing via an opening. The guiding means can be formed as slits (22, 22') that lie in lateral parts (21, 21') of the housing. The lateral parts project beyond the housing. Electric conductors can be inserted into the insulating body on a rear surface, plugged through said body, and cut on a front surface. The electric conductors are thus brought to the intended length before the insulating body is inserted into the housing.