Clockable Power Connector Housing for Variable Coupling Patterns
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power connectors are limited by non-conductive housings that are molded for specific voltage and conductor configurations, making it difficult to use a single housing and contact assembly for different ratings, as they are not adaptable to varying standard patterns of electrical couplings.
Innovation Solution
A power connector design featuring a hollow, elongated housing that can be coupled with electrical couplings in a variable standard pattern and a clockable contact assembly that can be oriented in multiple positions, allowing for flexibility in accommodating different ratings and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-conductive housings are molded for specific voltage and conductor configurations, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but adaptability and device complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a universal mounting structure that can accommodate contact assemblies with different numbers and positions of electrical couplings. The housing includes a mounting surface with multiple mounting locations arranged in different patterns, allowing the same housing to support various conductor configurations (e.g., 3-conductor, 4-conductor, 5-conductor arrangements) while maintaining reliable electrical connections for each specific configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple housing designs are created for different ratings, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
A single housing design incorporates multiple mounting locations arranged in different standard patterns (e.g., different clock positions for electrical couplings). This universal housing can accommodate various power connector ratings and configurations without requiring separate housing designs, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different ratings.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact assembly is designed to be clockable or rotatable within the housing, allowing it to be oriented in different positions to match various standard patterns of electrical couplings. This dynamic positioning capability enables a single housing to support multiple configurations without requiring multiple static housing designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If contact assemblies are fixed in specific orientations, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The contact assembly incorporates a clockable mechanism that allows it to be rotated to different orientations within the housing after manufacturing. This enables the contact assembly to be precisely manufactured in one orientation and then adapted to different standard patterns through controlled rotation, combining manufacturing precision with post-manufacturing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact assembly is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently manufactured with high precision and then installed in different orientations within the housing. This segmentation allows the contact assembly to be precisely manufactured once and then adapted to various configurations through repositioning, rather than requiring different precision manufacturing for each orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
A power connector receptacle includes a housing assembly and a clockable contact assembly. The housing assembly includes a first housing including a hollow, elongated body. The first housing body is structured to be coupled to the number of first electrical couplings disposed in a variable standard pattern. The clockable contact assembly is structured to be disposed substantially within the housing assembly first housing body and coupled thereto in one of a plurality of possible orientations.