Coaxial Connector Retainer Structure for Secure Grid Fixation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multiple coaxial connectors face difficulties in securely and simply fixing shell assemblies to a housing, particularly due to challenges in maintaining the positional relation and ensuring stable fixation against pulling forces.

Innovation Solution

A multiple coaxial connector design featuring a shell assembly with a depression and flange, a housing with engagement portions and slits, and retainers with claws and concave portions that engage with the housing's grooves, allowing for secure and easy fixation of shell assemblies in a grid arrangement, enhancing the pulling-out bearing force and simplifying the assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple shell assemblies are manually inserted into a housing at the same time, then the assembly process can be completed, but it is difficult to maintain the positional relation and fix the shell assemblies securely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidpositional relation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The housing includes engagement portions formed in advance on the inner surfaces of the insertion holes, positioned closer to obliquely-adjacent insertion holes. These pre-formed engagement portions guide the shell assemblies into correct positions and maintain their spatial relationships during the insertion process, enabling secure fixation without requiring complex manual alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If a simple fixation method is used, then the assembly process is simplified, but the securing strength and pulling-out bearing force are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation simplicityVSAvoidpulling-out bearing force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation mechanism is divided into two functional segments: engagement portions that provide initial positioning and guidance, and retainers that provide strong locking force. The retainers include claws that engage with grooves on the housing and concave portions that contact the flanges of shell assemblies. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both simple operation and high strength, as each component performs its specific function without requiring complex integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple retainers are used to secure shell assemblies, then the fixation strength is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation securityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs multiple tasks: the claw engages with grooves on the housing to provide anchoring, the concave portions contact the flanges of shell assemblies to prevent disengagement, and the overall structure maintains the positional relationships between multiple shell assemblies. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4099512B1Multiple coaxial connector
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 HOSIDEN CORP
  • EP4099512B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4099512B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4099512B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shell assembly includes a shell including a depression and a flange, which go around a circumference of the shell, and the shell assemblies are arranged in N rows × M columns and fixed to a housing. The housing includes: N×M pieces of insertion holes into which respective ends of the shell assemblies are inserted; an engagement portion that is formed on an inner surface of each of the insertion holes on a position, which is closer to an obliquely-adjacent insertion hole of the insertion holes, and is engaged with the depression; and a slit that is formed by cutting the housing in a direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the insertion holes and includes a first groove and a second groove formed on an inner surface thereof.