Compression Snap Electrical Connector for Stranded Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for multistranded insulated wires often result in less than optimum physical and electrical connections due to torsional stress caused by helical twisting motions during connection.
Innovation Solution
The design features a connector body with grooves and a cap that compresses the conductor's strands between beveled surfaces, eliminating the need for twisting by advancing the cap into the body until the ridge seats in a groove, ensuring a secure connection without torsional stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a twisting motion is used to connect the cap onto the connector body, then the connection can be made without tools, but the multistranded conductor experiences torsional stress that degrades the physical and electrical connection quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the cap onto the body (conventional approach), the invention inverts the connection mechanism by having the cap slide axially onto the connector body through a bore. The ridge on the cap engages with grooves in the body during linear insertion, eliminating the twisting motion that causes conductor damage while maintaining tool-free operation.
2Strength
If the cap is advanced far into the bore to ensure secure connection, then connection strength improves, but the conductor may be over-compressed or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates a feedback mechanism through the ridge-groove engagement system. As the cap advances into the bore, the ridge on the cap engages with the grooves at a predetermined position, providing tactile and visual feedback that the correct compression depth has been reached. This prevents over-compression of the conductor while ensuring adequate compression for secure electrical connection.
3Reliability
If the bore diameter is reduced to improve connection security, then connection reliability improves, but the ease of inserting the conductor and cap deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the bore into different functional zones: an insertion zone with larger diameter that allows easy insertion of the cap and conductor, and a connection zone with smaller diameter that provides secure compression. The groove features are positioned to transition between these zones, enabling both easy insertion and reliable connection without compromising either function.
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 solution provides a secure, stress-free electrical connection by compressing the conductor's strands between beveled surfaces, enhancing both physical and electrical reliability.
Implementation Method 1
conductive strands of the stripped end of the conductor will be compressed between the inner beveled surface of the cap bore and the beveled surface on the conductive element in the body bore
Implementation Method 2
A ridge in the cap is adapted to fit into or register with the groove in the body bore
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.