Concentric Plug Connector Housing for Modular Contact Carriers

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical plug connectors require numerous housing and contact carrier combinations due to differing mechanical and electrical requirements, leading to high production and storage costs, and complex assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

A plug connector design featuring a concentric housing with a cylindrical receiving opening for the contact carrier, allowing for standardized housing design focused on mechanical stability and independent contact carrier design for electrical requirements, with guide structures and a latching/snap connection mechanism for secure assembly and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple housing variants and contact carrier combinations are used to meet different mechanical and electrical requirements, then the plug connectors can be customized for specific applications, but the production and storage costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization for specific applicationsVSAvoidproduction and storage costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The plug connector is divided into two independent parts: a standardized housing and a customizable contact carrier. The housing contains a receiving opening that can accommodate different contact carrier designs, allowing mechanical stability to be standardized while electrical configurations can be customized by changing only the contact carrier component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed as a universal component with a receiving opening that can accept multiple types of contact carriers. This standardized housing can be used across different applications by simply changing the contact carrier, reducing the need for multiple housing variants and lowering production and storage costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple housing variants are used for different contact arrangements, then specific electrical requirements can be met, but the structural complexity and number of components increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferent contact arrangementsVSAvoidnumber of housing variants

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plug connector is divided into two independent parts: a standardized housing and a customizable contact carrier. The housing contains a receiving opening that can accommodate different contact carrier designs, allowing mechanical stability to be standardized while electrical configurations can be customized by changing only the contact carrier component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed as a universal component with a receiving opening that can accept multiple types of contact carriers. This standardized housing can be used across different applications by simply changing the contact carrier, reducing the need for multiple housing variants and lowering production and storage costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If the housing design is optimized for mechanical stability, then the plug connection can be established and released easily, but the electrical requirements of the contact carrier cannot be optimized independently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidindependent optimization of electrical requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The plug connector is divided into two independent parts: a standardized housing and a customizable contact carrier. The housing contains a receiving opening that can accommodate different contact carrier designs, allowing mechanical stability to be standardized while electrical configurations can be customized by changing only the contact carrier component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed as a universal component with a receiving opening that can accept multiple types of contact carriers. This standardized housing can be used across different applications by simply changing the contact carrier, reducing the need for multiple housing variants and lowering production and storage costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12184007B2Electric plug connector

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 NEUTRIK

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an electrical plug connector, with a housing with at least one insertion opening for a complementary plug connector and a contact carrier, arranged in the housing, for the electrical contacts accessible through the insertion opening(s). Two concentrically arranged housing parts are connected to one another via a base on the end opposite the at least one insertion opening. Between the housing parts, an annular intermediate space is formed as an annular receiving opening for the plug extension of a complementary plug connector. A receiving space for the contact carrier is provided inside the internal housing part.