Connector Aligning Plate Locking Mechanism for Load Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors with aligning plates face issues where the aligning plate is easily displaced when a large load is applied, and it is difficult to remove the aligning plate once it is mounted, leading to instability and mounting challenges.
Innovation Solution
A connector design that includes a male connector, a female connector, and an aligning plate with an engaged portion and a locked portion, where the aligning plate is securely locked to prevent movement towards the male connector under load and can be easily removed by engaging the female connector's engaging portion with the aligning plate's engaged portion, allowing for controlled removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the aligning plate is temporarily locked to the male connector using a simple locking portion, then the mounting process is simple and quick, but the aligning plate is easily displaced when a large load is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two distinct portions: a temporary locking portion for initial mounting and a locked portion for final secure locking. This segmentation allows the aligning plate to be quickly positioned temporarily, then securely locked when loads are applied, resolving the contradiction between mounting simplicity and load resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary locking portion enables preliminary positioning of the aligning plate before final locking. This preliminary action allows the plate to be quickly mounted in place, and then the locked portion engages to provide secure load-resistant locking, addressing both mounting ease and reliability requirements.
2Reliability
If the aligning plate is securely locked to prevent movement under load, then the reliability under load is improved, but it becomes difficult to remove the aligning plate once mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into a temporary locking portion and a locked portion. The locked portion provides secure load-resistant locking, while the temporary locking portion can be easily released by the female connector during removal, thus maintaining both reliability under load and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The female connector acts as an intermediary tool for removal. Its engaging portion interacts with the temporary locking portion of the aligning plate, allowing the locked aligning plate to be easily removed through the female connector without requiring direct manipulation of the locked portion itself.
3Device complexity
If the aligning plate structure is simplified for easy mounting, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability under load decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning plate's locking structure is segmented into two functional portions: temporary locking for simple mounting and locked portion for stable load-bearing. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while ensuring stability under load through the dual-port ion design.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions from a static simple lock to a dynamic two-stage system. The temporary locking portion facilitates easy mounting, then the locked portion engages to provide stable load resistance, allowing the structure to adapt its characteristics based on the operational stage.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a connector that has a male connector that includes a male terminal and a locking section, an aligning plate that engages with the male terminal in order to protect the male terminal, that is freely movable with respect to the male terminal, that is provided with an engaged portion and a locked portion that is provided to a surface on the proximal end side of the male terminal, and that is configured so that movement toward the proximal end side of the male terminal is blocked in a state in which the aligning plate is provisionally mounted on the male connector; and a female connector that has an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion of the aligning plate when the female connector is removed from the male connector, and that moves together with the aligning plate in a direction leading away from the male connector.