Right-Angle Connector Blade Orientation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing right-angle electrical connectors face instability and laborious assembly due to the degree of freedom in up-down movement of blades, leading to inclined orientations during connector assembly.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates guiding grooves in the housing to restrict blade movement in the up-down direction, stabilizing the blades' orientation by using guiding and stopper portions to ensure proper alignment and insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If blades are allowed to move freely in the up-down direction within holding portions, then ease of blade insertion is improved, but blade orientation stability deteriorates leading to inclined orientations during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portions are designed with differentiated regions: guiding grooves provide constrained movement in specific areas to ensure proper blade orientation, while stopper portions allow free movement in other areas to facilitate easy insertion. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and orientation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Guiding grooves act as intermediary structures between the blade and the holding portion, providing a controlled path for blade insertion that maintains proper orientation while still allowing movement freedom for easy assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If guiding grooves are added to restrict blade movement, then blade orientation stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding grooves and stopper portions are merged into a single integrated housing structure, forming a unified holding portion that provides both guiding and stopping functions. This integration minimizes additional complexity while achieving the desired blade orientation stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If stopper portions are provided to restrict blade insertion depth, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper portions are designed to engage with the blade only after the blade has been inserted to the correct depth, allowing free movement during the insertion process and then providing a stopping mechanism at the precise position. This dynamic engagement maintains ease of operation while achieving manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Blades 20A to 20D are formed such that arm portions 31A to 31D of electroconductive elongated members 30A to 30D are retained in place with the help of insulating plates 50A-1 to 50D-2, a housing 10 has formed therein holding portions 17A to 17D allowing for the above-mentioned blades 20A to 20D to be inserted from the rear, said holding portions 17A to 17D have formed therein guiding portions 17A-1 to 17D-1 guiding the insertion of the above-mentioned blades 20A to 20D from the rear with the help of guiding grooves 17A-3 to 17D-3 extending in the forward-backward direction, and movement of the above-mentioned blades 20A to 20D in the up-down direction within the guiding grooves 17A-3 to 17D-3 is restricted.