Insert-Molded Connector Bus Bar Positioning for Reliable Fastening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors face challenges in maintaining positional accuracy of bus bars due to flow pressure during the molding process, leading to potential displacement and improper connection between terminals and bus bars.

Innovation Solution

The connector design incorporates recessed portions on the bus bars engaged with the molding die's inner surface, reducing positional deviation and enhancing accuracy, while the bus bars are insert-molded in a housing with grooves to minimize resin shrinkage and maintain precise gap dimensions between fastened portions and nuts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bus bars are insert-molded in housing during molding process, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but positional deviation of bus bars occurs due to flow pressure of molten resin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidpositional accuracy of bus bar
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning protrusions are provided on the bus bars before the insert molding process. These positioning protrusions engage with corresponding positioning recesses in the molding die, establishing precise positions in advance before the molten resin is injected, thereby preventing positional deviation during the molding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning protrusions and positioning recesses act as intermediary elements between the bus bars and the molding die. These intermediaries transmit and constrain the position of the bus bars, ensuring they remain at the correct positions while withstanding the flow pressure of the molten resin during injection molding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If positioning protrusions are provided on bus bars, then positional accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional accuracy of bus barVSAvoidconnector structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning protrusions are integrated directly onto the bus bars as part of their structure, and the positioning recesses are formed in the molding die. This merging of positioning functions into existing components avoids adding separate positioning devices, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while still achieving improved positional accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4075605B1connector
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP4075605B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4075605B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4075605B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A connector includes a resin housing to be assembled to a wall portion of a box-shaped body, a bus bar held by the housing and having a fastened portion that is disposed inside the wall portion and is to be connected to a terminal fitting by fastening using a bolt, and a nut held by the housing with a gap between the nut and the fastened portion, the gap allowing insertion of the terminal fitting and engaged with the bolt to fasten the fastened portion and the terminal fitting inserted into the gap together. In the bus bar, a recessed portion recessed such that the bus bar is cut off is provided inside the wall portion. The recessed is exposed to an outside of the housing without being covered with a resin constituting the housing.