Connector Housing Cable Strain Relief for Cleanroom Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of connectors in clean room environments is difficult and time-consuming due to the need for protective clothing, which complicates the connection of production machines via connectors, leading to delays in the production process.

Innovation Solution

A connector housing with a cable connection element that allows for easy attachment and strain relief of cables, featuring offset fastening surfaces and an open design to facilitate assembly, enabling direct access and efficient cable management without structural obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If connectors are assembled in clean room environments with protective clothing, then media tightness and clean room protection are ensured, but assembly time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia tightnessVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be assembled separately. The cable connection element is pre-assembled with cables in the first housing part, which can then be quickly coupled with the second housing part in the clean room environment. This segmentation allows partial assembly outside the clean room, reducing assembly time while maintaining media tightness through the coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cable connection element and cables are prepared and pre-assembled in the first housing part before entering the clean room environment. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of assembly operations that must be performed while wearing protective clothing, thereby increasing productivity without compromising the media tightness requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If connectors are assembled in clean room environments with protective clothing, then clean room protection is maintained, but assembly complexity increases and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclean room protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the connector into two housing parts with the cable connection element pre-assembled in the first part, the overall assembly complexity is reduced. The modular design allows for simpler assembly operations in the clean room environment while maintaining protective requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cable connection element is designed with self-aligning features and integrated mounting structures that reduce the skill level and time required for assembly operations. The element automatically positions itself during assembly, reducing the complexity of manual alignment and fastening operations that would otherwise require complex procedures while wearing protective clothing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If traditional cable fixation methods are used, then cable securing is achieved, but assembly time increases and ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable securingVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable connection element features self-aligning mounting surfaces and integrated fastening mechanisms that automatically position cables during assembly. This eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures and manual adjustment, making the assembly process easier while maintaining strong cable securing through the integrated clamping structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cable connection element combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: cable clamping, strain relief, and electrical connection. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate assembly steps and components, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining secure cable fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cables are connected to the connector, then functionality is improved, but assembly time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable connection capacityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable connection element provides multiple independent mounting surfaces and clamping positions that can accommodate multiple cables simultaneously. The segmented design allows each cable to be independently secured without interfering with others, enabling parallel assembly operations and maintaining productivity even when connecting multiple cables.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cable connection element is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different cable types and configurations through its multiple mounting surfaces and adjustable clamping mechanisms. This multi-functionality allows a single component to handle various cable connection scenarios, improving adaptability without requiring additional assembly steps for different cable configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3522307B1Cable strain relief and shield fixing in a connector housing
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 HARTING ELECTRIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3522307B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3522307B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a connector housing (1) which has a cable connection element (3) to which at least two cables, at least a first cable (4) and at least a second cable (4'), can be attached for shield connection and/or strain relief, wherein the cable connection element (3) has different mounting levels (E1, E2) for the at least first cable (4) and the at least second cable (4'). This allows a connector with such a connector housing (1) to be assembled in cleanroom environments.