Electrical Connector Cam Part Locking Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors with elliptical cam parts experience poor locking and contact pressure issues, leading to unreliable retention of signal transmission media when the actuator is in the open position, as the cam part can be easily dislodged by external forces.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector incorporates a cam part with an engaging surface that abuts the cam lock protrusion and a holding surface that contacts the cam restricting edge, preventing the cam part from disengaging when the actuator is in the open position, thereby enhancing locking engagement and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cam part is formed with a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape to enable rotation between stationary and movable beams, then the actuator can be pivoted between open and closed positions, but the contact pressure of the cam part on the conductive contacts becomes small when the actuator is in the open position, causing poor locking reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The cam part is designed with different surface characteristics at different locations: the first surface (major axis side) maintains the elliptical shape for rotation, while the second surface (minor axis side) is formed as a flat engaging surface that contacts the cam lock protrusion. This local differentiation ensures reliable locking in the open position without compromising the pivoting function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cam rotation recesses are formed to accommodate the rotating cam part, then the cam part can rotate between stationary and movable beams, but the recesses hold the cam part less firmly when the actuator is in the open position due to reduced contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The cam lock protrusion acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the cam rotation recesses and the cam part. When the actuator is in the open position, the cam lock protrusion engages with the flat engaging surface of the cam part, providing additional retention force and preventing the cam part from disengaging from the cam rotation recesses.
3Reliability
If the cam lock protrusions are provided to lock the cam part when it attempts to come out of cam rotation recesses, then locking is achieved in the closed position, but the locking action is insufficient to prevent cam part disengagement when the actuator is in the open position
Solution Approach 1:
The flat engaging surface is designed to contact the cam lock protrusion in advance when the actuator approaches the open position. This preliminary engagement creates a counteracting force that prevents the cam part from disengaging due to external forces applied to the actuator in the open position, supplementing the cam lock protrusions' locking action.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents the cam part from coming out of the connector, even under external forces, significantly improving the reliability and quality of the electrical connector at a lower cost.
Implementation Method 1
a cam part causing the contact to rotate. The contact has a first and a second contact beams that are a pair of beam-like members opposite each other via a signal transmission medium inserted into the insulating housing. The first contact beam has a cam rotation recess at one end accommodating the cam part rotatably.
Implementation Method 2
When the actuator in this 'closed position' is pivoted back to the original 'open position' by, for example, being pulled up, the conductive contacts move by their own resilient restorative force to separate from the signal transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC), so that the signal transmission medium is released.
Data Source
AI summary
A simple structure capable of preventing a cam part of an actuator from coming out of position when the actuator is in an open position. The cam part 12a of the actuator 12 for rotating contacts 13 mounted inside an insulating housing 11 is provided with an engaging surface 12a2 which is a flat surface that faces cam lock protrusions 13a2 of second contact beams 13a when the actuator 12 is in the open position. Upon an external force or the like acting on the cam part 12a to come out of cam rotation recesses 13b3 when the actuator 12 is in the open position, the engaging surface 12a2 of the cam part 12a abuts on and makes locking engagement with the cam lock protrusions 13a2, so that the actuator 12 is prevented from coming out of position.