Connector Coil Spring Shaping for Stable Groove Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coil springs used in connectors are prone to displacement due to vibration or impact, and their natural shape can cause interference with the groove they are housed in, leading to potential damage and hindered insertion.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a longitudinal component within the coil spring that runs along its longitudinal axis, biasing it into a shape different from its natural state, ensuring it fits snugly within a groove and providing mechanical and electrical connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coil spring is placed in a groove without a longitudinal component, then the coil spring can provide electrical contact and RF shielding, but the coil spring is prone to displacement due to vibration or impact and may come out of the groove
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal component is nested inside the coil spring, with the longitudinal component having a smaller cross-sectional area than the inner diameter of the coil spring. This allows the longitudinal component to be housed within the coil spring structure, providing stabilization without significantly increasing external complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal component acts as an intermediary element between the coil spring and the groove. It provides a stable interface that prevents the coil spring from displacing out of the groove while maintaining the electrical contact and RF shielding functions
2Ease of manufacture
If the coil spring is in its natural shape, then the coil spring can be easily manufactured, but the natural shape can cause interference with the groove, leading to potential damage and hindered insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal component is configured to bias the coil spring into a pre-deformed shape that is different from its natural shape. This preliminary shaping prevents the coil spring from interfering with the groove during insertion and operation, avoiding potential damage before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The coil spring is deliberately deformed from its natural shape to a biased shape through the longitudinal component. This change in geometric parameters allows the coil spring to fit properly into the groove without interference, while the material's elastic properties enable it to maintain this biased configuration
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
The coil spring is stabilized within the groove, preventing damage and facilitating insertion, while maintaining electrical contact and radio frequency shielding continuity.
Implementation Method 1
The longitudinal component is in contact with the coil spring and biases the coil spring into a shape different from its natural shape
Data Source
AI summary
A coil spring has a longitudinal component located within the coil spring, where the longitudinal component runs generally along the direction of a longitudinal axis of the coil spring and where the longitudinal component is in contact with the coil spring, characterized in that the longitudinal component biases the coil spring into a shape different from its natural shape and/or from the shape into which the coil spring is biased by a groove in which the coil spring is accommodated. Moreover, the coil spring may be shaped by means of the described longitudinal component. Further, a connector part is disclosed that has the described coil spring and is configured for being connected with a mating connector part. And finally, a connector is disclosed which has the described connector part and the mating connector part.