Connector Cover With Guide Suppressing Sealing Member Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors with rubber plugs face deformation and reduced waterproofing when wires are bent near the connector housing due to insufficient wiring space or external forces, as they lack structural elements to maintain the sealing member's position effectively.
Innovation Solution
The connector design incorporates a cover with holding walls and a guide that contacts the wire draw-out surface, ensuring the sealing member is properly positioned and secured, even when wires are bent, using a guide with tapered portions to correct misalignment and locks to maintain the holding walls' position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional connector with no holding wall is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing member deforms when wires are bent, reducing waterproofing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into functional segments: the guide portion with holding walls for wire positioning, the tapered portion for alignment, and the lock for securing. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently, preventing sealing member deformation while maintaining overall structural coherence
Solution Approach 2:
The holding walls are positioned to preliminarily guide and constrain the wire in a straight orientation before the sealing member is fully inserted. This preliminary action prevents wire bending that would cause sealing member deformation, ensuring waterproofing is maintained from the outset
2Reliability
If the wire is pulled out straight for a certain length to suppress sealing member deformation, then the waterproofing function is improved, but the wiring space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide with holding walls acts as an intermediary structure between the wire and the sealing member. It provides mechanical guidance and constraint, allowing the wire to be properly positioned without requiring excessive pull-out length, thus solving the conflict between compactness and sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The holding walls change the spatial parameters of wire positioning by providing vertical and lateral constraints. This transforms the wire's degrees of freedom, allowing effective sealing with reduced wire pull-out length while maintaining waterproofing integrity
3Ease of operation
If the holding wall is made flexible to accommodate wire position variations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the wire may not be held perpendicular to the wire pull-out surface, causing sealing member deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism provides dynamic adjustment capability. During assembly, it allows flexibility for wire position variations, but once engaged, it locks into a fixed position that ensures precise wire alignment perpendicular to the pull-out surface, preventing sealing member deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement between the lock and lock receiving portion provides mechanical feedback that confirms proper wire alignment. When the wire is correctly positioned, the lock engages smoothly; misalignment prevents engagement, providing immediate feedback to correct the positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes wires (10), a connector housing (30) to hold ends of the wires (10), sealing members mounted on the wires (10) to seal clearances between the connector housing (30) and the wires (10), and a cover (40) assembled with the connector housing (30) to cover the wires (10). The connector housing (30) has a wire pull-out surface (34F1) and cavities (35) open in the wire pull-out surface (34F1) to accommodate ends of the wires (10) and the sealing members inside. The sealing member has a wire draw-out surface (20F) and includes a wire insertion hole (21) open in the wire draw-out surface (20F). The wire (10) is inserted into the wire insertion hole (21). The cover (40) includes a cover body (41) to cover the wires (10) and guides (71) extend from the cover body (41) for contacting the wire draw-out surfaces (20F) and guiding the wires (10).