Plug Connector Protective Cover With Probe Access for Axial Position Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical plug-in connectors with protection devices for contact elements face challenges in providing mechanical protection while allowing precise determination of the axial position of the contact elements, often requiring complex and space-consuming visual inspection or large viewing windows that affect electrical properties.
Innovation Solution
A protection device with a protective cover that has an access opening and measuring access points allows for the detection of the axial position of contact elements without compromising mechanical protection, using a measuring probe to access the end face through these points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective cover completely covers the end face of the contact element, then mechanical protection is improved, but accessibility for measurement is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is segmented by providing separate access openings and measuring access points in its surface. This allows the cover to maintain complete coverage for mechanical protection while creating specific localized openings that enable measurement access without compromising overall protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover has different properties at different locations: most of the surface remains closed for protection, while specific localized areas have access openings and measuring access points. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of mechanical protection and measurement accessibility.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a viewing window is provided for visual inspection, then measurement capability is improved, but installation space and electrical properties are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual inspection methods (optical/mechanical viewing windows) with tactile measurement methods. Measuring probes with sensors detect axial position through measuring access points, substituting the need for large viewing windows with small access points that accommodate probes rather than optical lines of sight.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement approach changes from optical parameters (visual inspection through windows) to tactile/positional parameters (axial position detection via probes). This parameter change allows measurement through small access points rather than requiring large viewing areas.
3Area of stationary object
If the protective cover is made compact, then installation space is improved, but measurement access is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides multiple measuring access points distributed in different locations and orientations on the protective cover surface. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions ensures that at least one access point remains accessible for measurement regardless of the connector's orientation or assembly constraints, maintaining ease of operation in a compact design.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a protection device (8) for mechanically protecting at least one contact element (4, 5) of an electrical plug-in connector (1), having a protective cover (9) for covering an end face (10) of the contact element (4, 5). The protective cover (9) has an access opening (11) for passing through a mating contact element of an electrical mating plug-in connector in order to electrically and mechanically connect the mating contact element to the contact element (4, 5). It is provided that the protective cover (9) has in addition to the access opening (11) at least one measuring access point (12), through which a measuring tip of a measuring probe (13) can be passed in order to contact the end face (10) of the contact element (4, 5) for detecting its axial position (PA) by measurement.