Electric Connector Damping Portion Asymmetry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric connectors are inefficient in damping vibrations across multiple axes, particularly lacking effectiveness in transverse and torsional directions.

Innovation Solution

The electric connector features a damping portion with a single side wall connecting parallel bottom and top walls, providing effective damping in longitudinal, transverse, vertical, and torsional directions through asymmetric design and spring contact elements, eliminating the need for a second retaining side wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a Z-shaped spring element is used for vibration damping, then longitudinal and vertical vibration damping is improved, but transverse vibration damping effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration damping effectivenessVSAvoidtransverse vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping portion uses an asymmetric structure with a single side wall instead of symmetric double side walls. This asymmetric configuration creates different stiffness characteristics in different directions, enabling effective damping in longitudinal, transverse, vertical, and torsional directions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between longitudinal/vertical damping and transverse damping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Strength

If a box-like element with two opposed side walls is used, then structural rigidity is improved, but transverse and longitudinal vibration damping effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidvibration in longitudinal and transverse direction

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the symmetric box-like structure with an asymmetric damping portion having only one side wall. This asymmetric design reduces overall structural rigidity but creates favorable stiffness characteristics that enable effective vibration damping in multiple directions including longitudinal and transverse directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The damping portion is designed with localized flexibility through the single side wall configuration, allowing different parts of the connector to have different mechanical properties. The bottom and top walls maintain connection while the single side wall provides localized damping capability without compromising overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a damping portion with a single side wall is used, then transverse and torsional vibration damping is improved, but structural complexity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransverse and torsional vibrationVSAvoiddamping portion structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential damping function by using a single side wall instead of multiple side walls. This simplification removes unnecessary structural elements while maintaining or improving vibration damping effectiveness in transverse and torsional directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The single side wall damping portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides damping in longitudinal, transverse, vertical, and torsional directions, and also maintains structural connection between attachment and connecting portions. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while achieving comprehensive vibration protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 achieves comprehensive vibration damping across multiple axes, enhancing the reliability and stability of the electrical connection by allowing for compressive, bending, and torsional stress distribution.

Implementation Method 1

The spring element has an approximately Z-shaped longitudinal section... affords vibration damping along the longitudinal axis of the connector and along the vertical axis perpendicular thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

allowing for compressive, bending, and torsional stress distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBending stress: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

allowing for compressive, bending, and torsional stress distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressive stress: Compression

Implementation Method 4

allowing for compressive, bending, and torsional stress distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsional stress: Shear Stress

Data Source

PatentUS7731550B2Electric connector

Publication Date: 2010.06.08 MTA SPA

AI summary

An electric connector (1) has an attachment portion (2) for attachment to an electric conductor, a connecting portion (3) for connection to a mating electric connector, and a damping portion (4) which joins the attachment portion (2) to the connecting portion (3) and comprises a bottom wall (5) connected to one of the two portions and a top wall (6) connected to the other of the two portions. The bottom wall (5) and the top wall (6) lie on advantageously parallel planes, and are connected by one side wall (7).