Gripping Sleeve for Electrical Connector Torque Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Connector assemblies often suffer from loose connections that fail to provide a positive contact, leading to signal leakage and degraded performance, and users struggle to adequately grasp the nut portion for proper mating, increasing the likelihood of accidental disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly with a sleeve featuring an outer gripping surface and an inner bore that ensnares and retains the connector, allowing for improved torque application and secure engagement with a mating connector, reducing the risk of loose connections and enhancing user grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nut portion is used for connection, then the connector can be mated to its counterpart, but the connection becomes loose and fails to provide positive contact
Solution Approach 1:
A gripping sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the user's hand and the nut portion. The sleeve features an outer gripping surface with friction-enhancing patterns (knurling, ridges, or grooves) that provide superior grip, allowing the user to apply adequate torque to achieve and maintain a secure threaded connection without the connection becoming loose
2Volume of moving object
If the nut portion is small or difficult to grasp, then the connector assembly is more compact, but the user cannot adequately grasp it for proper mating
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping sleeve extends the effective gripping diameter by adding a dimensional element around the nut portion. Instead of trying to grip the small nut directly, the user grips the larger-diameter sleeve that envelops the nut, providing leverage and control while maintaining the compact connector design
3Ease of manufacture
If adequate gripping torque cannot be applied, then the connector assembly is easier to assemble, but the connection becomes loose and may separate accidentally
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping sleeve replaces the direct mechanical grip on a small nut portion with a modified friction-based grip system. The outer gripping surface incorporates friction-enhancing patterns (knurling, ridges, or grooves) that increase the coefficient of friction between the user's fingers and the sleeve, enabling adequate torque application without complex assembly procedures
4Ease of operation
If a loose connection occurs, then the connector assembly is easier to disassemble, but signal leakage and degraded performance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping sleeve enables preliminary proper tightening by providing the necessary grip control to achieve full thread engagement and a secure connection in the first place. By ensuring adequate torque can be applied during assembly, the sleeve prevents the occurrence of loose connections that would compromise signal integrity
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a sleeve. The electrical connector has opposite first and second ends. The first end is rotatable with respect to the second end and configured to couple to a mating connector. The second end is configured to terminate a cable. The sleeve has an outer gripping surface, and an inner bore for receiving the electrical connector such that the sleeve and the first end of the connector are rotatable together.