Electric Connector Guide Rib Prevents Housing Inclination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric connectors face issues where the inner housing can be deeply inserted in an inclined condition into the outer housing, leading to potential damage of metallic terminals due to the design of the lock projection's width, which either needs to be wide to prevent inclination or narrow to avoid terminal damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rib extending in the direction of insertion within the first housing and a guide space in the lock arm of the second housing to prevent incorrect insertion, along with an elastically deformable lock arm design that allows the lock projection to be released with minimal displacement, ensuring correct posture and avoiding terminal contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the lock projection is designed with a greater width to prevent inclination of the inner housing, then the stability of connection is improved, but the risk of terminal damage increases when inserted in inclined condition
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rib acts as an intermediary element between the lock projection and the guide groove. It provides a controlled interaction surface that guides the lock projection into the correct position, preventing both excessive inclination and deep insertion while avoiding direct contact between the lock projection and terminal portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding function is segmented from the lock projection itself and assigned to a separate guide rib structure. This segmentation allows the lock projection to maintain its locking function while the guide rib provides the inclination prevention function, resolving the conflict between stability and terminal protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lock projection is designed with a smaller width to avoid terminal damage, then the harm to terminals is reduced, but the inner housing becomes readily inclined when cables are pulled
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove serves as an intermediary structure that receives and guides the lock projection. It provides lateral constraints to prevent inclination while allowing the lock projection to maintain a smaller width, thus protecting terminals from damage during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from relying solely on the width of the lock projection (one-dimensional constraint) to using the guide groove structure (adding spatial dimensionality). The guide groove provides constraints in multiple directions, preventing inclination without requiring a wider lock projection, thereby protecting terminals.
3Length of stationary object
If the lock arm is made elastically deformable with minimal displacement for release, then the height of the connector is reduced, but the locking reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lock arm's material or structural parameters are optimized to provide high elastic modulus in the locking direction while allowing controlled deformation in the release direction. This parameter optimization enables minimal displacement for release while maintaining locking reliability, thereby reducing connector height without compromising function.
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
Prevents the inner housing from being inserted in an inclined condition, thereby preventing damage to metallic terminals and allowing for a reduced height design of the electric connector by enabling efficient lock projection release with minimal displacement.
Implementation Method 1
the lock arm being elastically deformable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
An electric connector includes a first connector including a first housing in which an inner space is formed, and a second connector including a second housing insertable into the inner space, the first housing including in the inner space a lock engagement portion, the second housing including a lock arm having a lock projection to be engaged with the lock engagement portion, the first housing including in the inner space at least one rib extending in a first direction in which the second housing is inserted into the inner space, the lock arm being formed with a guide space into which the rib is able to be inserted when the second housing is inserted into the inner space.