Connector Guide Ribs Restrict Rotation and Fitting Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors for electric wire terminals experience increased fitting force due to lack of proper clearance between the fitting hood and regulation projections, leading to restricted relative rotational movement and potential misalignment.

Innovation Solution

The connector design incorporates paired guide grooves on the female connector's inner hood with regulation projections on the bottom surfaces and paired guide ribs on the male connector's outer periphery, which restricts relative rotational and vertical movements, maintaining a proper clearance to inhibit excessive fitting force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the female connector housing is elastically expanded and regulation projections are brought into contact with the fitting hood to restrict relative rotational movement, then the rotational movement restriction is improved, but the fitting force increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelative rotational movement restrictionVSAvoidfitting force

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The regulation mechanism is segmented into two distinct functional components: guide ribs for rotational movement restriction and regulation projections for vertical/transverse movement control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, preventing the regulation projections from interfering with rotational restriction while maintaining proper clearance to reduce fitting force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotational movement restriction function is extracted from the regulation projections and assigned to the guide ribs. This extraction allows the regulation projections to focus solely on vertical and transverse movement regulation, eliminating their involvement in rotational restriction and thereby preventing excessive fitting force generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the regulation projections are provided inside the female connector housing, then the relative vertical and transverse movement is regulated, but the clearance gap between the fitting hood and regulation projections causes increased fitting force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelative vertical and transverse movement regulationVSAvoidfitting force

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ribs act as an intermediary element between the fitting hood and the regulation projections. They provide a dedicated interface for rotational movement control, allowing the regulation projections to maintain proper clearance from the fitting hood while still effectively regulating vertical and transverse movements through their interaction with the guide ribs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9118137B2Connector capable of restricting a relative rotational movement between female and male connectors

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A connector includes a female connector and a male connector fitted in a hood of the female connector. The female connector includes: paired guide grooves either provided at opposed positions on an inside wall of the hood; and regulation projections either provided on bottom surfaces of the paired guide grooves. The male connector includes paired guide ribs provided on an outer periphery of the male connector. The paired guide ribs either positioned in the paired guide grooves with the female connector and the male connector being fitted together regulate a relative rotational movement between the female and male connector. The regulation projections either in contact with the paired guide ribs regulate a relative vertical and transverse movement between the female and male connectors.