Multi-Contact Connector Housing With Integrated U-Shaped Cable Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-contact connectors for aircraft on-board equipment lack effective shielding and secure mounting solutions, leading to inadequate electrical and mechanical connections.
Innovation Solution
A multi-contact connector housing with a conductive or insulating collar attachment portion and a removable shielding cap that provides U-shaped cross-section for cable attachment, along with an elastically deformable lug for snap-fastening and grounding, ensuring secure cable management and shielding without additional clamping pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a multi-contact connector uses a simple housing structure without integrated cable attachment features, then the housing is easier to manufacture, but cable management becomes complex and requires additional separate attachment pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable attachment function directly into the housing structure by forming a U-shaped attachment portion as an integral part of the housing body. This merging eliminates the need for separate attachment pieces while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the attachment portion is formed during the same injection molding process as the housing itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support, cable attachment, and grounding functionality through the integrated U-shaped attachment portion. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed while keeping the housing manufacturing process simple.
2Device complexity
If a multi-contact connector lacks an integrated shielding solution, then the device complexity is reduced, but electrical shielding and grounding effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shielding cap with the housing structure, where the cap is designed to fit over the housing body and provide electrical shielding. The integration is achieved through snap-fit connections using elastically deformable lugs that engage with corresponding features on the housing, creating a unified shielding assembly without requiring complex fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding cap incorporates elastically deformable lugs that automatically engage with the housing body through snap-fastening action. This self-service mechanism ensures proper positioning and electrical connection of the shielding cap without requiring additional clamping pieces or complex assembly procedures, thereby maintaining low device complexity while ensuring reliable shielding.
3Strength
If a multi-contact connector uses rigid fastening methods for mounting, then the connection strength is improved, but the ease of manual mounting and dismounting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a locking mechanism with a locking element that can move between locked and unlocked positions. The locking element features an elastically deformable lug that engages with a locking surface on the support structure, providing strong mechanical connection when locked. For unlocking, a small force applied to a button deforms the elastic lug, releasing the lock. This dynamic mechanism provides both strong connection and easy manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism utilizes elastic deformation of the deformable lug as the key parameter change. When the button is pressed, the lug deforms elastically to disengage from the locking surface, allowing unlocking. When released, the elastic recovery of the lug automatically re-engages the lock. This parameter change (elastic deformation) enables strong locking during normal operation while allowing easy manual unlocking when needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-contact connector uses separate clamping pieces for cable attachment, then the adaptability to different cable types is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cable attachment function directly into the housing structure by forming a U-shaped attachment portion as an integral part of the housing body. This merging eliminates the need for separate attachment pieces while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the attachment portion is formed during the same injection molding process as the housing itself.
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
The solution provides satisfactory shielding and grounding, simplifies cable management, and allows for easy manual mounting and dismounting of the connector housing on a support, ensuring reliable electrical connections and reduced risk of misplacement of components.
Implementation Method 1
the shielding cap comprises at least one elastically deformable lug arranged to cooperate with the housing body by snap-fastening in order to hold the shielding cap on the housing body
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a multi-contact connector housing (1) comprising a housing body having a cable attachment portion arranged to allow cables (92) to be attached to this portion, preferably using an attachment piece separate from the housing body, for example a conductive or insulating cable tie, the attachment portion protruding from the rear of the housing body and preferably having a substantially U-shaped cross-section.