Plug Connector Housing Assembly With Double Contact Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connection devices with connector housings often experience contact units becoming loose or mispositioned during installation or operation, leading to transmission problems or failure, especially in heavily loaded systems.
Innovation Solution
A housing assembly for a plug connector featuring a contact housing with a movable latching element and a securing element that includes a chock section and a lock section, providing double securing functions to prevent incorrect positioning and ensure reliable latching, with the securing element completely received in a securing receptacle to block movement and engage in a form-fit connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single latching element is used to secure the contact unit, then the device structure remains simple, but the contact unit may become loose or mispositioned during installation or operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two securing functions into a single integrated securing element: the chock section that blocks latching element movement and the lock section that provides form-fit connection with the contact unit. This merging approach increases reliability through dual securing while avoiding the complexity of adding a completely separate securing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing element is designed with multi-functionality, where the chock section performs the primary securing function by blocking latching element movement, and the lock section performs the secondary securing function through form-fit connection with the contact unit. This universal design allows one component to fulfill multiple securing roles.
2Ease of operation
If the latching element is made flexible to enable latching motion, then the latching operation becomes easier, but the flexural rigidity is compromised and the contact unit may become loose
Solution Approach 1:
The securing element is segmented into two distinct functional sections: the chock section that provides rigid blocking of the latching element to ensure positional stability, and the lock section that engages with the contact unit. This segmentation allows different parts to have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The chock section acts as an intermediary between the latching element and the contact chamber wall, providing the necessary mechanical support and blocking function without requiring the latching element itself to have high flexural rigidity. This mediator approach allows the latching element to remain flexible for easy operation while the chock section provides the structural strength needed to prevent loosening.
Data Source
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AI summary
A housing assembly (1) for a plug connector (8) comprises a contact housing (2) and a securing element (4), wherein the contact housing (2) comprises at least one contact chamber (22) for receiving a contact unit (12) of the plug connector (8), a latching element (58) movable between a latching position (60) and a release position (62), which, in the latching position (60), protrudes at least sectionally into the at least one contact chamber (22), and a securing receptacle (3) leading at least sectionally into the at least one contact chamber (22), which is configured to receive the securing element (4) at least partly, wherein the securing element (4) comprises at least one chock section (56) and at least one lock section (52), wherein, when the securing element (4) is completely received in the securing receptacle (34), a movement of the at least one latching element (58) from the latching position (60) in a direction away from the at least one contact chamber (22) is blocked by the at least one chock section (56) and the at least one lock section (52) protrudes at least partly from the securing receptacle (34) into the at least one contact chamber (22). The securing element (4) allows for a twofold securing of one and the same contact unit. Further, the invention relates to a plug connector (2) as well as connection device (22).