Connector Housing Elastic Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for wire harnesses in automobiles require a large number of components and increased size due to the complexity of aligning male and female housings, which complicates the fitting process.
Innovation Solution
The connector features an interconnecting portion with flat plate portions and mountain-shaped portions that can be elastically deformed to align the fitting centerlines of male and female housings, absorbing misalignment without increasing the number of components, through slits that enhance deformation and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a holder and clamp are used to align male and female housings, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the alignment function directly into the interconnecting portion of the housing by forming elastic deformation portions (flat plate portions and mountain-shaped portions) as integral parts of the housing structure itself, eliminating the need for separate holder and clamp components while maintaining alignment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformation portions of the housing automatically perform the alignment function through their own elastic deformation when the connectors are being mated, without requiring external alignment mechanisms or additional components to facilitate the alignment process
2Manufacturing precision
If a holder and clamp are used to align male and female housings, then alignment accuracy is improved, but connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is merged into the housing structure itself through the elastic deformation portions, eliminating the need for separate holder and clamp components that would increase the overall connector size
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are used for alignment, then alignment capability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment components are merged into the housing structure as integral elastic deformation portions, reducing the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining alignment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The interconnecting portion is segmented into multiple elastic deformation portions (flat plate portions and mountain-shaped portions) that can independently deform to accommodate misalignment, providing alignment capability through distributed elastic elements within the integrated structure
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
This design allows for simple alignment and smooth fitting of connectors with reduced component count, effectively addressing the misalignment issues in existing connectors while maintaining electrical and mechanical connections.
Implementation Method 1
the interconnecting portion can be elastically deformed so as to displace or move the body portion toward and away from the inner surface of the tubular portion
Data Source
AI summary
A connector, comprises a plurality of metal terminals; and a connector housing including a box-like body portion for receiving the plurality of metal terminals, a tubular portion within which the body portion is disposed, and an interconnecting portion interconnecting end portions of the body portion and the tubular portion, wherein the interconnecting portion includes a plurality of flat plate portions spaced from one another in a direction of a periphery of each of the tubular portion and the body portion, and a mountain-shaped portion projecting toward the inner side of the tubular portion, and the flat plate portions are smaller in thickness than the tubular portion.