Connector Housing Lance Recess Stop Surface Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector housings face challenges in properly positioning and retaining contacts due to varying dimensions and material rigidity, leading to inadequate retention forces and positioning issues, especially in housings made from rigid materials like glass-filled resins.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lance receiving recess with a stop surface and lead-in surface within the contact receiving passageway, which cooperates with the contact's lance to ensure proper positioning and retention, regardless of the housing material's rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lance is made deflectable to allow insertion, then the contact can be inserted into the passageway, but the lance cannot properly position the contact when there is a large gap between the shoulder and the lance
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning element is introduced as an intermediary component between the lance and the contact. This positioning element extends into the gap between the lance shoulder and the contact, providing direct positioning contact to ensure accurate contact placement while allowing the lance to remain deflectable for insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is segmented from the lance structure itself and assigned to a separate positioning element. This allows the lance to maintain its deflectable insertion capability while the positioning element provides precise positioning, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and positioning accuracy.
2Force
If the housing material is made soft to allow lance displacement, then the lance can displace the housing material to provide sufficient retention force, but the housing structure becomes less rigid
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material properties are made non-uniform: the region where the lance interacts (contact receiving passageway area) is made softer to allow displacement and provide retention force, while the rest of the housing structure remains rigid. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing softness for retention and overall structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The material parameter (hardness/softness) is changed locally in the contact receiving passageway region to enable lance displacement and retention force generation, while maintaining rigid material properties in other housing regions to preserve overall structural strength.
3Strength
If the housing material is made rigid (glass filled resins) to maintain housing strength, then the housing structure is stronger, but the lance cannot displace or penetrate the housing material resulting in lower retention forces
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with non-uniform material properties: the contact receiving passageway region has softer material characteristics that allow lance displacement and generate retention force, while the main housing structure uses rigid glass-filled resin material for overall strength. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between housing strength and retention force.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the dimensions of the contact receiving passageway are made larger to accommodate dimensional variations, then more contacts can be accepted, but a large gap is provided between the shoulder and the lance preventing proper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning element is introduced as a mediator that spans the gap created by larger passageway dimensions. This positioning element provides direct contact with the lance and the contact, ensuring precise positioning is maintained even when the overall passageway dimensions are increased to accommodate dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is separated from the main passageway structure and implemented through a distinct positioning element. This segmentation allows the passageway to be sized for adaptability while the positioning element ensures precision, resolving the contradiction between contact acceptance versatility and positioning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector having a housing with at least one contact receiving passageway extending from an insertion face to a mating face. The contact receiving passageway has a wall extending about the perimeter of the contact receiving passageway. A contact is insertable into the contact receiving passageway from the insertion face toward the mating face. The contact has a mounting portion positioned in the contact receiving passageway. The contact has a lance which extends outward from the mounting portion. A recess extends from the contact receiving passageway into the wall of the contact receiving passageway. The recess has a stop surface and a lead-in surface. The lance cooperates with the stop surface of the recess to properly position and retain the contact in the at least one contact receiving passageway.