Electrical Connector Housing Locking Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in maintaining sufficient retention force between the front housing and main housing during disconnection, especially in sealed applications with multiple channels, which can lead to leakage risks due to complex moulding processes and interference with peripheral seals.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates locking means, such as hooks and harpoons, arranged between contact sockets or guide sockets to enhance retention force, allowing for modular adaptation of quantity and size, and integrated into the moulding process without additional complexity, ensuring proper support for peripheral seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If locking means are arranged on the periphery of the front housing to hook onto the main housing, then retention force between front housing and main housing is improved, but the peripheral seal support surface is compromised and leakage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are relocated from the peripheral region to the interior region of the front housing, specifically arranged between contact sockets. This dimensional relocation resolves the conflict by maintaining retention force functionality while eliminating interference with the peripheral seal support surface, thus preserving seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means act as an intermediary retention mechanism positioned within the interior space between contact sockets. This intermediary placement provides the necessary retention force between front housing and main housing without directly interfering with the peripheral seal interface, effectively mediating between retention requirements and seal integrity.
2Quantity of substance
If the connector housing comprises multiple parts with complex moulding techniques, then the number of channels can be increased, but the moulding process complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are integrated directly into the front housing structure during the moulding process, merging the retention function with the housing body. This integration eliminates the need for separate retention components and simplifies the moulding process, allowing for increased number of channels without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The front housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains contact sockets for electrical connections, and incorporates locking means for retention. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall moulding process while accommodating multiple channels.
3Stability of the object's composition
If retention hooks are arranged on the periphery of the front housing, then the front housing can be locked to the main housing, but the peripheral seal support surface is crossed by moulding elements creating seam lines and burrs
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are positioned in the interior dimension between contact sockets rather than on the peripheral surface. This dimensional relocation maintains locking stability through engagement with the main housing while completely avoiding the peripheral seal support surface, thus eliminating seam lines and burrs that would compromise manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a front housing of an electrical connector, particularly for sealed applications, said front housing being designed to be connected to a base and being configured to be at least partially received in a main housing of said electrical connector, said front housing comprising: at least one locking means configured to engage a corresponding locking zone of said main housing so as to lock said front housing to said main housing, and said front housing further comprising a plurality of contact sockets designed to each receive an electrical conductor to connect to said base. The invention further relates to a main electrical connector housing, to an electrical connector, to a base and to an electrical connector assembly.