Connector Housing Offset Wall for Thermal Expansion Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Housings for connector parts in electrical devices face challenges in maintaining a secure and reliable connection under changing environmental conditions, particularly due to differing thermal expansion coefficients between materials like plastic and metal, leading to excessive forces during temperature changes.

Innovation Solution

The housing design features a cylindrical insertion opening with a first wall section and a second wall section offset radially outward, providing a larger opening width, allowing for slight movement of the connector part to compensate for thermal expansion differences, ensuring a secure and reliable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the housing and shielding plate are made of different materials (plastic and metal) to achieve electromagnetic shielding, then electromagnetic shielding effectiveness is improved, but thermal expansion differences cause excessive forces on connector parts during temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic shielding effectivenessVSAvoidforce on connector part
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic compensation mechanism where the connector part can move axially within the housing. The second wall section is offset outwards relative to the first wall section, creating a gap that allows the connector part to move in response to thermal expansion differences between the plastic housing and metal shielding plate, thereby preventing excessive force buildup while maintaining electromagnetic shielding effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the housing wall structure by offsetting the second wall section outwards relative to the first wall section. This creates a variable gap distance that accommodates thermal expansion, transforming the rigid connection into a more flexible arrangement that can absorb dimensional changes without generating excessive forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the connector part is tightly fixed in the insertion opening to ensure secure connection, then connection reliability is improved, but thermal expansion differences cause excessive forces during temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidforce on connector part
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static, rigid connection into a dynamic system where the connector part can move axially within the housing. The offset second wall section creates a controlled gap that allows thermal expansion compensation while maintaining connection reliability through form-fitting engagement of coding projections and grooves at predefined angular positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the housing structure is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion differences cause position changes between shielding plate and housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidposition compensation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces controlled dynamic movement capability within the rigid housing structure. The offset second wall section creates a gap that allows the connector part to move axially, enabling position compensation for thermal expansion while maintaining the overall structural stability of the housing through its rigid framework and coding mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables secure and reliable connection of the connector part to the housing while allowing for movement to compensate for thermal expansion, preventing excessive forces and maintaining a stable electrical connection under varying environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the material of the housing and the material of the shielding plate have significantly different thermal expansion coefficients, which means that changing environmental conditions can lead to different expansions or shrinkages on the housing on the one hand and the shielding plate on the other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3189564B1Housing for connecting to a plug connector part
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3189564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3189564B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3189564B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A

AI summary

The invention relates to a housing for connecting to a plug connector part, comprising a plug-in opening, into which the plug connector part can be plugged in a plug-in direction, a wall which surrounds the plug-in opening, and a coding device which has at least one coding projection that protrudes inwards from the wall into the plug-in opening transversely to the plug-in direction and is designed to allow the plug connector part to be plugged into the plug-in opening in a specified angular position about the plug-in direction. According to the invention, the wall (22) has a first wall portion (220) and a second wall portion (221) which adjoins the first wall portion (220) axially in the plug-in direction (E). The second wall portion (221) is offset outwards relative to the first wall portion (220) in a direction transverse to the plug-in direction (E).