Female Connector Lance Locking to Suppress Terminal Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors allow for relative movement of female terminal fittings within the female connector housing due to gaps, leading to vibration and potential abnormal noise during vehicle travel.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a lance with a locking groove that elastically deforms to restrict movement of the female terminal fitting by generating friction between the female connector housing and the fitting, using a reaction force to press the tubular portion against the inner wall, thereby preventing vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gaps are provided between the tubular portion and the connector housing, then ease of assembly is improved, but relative movement and vibration of the female terminal fitting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lance is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt during assembly. The lance bends elastically to pass through the lance hole and then returns to its original shape to lock the female terminal fitting, providing both ease of assembly and stable positioning without permanent gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The lance changes its physical state from a bent configuration (during insertion) to a straight configuration (during locking). This parameter change allows the lance to transition from allowing movement during assembly to preventing movement during operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and stability.
2Reliability
If the lance is made elastically deformable, then the female terminal fitting can be securely locked, but insertion force requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lance is pre-bent in a specific direction before insertion. This preliminary action stores elastic energy and directs the deformation path, allowing the lance to smoothly pass through the lance hole and lock without requiring excessive insertion force, while still achieving reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformation of the lance acts as a cushioning mechanism during insertion. The lance absorbs the impact and resistance forces through controlled elastic deformation, preventing sudden force spikes and reducing the overall insertion force requirement while ensuring reliable locking.
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
Prevents vibration and abnormal noise, enhances durability by restricting relative movement, and improves manufacturing workability by maintaining proper insertion force without increasing the insertion effort.
Implementation Method 1
a lance that is elastically supported in a cantilever manner on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion... the horizontal surface of the lance can elastically come into contact with the outer wall of the tubular portion based on a reaction force caused by elastic deformation of the lance
Implementation Method 2
a locking groove lockable to an opening edge portion of the lance hole... a locking surface configured to restrict movement of the female terminal fitting in an insertion direction by being locked to a locked surface of the lance hole
Implementation Method 3
the horizontal surface of the locking groove of the lance elastically comes into contact with the outer wall of the tubular portion of the female terminal fitting... friction is generated between the female connector housing and the female terminal fitting, and relative movement of the female terminal fitting in the terminal accommodating portion is restricted by the friction
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes: a female connector housing; a female terminal fitting; a lance hole; and a lance. In a state in which the lance is locked to the lance hole, a horizontal surface of a locking groove of the lance comes into contact with a first wall portion of a tubular portion of the female terminal fitting, and the female terminal fitting is pressed by a pressing force based on a reaction force caused by an elastic deformation of the lance. The tubular portion is pressed against an inner wall of a terminal accommodating portion, and the horizontal surface of the locking groove is pressed against the first wall portion, so that friction is generated between the female connector housing and the female terminal fitting, and relative movement of the female terminal fitting in the terminal accommodating portion is restricted by the friction.