Electrical Connector Latching Arm Limiting Block Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector assemblies face issues with latching arm deformation or damage due to excessive deflection, either downwardly or upwardly, which can lead to instability and potential rupture from cable entanglement.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly incorporates a latching arm with a cantilever structure and a limiting block that limits downward displacement, preventing excessive deflection and damage, while side barrier walls prevent cable entanglement, and an upper limiting block restricts upward deflection, ensuring the latching arm remains undamaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the elastic latch is made flexible to enable deflection for locking and unlocking, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to excessive deflection causing deformation or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces limiting blocks that constrain the deflection parameters of the elastic latch. By physically limiting the displacement distance of the elastic latch through the limiting block, the system maintains the flexibility needed for operation while preventing excessive deflection that would cause damage, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting block serves as a protective element positioned in advance to prevent harmful excessive deflection. Before the elastic latch can be damaged by over-deflection, the limiting block intercepts and restricts the movement, providing beforehand protection against reliability failures while maintaining operational functionality
2Reliability
If the latching arm is made longer to improve locking stability, then the reliability is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to increased susceptibility to cable entanglement and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces side barrier walls that segment the space around the latching arm. These barrier walls create a protective partition that prevents cables from entering the gap between the latching arm and the insulating base portion, thus eliminating the harmful entanglement effect while maintaining the longer latching arm configuration for stability
Solution Approach 2:
The side barrier walls act as intermediary protective structures between the latching arm and the cable. They serve as a physical barrier that mediates the interaction, preventing direct contact between the cable and the latching arm, thereby eliminating the harmful entanglement factor while preserving the locking stability provided by the longer latching arm
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
The solution effectively prevents deformation and damage to the latching arm by limiting its displacement and preventing cable entanglement, ensuring stable and durable electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
the limiting block is used to limit a distance that the latching arm is displaced downwardly
Implementation Method 2
the latching arm extends forwardly with the rear end of the latching arm as a fulcrum to form a cantilever structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an electrical connector, which comprises an insulating base portion, a mating portion, a latching portion and a limiting block. The insulating base portion has a front end, a rear end and a top surface; the mating portion extends forwardly from the front end of the insulating base portion; the latching portion is integrally formed to the top surface of the insulating base portion, the latching portion comprises a latching arm and a latching block, a rear end of the latching arm is connected to a rear end of the top surface of the insulating base portion, and the latching arm extends forwardly with the rear end of the latching arm as a fulcrum to form a cantilever structure; the latching block is formed to a front end of the latching arm and protrudes upwardly; the limiting block is provided on the top surface of the insulating base portion and positioned below the latching arm, the limiting block has a top face; a first gap is provided between the top surface of the insulating base portion and a bottom surface of the latching arm, a second gap is provided between the top face of the limiting block and the bottom surface of the latching arm, the second gap is less than the first gap, the limiting block is used to limit a distance that the latching arm is displaced downwardly.