Connector Locking Arm Width-Direction Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for vehicles face challenges in miniaturization due to the size limitations of locking arms and the risk of half-engagement during assembly, as the locking mechanism can lead operators to mistakenly believe the connectors are fully engaged when they are not.
Innovation Solution
The connector design features a locking arm with a projecting part that locks onto a rib on the second connector housing, where the first contact position is positioned outside the base end of the arm's bending direction, ensuring a smooth engagement and preventing half-engagement by altering the force direction during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking part projects from the tip of the arm part in the height direction to lock onto the locking arm receiver, then the locking mechanism can securely maintain engagement, but the size along the height direction increases and cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking part is repositioned from projecting in the height direction (Y-axis) to projecting in the width direction (X-axis) from the tip of the arm part. This dimensional change allows the locking function to be maintained while reducing the height direction size of the connector, directly resolving the technical contradiction between locking reliability and compact height dimension.
2Reliability
If the base end of the arm part is positioned higher than the first contact position of the locking part, then the locking mechanism can engage, but a counteracting force causes operators to mistakenly believe engagement is complete when it is not, creating half-engagement risk
Solution Approach 1:
The design prevents the harmful counteracting force from occurring in the first place by repositioning the locking part to engage with a lateral rib structure rather than allowing the locking part to abut on the outer wall. This preliminary prevention eliminates the false engagement feedback that could lead to half-engagement, directly addressing the reliability and operational safety concerns.
3Reliability
If the locking part abuts on the outer wall during engagement, then the locking mechanism can engage, but the connector height direction size increases due to the projection requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a height-direction projection system to a width-direction projection system. The locking part now projects laterally from the arm part tip in the X-axis direction to engage with a rib on the outer wall, eliminating the need for height-direction projection while maintaining secure locking engagement.
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 allows for a reduced size in the locking arm bending direction, ensuring full engagement of the connectors while preventing the operator from mistakenly believing the connectors are fully engaged, thus enhancing the reliability of the connection.
Implementation Method 1
the arm part 91 is bent about a base end E of the arm part 91, and the locking part 92 is moved over the outer wall 134
Data Source
AI summary
A connector including a first connector housing; a second connector housing to be engaged with the first connector housing; a locking arm and pair of ribs for maintaining the engagement of the first and second connector housings. The locking arm includes: an arm part extending vertically from an upper wall of the first connector housing and extending in the engaging direction; and a pair of locking parts projecting toward sides of the arm part 91 in an extending direction from a tip of the arm part. The pair of ribs are extending vertically from a second hood, positioned nearer sides of the arm part than the pair of locking parts, and abuts on the pair of locking parts when the first and second connector housings are engaged with each other.