Connector Cover Locking Piece Deflection Limit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors with deflectable mounting pieces risk excessive deflection and breakage when removing the cover, as the pieces are pushed beyond their intended deformation limits during unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring deflectable locking pieces that contact a protection wall and reinforcing rib, preventing excessive deflection by integrating the protection wall with a stopper and reinforcing rib, ensuring the locking pieces do not deform beyond a specified limit and are not broken.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the locking piece is pushed to unlock the cover, then the cover can be removed, but the locking piece may be deflected excessively and broken
Solution Approach 1:
The protection wall is provided on the connector housing to prevent excessive deflection of the locking piece during cover removal. The protection wall acts as a cushioning element that stops the locking piece before it can be deflected beyond its elastic limit, thereby preventing breakage while still allowing easy cover removal.
2Ease of operation
If the locking piece is made more resilient for easier unlocking, then the cover can be removed more easily, but the locking piece becomes more prone to excessive deflection and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The protection wall provides a predetermined stop that prevents the locking piece from being deflected beyond its safe limit. This allows the locking piece to be sufficiently resilient for easy unlocking while the protection wall ensures it does not exceed its elastic deformation capacity and break.
3Reliability
If the protection wall is made stronger to prevent locking piece breakage, then the locking piece durability is improved, but the protection wall itself may become prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The protection wall is integrated with the stopper to form a combined structure. This merging distributes the mechanical loads and stresses, allowing the protection wall to effectively prevent locking piece breakage while the integrated stopper provides additional structural support to prevent the protection wall itself from breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection wall and stopper are formed as an integrated composite structure that combines different functional elements. This composite design allows the protection wall to have the necessary strength for protecting the locking piece while the integrated stopper provides additional reinforcement to prevent protection wall failure.
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 design effectively suppresses excessive deflection of locking pieces, preventing breakage and enhancing the strength of the protection wall, allowing reliable unlocking and removal of the cover without damage.
Implementation Method 1
Deflectable locking pieces are provided on both side surfaces of the cover and are configured to lock the cover to the connector housing by projecting toward the connector housing. The other locking piece contacts the protection wall when being pushed in an unlocking direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a connector housing 10 provided with cavities 13 for accommodating terminal fittings and connectable to a mating connector, a cover 50 configured to cover wires pulled out from the connector housing 10 by being mounted on a cover mounting surface 10A side of the connector housing 10 opposite to a connection surface, locking pieces 55 deflectably provided on both side surfaces of the cover 50 and configured to lock the cover 50 to the connector housing 10 by projecting toward the connector housing 10, and protection walls 37 provided on the connector housing 10, the other locking piece 55 coming into contact with the protection wall 37 when being pushed in an unlocking direction when one of the locking pieces 55 is unlocked and the cover 50 is inclined with respect to the connector housing 10.