Connector Locking Body with Torsion Spring Restoring Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors for motor vehicles lack a reliable mechanism to ensure secure electrical connections and prevent incomplete coupling, which can lead to separation during vehicle operation, resulting in component failure.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a torsion spring with a locking body and inclined surfaces that apply a restoring force to prevent separation, ensuring complete coupling and providing a repulsive force to detect incomplete connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking structure is provided between male and female connectors, then the connectors can be prevented from separating, but the structure becomes more complex and the spring seating becomes unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnector structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking body is divided into distinct functional segments: a locking protrusion for engagement, an intermediate portion with inclined surfaces for actuation, and a bottom portion for structural support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently while simplifying the overall design and spring seating mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking body is slidably coupled within the connector body, with the spring nested inside the connector body to directly engage the locking body. This nested arrangement eliminates the need for external mounting structures and simplifies the overall connector assembly while ensuring reliable spring seating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a spring is used to apply restoring force to the locking body, then incomplete coupling can be detected, but the spring may not be firmly seated in the connector body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling detection reliabilityVSAvoidspring positioning stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is pre-installed and firmly seated in the connector body before the locking body is inserted. The connector body includes a dedicated spring receiving structure that ensures proper spring positioning in advance, eliminating potential seating issues during assembly and ensuring reliable restoring force application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connector body serves as an intermediary structure that houses and positions the spring, mediating between the spring and the locking body. This intermediary structure ensures the spring is firmly seated and properly oriented to apply restoring force to the locking body during coupling and decoupling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the locking body is made to slide in the connector body, then the locking mechanism can be actuated, but the spring application point becomes difficult to determine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism actuationVSAvoidspring contact point identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The locking body features a specifically designed local structure at its upper end, including inclined surfaces and a defined contact area, to serve as the precise spring application point. This localized structural feature makes the spring contact point easily identifiable and ensures consistent force application while maintaining smooth sliding actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined surfaces of the locking body are designed with curved transitions to provide a well-defined contact area for the spring. The curved geometry ensures the spring makes reliable contact at a specific location while allowing smooth movement, making the application point easily detectable during assembly and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 connector design ensures secure and reliable electrical connections by applying a restoring force to maintain coupling and provides a mechanism to detect incomplete connections, preventing component failure during vehicle operation.

Implementation Method 1

the spring may be configured as a torsion spring, and the torsion spring may include an elastic portion that is formed between the first leg portion and the second leg portion and is configured to be wound around an axis corresponding to a height direction of the connector body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsion spring: Torsion Spring

Implementation Method 2

the spring may be configured as a torsion spring... configured to apply a restoring force to the locking body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11258199B2Connector and connector assembly comprising the same

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG

AI summary

A connector is provided. The connector includes a connector body formed with a terminal portion, a locking body slidably coupled to the connector body, and a spring including a first leg portion fixed in position inside the connector body and a second leg portion making contact with the locking body. The spring is configured to apply a restoring force to the locking body in a direction in which the second leg portion is moved away from the first leg portion.