Connector Locking Mechanism With Protected Release And Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face issues with the reliability of their locking function due to the exposure of the lock releasing portion on the outer surface, which can be inadvertently pressed, leading to unintended unlocking, and they struggle to effectively suppress vibration transfer from wires to terminal fittings.
Innovation Solution
The connector design features an inner housing with a lock arm that locks the mating housing, an outer housing with an interference avoiding hole to prevent lock interference, and resilient positioning members and vibration damping rings to attenuate vibrations, along with a slack holding portion to manage wire tension, all while keeping the lock releasing portion protected from external interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lock releasing portion is exposed on the outer surface of the housing for easy operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the locking function deteriorates due to inadvertent pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into an outer housing and an inner housing, with the lock releasing portion formed on the inner housing. This segmentation allows the lock releasing portion to be positioned inside the connector assembly rather than exposed on the outer surface, preventing inadvertent pressing while maintaining operational accessibility through the opening in the outer housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner housing acts as an intermediary structure that houses the lock releasing portion. By placing the lock releasing portion on the inner housing rather than directly on the outer housing, the design provides a protective barrier that prevents external objects from accidentally triggering the release mechanism while still allowing intentional operation.
2Reliability
If the outer housing is kept away from the outer surface of the inner housing to avoid interference with the lock, then the reliability of the locking function is improved, but the volume of the connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner housing is nested within the outer housing, with the lock arm and lock mechanism integrated into the inner housing structure. The outer housing is designed with an interference-avoiding hole that allows the lock arm to extend and engage with the lock projection without requiring the outer housing to be positioned away from the inner housing surface, thus maintaining compact dimensions while ensuring reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock arm is designed to extend in a specific direction through the interference-avoiding hole of the outer housing, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to achieve lock engagement. This allows the outer housing to maintain close proximity to the inner housing outer surface while the lock mechanism operates in the depth dimension, avoiding interference without increasing overall volume.
3Reliability
If the wire is allowed to contact the outer housing for vibration damping, then the suppression of vibration transfer is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional vibration damping components
Solution Approach 1:
The outer housing itself serves as a vibration damping element by allowing wire contact. The outer housing is designed to absorb and dissipate vibration energy from the wire, eliminating the need for separate vibration damping components. This self-service approach suppresses vibration transfer to the inner housing and terminal fittings while maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer housing performs multiple functions: it provides structural protection, allows wire entry and contact, and serves as a vibration damping element. By making the outer housing multi-functional, the design suppresses vibration transfer without adding dedicated vibration damping components, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
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 configuration enhances the reliability of the locking mechanism by preventing accidental unlocking and effectively suppresses vibration transfer to the terminal fittings, ensuring a stable and secure connection while allowing for miniaturization of the outer housing.
Implementation Method 1
vibration energy transferred from the wire to the outer housing is attenuated by the resilient positioning member
Implementation Method 2
The inner housing and the outer housing may be mounted via at least one resilient positioning member
Implementation Method 3
vibration energy of the wire is transferred to the outer housing via the vibration damping ring and is attenuated by an inertial force of the outer housing
Implementation Method 4
attenuated by an inertial force of the outer housing
Data Source
AI summary
A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11) configured to accommodate terminal fittings (72). An outer housing (37) is separate from the inner housing (11) and is configured to surround the inner housing (11). A lock arm (17) is formed on an outer surface of the inner housing (11) and is configured to lock the inner housing (11) and a mating housing (80) in a connected state by being locked to the mating housing (80). Protecting portions (45, 46) are formed on the outer housing (37) and are arranged near a lock releasing portion (22) of the lock arm (17).