Electrical Connector Locking Assembly for Low-Force Vibration Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector assemblies for automotive parts are often complex and require significant force to connect, and they fail to provide a secure connection in environments with vibration and movement.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly featuring a male and female connector with a movable member and locking mechanism, where the male connector is inserted into the female, causing the movable member to move rearward and the gate to travel upward, locking into a channel, preventing disengagement, and utilizing a biasing arrangement for secure engagement and easy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing electrical connector assemblies are designed to provide secure connection in vibrating environments, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and required connection force increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional components: a movable member containing the electrical contact and gate, a separate locking member with latch portion, and a biasing arrangement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability in vibrating environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing arrangement automatically returns the movable member to its forward position after connection, causing the gate to engage with the latch portion and lock the connectors together without requiring additional user action. The system self-locks through the inherent mechanical advantage of the biased movable member, reducing complexity while ensuring secure connection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If existing electrical connector assemblies are designed to prevent disengagement in vibrating environments, then connection stability is improved, but the force required to connect and disconnect increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable member is designed to move dynamically between forward and rearward positions, allowing the gate to engage and disengage from the latch portion smoothly. This dynamic mechanism provides stable locking during vibration while requiring minimal force for connection and disconnection, as the user simply needs to move the actuator to overcome the biasing force temporarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate acts as an intermediary element between the movable member and the locking member. It transfers the locking action from the latch portion to the receiving channel, providing stable connection while allowing easy release through the actuator mechanism that moves the gate out of engagement with the latch.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent disengagement, then connection security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the existing electrical contact structure. The gate, which is part of the movable member housing the electrical contact, also serves as the locking element that engages with the latch portion. This integration eliminates the need for separate locking components, providing connection security without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable member serves multiple functions: it houses the electrical contact arrangement, contains the gate for locking, and is actuated by the biasing arrangement to provide both electrical connection and mechanical locking. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, maintaining simplicity while ensuring secure connection.
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 assembly provides a secure, audible click-lock mechanism that remains locked until released, reducing connection force and maintaining stability in vibrating environments, while allowing easy disconnection and reconnection with minimal user effort.
Implementation Method 1
the movable member is forwardly biased by a biasing arrangement
Implementation Method 2
the biasing arrangement comprises one or more compression springs disposed within the housing and which is/are configured to push the movable member away from a rear end of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a male connector comprising an insertion end having a latch receiving channel disposed in a bottom wall thereof and an electrical contact arrangement disposed on an engagement face; a female connector comprising: an open receiving end configured to receive the insertion end of the male connector; a movable member comprising an electrical contact arrangement disposed on an engagement face thereof and which is configured to move forwardly and rearwardly within the open receiving end, the movable member further comprising a gate that projects forwardly of the electrical contact arrangement and locates adjacent a bottom wall of the receiving end; a locking member having a latch portion locatable in a bottom latch channel disposed in the bottom wall of the receiving end; and wherein the movable member is forwardly biased by a biasing arrangement and such that, in the forwardly biased state, the latch portion of the lock is held captive in the bottom latch channel by the gate of the movable member; and wherein, for connection of the electrical connector assembly, the insertion end of the male connector is inserted into the open end of the female connector and such that, once the respective electrical contact arrangements have connected, continued insertion of the insertion end causes the movable member to move rearwardly, in turn causing the gate to move out of engagement with the latch portion allowing it to travel upwardly, by force of a locking member biasing arrangement, into a locked state received within the latch receiving channel of the male connector, thus preventing disengagement of the male connector from the female connector.