Electrical Connector Mount Assembly for Oscillating Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors in combine harvesters face challenges in securing to oscillating hardware, particularly in cleaning units, due to wear and malfunction caused by relative movement during operation.
Innovation Solution
A mount and actuator assembly design that secures electrical connectors to oscillating hardware using a generally cylindrical body with a concave protrusion and connector receptacle, featuring holes for fasteners to prevent rotation and translation, ensuring stable connection and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical connectors are secured to oscillating hardware without a dedicated mount structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to wear and malfunction caused by relative movement during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The mount structure is segmented into distinct functional elements: a body portion for mounting to the actuator, a connector receptacle for receiving electrical connectors, and fastening mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mount structure serves as an intermediary component between the oscillating actuator hardware and the electrical connectors. It absorbs and manages the relative movement and vibrations, preventing direct wear between the electrical connectors and the actuator, thus improving reliability without requiring the electrical connectors themselves to be overly complex
2Reliability
If the mount structure includes features to prevent rotation and translation, then the electrical connector connection stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to more complex machining requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The mount body features a curved surface that interfaces with the actuator, and the connector receptacle has a shaped configuration that naturally guides and positions the electrical connectors. These curved and shaped features provide rotational and translational constraints through geometric interference rather than requiring additional machining operations, thus maintaining reliability while improving manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The mount structure employs asymmetric features such as a single protrusion element and non-circular fastening holes that prevent rotation and translation of the electrical connectors. These asymmetric geometric constraints are integrated into the basic mount geometry, providing stable positioning without requiring complex multi-step machining processes
3Reliability
If the mount uses multiple fasteners to secure electrical connectors, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to more steps required for installation and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The mount structure integrates multiple functions into unified components: the body portion serves both as the mounting interface and as a structural element that positions the connectors; the fastening holes serve both to secure the mount to the actuator and to position the electrical connectors. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate operations needed, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable connections through the integrated fastening system
Data Source
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AI summary
A mount for an electrical connector includes a generally cylindrical body, and a concave protrusion and a connector receptacle each extending from an outer surface of the body. The connector receptacle is structured to receive pair of mated electrical connectors, and the body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may secure each electrical connector within the connector receptacle. An actuator assembly includes an actuator having at least one flexible wire electrically coupled to a first electrical connector, a mount, a mount fastener, and a connector fastener. The connector fastener is disposed within the first hole and secured around the connector receptacle and the first electrical connector. A method includes attaching a mount fastener around a mount to secure the mount to the actuator and attaching a connector fastener through the first hole, around the connector receptacle, and around the first electrical connector.