Connector Partition Wall Guides Mating Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors face issues with twisting and size increase due to the abutment between housings when fitted, leading to potential damage and increased length.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a partition wall portion that projects ahead of the terminals to separate adjacent terminals, preventing abutment and allowing for miniaturization by guiding the mating housing along these walls, thus reducing the axial length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hood portion is extended ahead of the male terminals to prevent twisting, then the protection against terminal damage is improved, but the total length of the connector increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against terminal damageVSAvoidtotal length of connector

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall extends in the axial direction (length dimension) to provide guidance and protection, allowing the hood portion to be shorter while maintaining the same protective function. This dimensional redistribution resolves the contradiction by achieving protection without proportionally increasing overall length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The guidance and protection function is segmented between two components: the partition wall (providing axial guidance and preventing terminal contact) and the hood portion (providing lateral protection). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the need for excessive extension of the hood portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the male terminals protrude ahead of the base portion to enable connection, then the electrical connection function is improved, but the risk of twisting and damage during fitting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection functionVSAvoidresistance to twisting and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall is positioned to preemptively intercept the mating housing during the fitting process, preventing the housing from making contact with the protruding terminals. This preliminary protective action eliminates the harmful effect before it can occur, allowing terminals to protrude for connection while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If the partition wall portion projects ahead of the terminals to guide the mating housing, then the prevention of twisting is improved, but the axial length of the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of twistingVSAvoidaxial length of housing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall provides localized guidance and protection only in the critical region where the mating housing enters, rather than extending uniformly throughout the entire connector length. This localized approach achieves the necessary twisting prevention while minimizing the overall axial length increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10116084B2Connector

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

A connector includes a housing that holds a plurality of terminals and a mating housing that holds a plurality of mating terminals to be connected to the terminals. The mating housing is fitted into the housing to connect the mating terminals to the terminals. The housing comprises a partition wall portion which projects ahead of the terminals and separates adjacent ones of the terminals from each other.