Connector Rear Holder Locking Protrusion Terminal Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power feeding connectors for vehicles, such as electric cars, have limitations in improving terminal holding reliability due to reliance on a single housing flexible piece, which restricts space for forming multiple pieces and affects holding power and impact resistance.
Innovation Solution
A connector design that incorporates a rear holder with a holder locking protrusion that abuts the terminal from the insertion direction, providing additional locking points and increased resistance to terminal removal, while also allowing for a temporary locking mechanism to facilitate easier assembly and higher impact strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single housing flexible piece is used to retain the terminal, then the connector structure remains simple, but the terminal holding reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of terminal retention and locking into a single integrated rear holder structure. The rear holder includes both the holder locking protrusion for retaining the terminal and the retainer for locking the housing flexible piece, merging multiple functions into one component to improve reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connector structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the housing flexible piece in the terminal receiving chamber for initial retention, and the rear holder with its locking protrusion and retainer for secondary retention and locking. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific retention tasks, improving overall reliability
2Force
If multiple housing flexible pieces are formed in parallel terminal receiving chambers, then terminal holding power increases, but the restricted transverse section of the housing makes it difficult to form multiple pieces due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding multiple housing flexible pieces in the transverse direction (which is constrained), the patent extends the retention mechanism in the longitudinal direction by adding the rear holder with the holder locking protrusion. This dimensional shift allows increased holding power without violating the transverse space constraints of the terminal receiving chamber
3Strength
If the holder locking protrusion abuts on the terminal earlier than the housing flexible piece, then impact resistance improves, but the housing flexible piece may experience increased stress
Solution Approach 1:
The holder locking protrusion is positioned to abut on the terminal before the housing flexible piece during impact events. This prior engagement acts as a cushioning mechanism, absorbing impact forces before they reach the housing flexible piece, thereby protecting it from excessive stress while maintaining high impact resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a housing that has a plurality of terminal receiving chambers into which a terminal is inserted, each terminal receiving chamber being provided with a housing flexible piece for retaining and locking the terminal, and a rear holder that is mounted at the housing, abuts on the housing flexible piece and restrains locking release of the housing flexible piece. In the connector, the rear holder has a holder locking protrusion for retaining and locking the terminal in each terminal receiving chamber.