Connector Repulsion Arm Elastic Deformation Half-Fitting Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In connectors with manual fitting operations, operators may not recognize a half-fitting state where one connector housing is not fully inserted, leading to potential misinterpretation of the fitting completion and improper locking.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a repulsion arm with an arm base end and an inclined portion, integrated into the connector housing, and a fitting assurance member with an arm displacement regulation portion, ensuring a repulsive force is applied until the fitting is complete, preventing half-fitting by maintaining the repulsion arm between the arm contact portion and the displacement regulation portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the top surface of the locking projection is formed in a flat surface shape substantially parallel with the fitting direction to decrease the maximum displacement of the female lock, then the connector size is reduced, but the repulsive force is not applied from the time the fitting assurance lock climbs until the connector is fitted, causing the operator to not recognize half-fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the static flat top surface of the locking projection into a dynamic inclined surface. This inclined surface enables the repulsion arm to be elastically deformed during the fitting process, continuously providing repulsive force to the fitting assurance lock. The dynamic nature of the inclined surface ensures that the operator can feel the repulsive force throughout the fitting process, reliably recognizing the fitting state without requiring a large connector size.
2Device complexity
If the repulsive force is not applied continuously during fitting, then the connector structure is simplified, but the operator may misunderstand that fitting is completed and finish the fitting operation in the half-fitted state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the locking projection from a flat top surface to an inclined surface. This parameter change enables the repulsion arm to undergo elastic deformation and continuously apply repulsive force during fitting. The inclined surface geometry ensures that as the fitting assurance lock moves along the inclination, the repulsion arm maintains contact and provides continuous feedback force, preventing operator misunderstanding of fitting completion while keeping the structure relatively simple.
3Reliability
If the locking projection has an inclined surface for the repulsion arm to slide on, then continuous repulsive force is applied during fitting, but the connector housing requires additional structural elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the repulsion arm with the connector housing by making the repulsion arm an integral part of the housing structure. The repulsion arm is formed as a unitary component with the housing, eliminating the need for separate repulsion mechanisms. This integration achieves continuous repulsive force application during fitting while minimizing additional structural elements, as the repulsion arm simply extends from the existing housing geometry.
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 solution ensures that a repulsive force is consistently applied throughout the fitting process, preventing misinterpretation of fitting completion and ensuring secure locking of the connector housings, thus preventing half-fitting and enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the connector assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the repulsion arm is elastically deformed to be pressed to an outside by the leading end portion of the arm contact portion
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a connector housing and a fitting assurance member. A repulsion arm of the connector housing is sandwiched between an arm contact portion of a mating connector and an arm displacement regulation portion of the fitting assurance member and the repulsion arm is elastically deformed to be pressed to an outside by a leading end portion of the arm contact portion to be stretched in a straight line, when the leading end portion of the arm contact portion slides on an inner inclined surface of an arm inclined portion of the repulsion arm toward an arm leading end of the repulsion arm.