Connector Resilient Arm Sliding Surface Impact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors with biasing members can cause damage to housing components due to sudden release of biasing force when a detector reaches its detection position, leading to incomplete connections and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a movable detector with a resilient arm that slides on a sliding surface, slowing its movement to the detection position and using a resilient arm to regulate movement, thereby alleviating impact and ensuring smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a biasing member is used to move the detector to the detection position, then the detector can be reliably positioned, but the impact damage to the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector positioning reliabilityVSAvoidimpact damage to housing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A resilient arm is provided on the detector that contacts a sliding surface on the housing to cushion the impact before the detector fully reaches the detection position. The resilient arm deforms elastically during the connection process, absorbing the shock and preventing damage to the housing while ensuring reliable detector positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient arm acts as an intermediary element between the detector and the housing. Instead of the detector directly impacting the housing, the resilient arm mediates the interaction by deforming elastically, thereby protecting the housing from impact damage while still enabling the detector to reach its detection position reliably.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the detector moves quickly to the detection position, then the connection process is faster, but the impact damage to the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection speedVSAvoidimpact damage to housing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient arm provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-positioned to contact the sliding surface. During the connection process, it cushions the impact that would otherwise occur when the detector reaches the detection position, allowing for faster connection speeds without increasing impact damage to the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the biasing force is increased to ensure detector movement, then the detector positioning is more reliable, but the damage to the housing wall increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector movement reliabilityVSAvoidhousing wall integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient arm provides beforehand cushioning by contacting the sliding surface before the detector fully reaches the detection position. This cushioning effect allows for increased biasing force to ensure reliable detector movement while preventing the excessive force from damaging the housing wall, as the resilient arm absorbs the excess energy through elastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient arm serves as an intermediary that protects the housing wall from the full force of the biasing member. It allows the biasing force to be increased for reliable detector positioning while the resilient arm absorbs the excess force, preventing damage to the housing wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Prevents damage to the housing by slowing the detector's movement and ensuring a smooth transition to the detection position, maintaining the integrity of the connector during the connection process.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient arm that slides on a sliding surface of the housing while being resiliently deformed in the process of reaching the detection position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A biasing member is assembled with the housing and accumulates a biasing force in the process of connecting the two housings to move the detector to the detection position by releasing the biasing force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS9666989B2Connector

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS LTD

AI summary

A connector includes a detector (60) movable to a standby position and a detection position with respect to a housing (10). The detector (60) is kept at the standby position in the process of connecting two housings (10, 90) and is biased by biasing members (80) and brought to the detection position when the two housings (10, 90) are properly connected. The detector (60) includes a resilient arm (65) configured to slide on a sliding surface (32) of the housing (10) while being resiliently deformed in the process of reaching the detection position.