Connector Terminal Retainer with Inclined Push Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors experience looseness issues with terminals accommodated in terminal accommodating rooms, leading to reduced contact reliability and potential damage from retainer insertion.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a retainer with inclined terminal contact parts that push terminals forward when moving to a regular position, and a guiding surface for the retainer to slide along, ensuring secure retention and reduced looseness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a predetermined gap is provided between the terminal and retainer to prevent damage, then the terminal is protected from damage, but looseness occurs at the terminal leading to reduced contact reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal contact part with inclined surface performs preliminary action by pushing the terminal forward during the retainer mounting process. This preliminary pushing action eliminates the gap between the terminal and retainer before the retainer is fully mounted, preventing both damage and looseness simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface of the terminal contact part changes the parameter of terminal position during mounting. As the retainer is mounted, the inclined surface converts the mounting motion into forward pushing motion, dynamically adjusting the terminal position to eliminate gaps while preventing damage
2Stability of the object's composition
If the retainer is mounted to the regular position to retain the terminal, then the terminal is secured, but looseness still occurs due to the gap between terminal and retainer
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal contact part performs preliminary pushing action during the mounting process itself, eliminating gaps before the retainer reaches its final position. This ensures that when the retainer is fully mounted, no looseness exists despite the retention function
3Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal contact part has an inclined surface to push the terminal forward, then design flexibility is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal contact part with inclined surface serves multiple functions: it guides the terminal during insertion, pushes the terminal forward to eliminate gaps, and provides design flexibility for different mounting directions. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structural complexity by eliminating the need for separate gap-adjustment mechanisms
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 design effectively inhibits terminal looseness, enhances contact reliability, and improves shock resistance by securely locking the terminals in place.
Implementation Method 1
the terminal contact part is formed to have an inclined surface which is inclined toward a direction of pushing the terminal toward the front side of the terminal accommodating room
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a tubular connector housing inside which a terminal accommodating room is formed, a terminal that is inserted into the terminal accommodating room from behind, and a retainer that retains the terminal which is accommodated in the terminal accommodating room by being mounted to the connector housing from a direction crossing the inserting direction of the terminal, wherein the retainer is formed with a terminal contact part which is inserted from an opening, with which a wall of the terminal accommodating room of the connector housing is formed, to touch the terminal which is accommodated in the terminal accommodating room, and the terminal contact part is formed into such a shape to push the terminal toward the front side of the terminal accommodating room in a process that the retainer moves to a regular position of the connector housing.