Connector Retainer Rib Structure for Terminal Lock Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The secondary locking portion in conventional connectors deforms easily under external forces, leading to potential detachment of the terminal metal part.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a retainer with block-shaped terminal holding parts and reinforcing ribs that are freely movable and orthogonal to the accommodation direction, providing a double locking mechanism to reduce deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a block-shaped terminal holding part is used for secondary locking, then the locking function is achieved, but the terminal holding part deforms under external force
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal holding part is divided into a holding portion and a reinforcing rib portion. The reinforcing rib is integrated with the holding part to segment the structure, providing localized reinforcement where needed while maintaining the overall locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing rib is positioned at the rear end of the terminal holding part, providing localized reinforcement exactly where external forces are most likely to cause deformation. This concentrates structural strength where needed rather than uniformly throughout the entire component.
2Strength
If the reinforcing rib is positioned closer to the terminal metal part, then deformation resistance is improved, but the terminal metal part accommodation may be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The height of the reinforcing rib is carefully controlled within a specific range (0.5mm to 2.0mm in the embodiment). This parameter optimization ensures the rib provides sufficient reinforcement while maintaining enough clearance for the terminal metal part to be properly accommodated and locked.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer of a connector includes a block-shaped terminal holding part which is freely movable in and out of an internal space of the cavity in accordance with sliding of the retainer and which locks a terminal metal part when facing a locking surface forming a part of the terminal metal part in the accommodation direction, and a reinforcing rib provided integrally with a side surface of the terminal holding part, the sliding direction being the normal direction of the side surface. An upper surface of the reinforcing rib is set so that a minimum distance in a height direction between the upper surface and a lower end of a locking surface of the terminal metal part accommodated in the cavity is set to be the minimum within an allowable range in which accommodation of the terminal metal part is not prevented.