Cover-equipped Connector Segmentation for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cover-equipped connectors require cumbersome disassembly of the wire cover during maintenance operations, as the engaging projections and pieces need to be unlocked, which complicates access to the terminal for repair and increases the risk of performance reduction due to separation of components.
Innovation Solution
A cover-equipped connector design with a service cover that allows the wire cover to be spaced rearward from the connector housing, enabling easier exposure of the wire exit point, and a locking mechanism that separates the inner and outer housings without compromising sealing, allowing for efficient maintenance without disassembling the wire cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wire cover is made long to protect the wires, then the protection performance is improved, but the disassembly operation becomes cumbersome during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is divided into inner housing and outer housing that can be separated from each other. The inner housing contains the terminals and can be detached from the outer housing, allowing access to wire connection points without removing the wire cover. This segmentation enables maintenance operations while preserving the protective function of the wire cover.
2Ease of repair
If the wire cover is disassembled to access the terminal for repair, then the maintenance access is improved, but the time and effort required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is segmented into separable inner and outer housings. The inner housing can be removed from the outer housing to expose the terminals for maintenance, while the wire cover remains attached to the outer housing. This allows rapid access to connection points without the time-consuming process of disassembling the wire cover.
3Ease of repair
If the inner housing and outer housing are separated during maintenance, then the maintenance access is improved, but the sealing performance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outer housing is pre-assembled with the mating connector and locked in place before maintenance operations. This preliminary action ensures that the sealing interface between the outer housing and mating connector is established first, so that when the inner housing is later removed for maintenance, the sealing performance is preserved and not compromised by the separation of housing components.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector (10) includes a connector housing (12) fittable to a mating connector (11), a wire cover (14) disposed at a position spaced apart rearward from the connector housing (12) in a fitting direction to the mating connector (11) and configured to cover wires (13) drawn out rearward in the fitting direction from the connector housing (12), and a service cover (15) assembled over the connector housing (12) and the wire cover (14).