Connector Shield Shell Obstructs Elastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors face issues with the engagement between locking pawls and grooves being released due to external forces, making it difficult to determine if the rear holder is completely mounted, as the engaging pawls are exposed and prone to bending.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a shield shell with an unlocking obstruction part that prevents elastic deformation of the locked parts, ensuring the engagement state is maintained, and requires the rear holder to be mounted before the shield shell, allowing for easy determination of complete mounting by interfering with the unlocking obstruction part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the engaging pawls are exposed outside for easy engagement, then the engagement operation is simple, but the engagement state cannot be determined and external forces can release the locking
Solution Approach 1:
The shield shell acts as an intermediary component that covers the engaging pawls after assembly. It includes an unlocking obstruction part that prevents the locked part from elastic deformation, thereby protecting the engagement state while maintaining simple engagement operation through the tapered face guidance mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield shell functions as a protective covering that encloses the engaging pawls. By positioning the unlocking obstruction part within the shield shell, it provides a flexible yet effective barrier that prevents external forces from releasing the engagement while allowing the engagement operation to proceed smoothly.
2Reliability
If the shield shell is mounted before the rear holder, then the engaging pawls are protected, but the engagement state cannot be determined and assembly order is unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered face is designed to preliminarily guide the locked part into the correct position during assembly. This preliminary guidance action ensures that the engagement operation proceeds correctly regardless of assembly order, while the unlocking obstruction part provides final protection once engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered face acts as an intermediary guidance mechanism that mediates between the shield shell and rear holder assembly. It ensures proper alignment and engagement of the locked part with the locking part, making the assembly process intuitive and determining the correct assembly sequence.
3Strength
If the locked part is made rigid for strong locking, then the locking strength is high, but it cannot elastically deform to engage with the tapered face
Solution Approach 1:
The locked part is designed with local quality differentiation: the main body maintains high rigidity for strong locking, while specific regions (the engagement portion) are designed to elastically deform. This allows the locked part to bend elastically during engagement with the tapered face and then maintain strong locking force after engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The locked part transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic component that exhibits elastic deformation during engagement. The tapered face guides this dynamic deformation process, allowing the locked part to adapt its shape temporarily during assembly while maintaining overall structural strength for reliable locking.
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 engagement release due to external forces and ensures easy determination of the rear holder's complete mounting by requiring a specific assembly order, ensuring secure locking and visual confirmation of engagement states.
Implementation Method 1
a locked part to be locked with or unlocked from the locking part by elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a housing which accommodates terminals connected to end portions of wires therein and which has locking pawls on an exterior surface of the housing; a rear holder having locking frames which are locked with or unlocked from the locking pawls by elastic deformation, in which the rear holder is mounted on a back side of the housing, and prevents rubber plugs that contact an outer periphery of the wires from dropping off the housing; and a shield shell mounted on an outer periphery of the housing to which the rear holder has been mounted. The shield shell includes a rear end portion which is arranged at an elastic deformation region of the locking frames in an assembling process of the rear holder to the housing and obstructs the elastic deformation of the locking frames.