Connector Shutter Mechanism for Compact Electric Tool Plug-in Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric tools with attachment devices, such as dust collecting devices, face reliability issues due to limited retreat stroke of the socket cover, leading to potential misalignment and reduced plug-in reliability, and require increased space for a larger retreat stroke, making the tool less compact.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a male and female terminal system with a connector, urging unit, shutter portion, and press portion, allowing the connector to move between connection and non-connection positions, ensuring reliable plug-in reliability while maintaining a compact form factor by using a guide groove and press rail for smooth mounting and integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the socket cover is slid through direct abutment of the protrusion to ensure retreat stroke, then the retreat stroke of the socket cover is increased, but a large space is required for the mechanism, making the tool less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter portion is integrated into the connector body, forming a nested structure where the shutter is a component of the connector. This eliminates the need for a separate socket cover mechanism, reducing the space required while maintaining the port opening/closing function. The connector itself serves as the housing for the shutter mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the socket cover function with the connector structure. The connector serves dual purposes: electrical connection and port covering. The shutter portion is merged with the connector, eliminating the need for a separate socket cover assembly, thus reducing overall mechanism space while ensuring reliable port opening during plug-in.
2Reliability
If the tapered face of the protrusion is enlarged to ensure increased retreat stroke, then the retreat stroke is sufficient, but the mechanism requires more space, obstructing compact design
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter portion is nested within the connector structure, eliminating the need for external protrusions with enlarged tapered faces. The shutter is positioned inside the connector body, reducing the external dimensions and overall length of the mechanism while maintaining sufficient retreat stroke through internal geometry optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the length or external dimensions of protrusions to achieve sufficient retreat stroke, the patent utilizes internal three-dimensional space within the connector. The shutter portion moves within the connector's internal volume, allowing adequate retreat stroke without increasing the external length or overall mechanism dimensions.
3Device complexity
If the socket cover is designed to offset the permeable hole from the plug-in port, then the structure is simple, but misalignment may occur due to assembling error, reducing plug-in reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter portion is designed to automatically open before the plug contacts the female terminal. The inclined surface of the shutter engages with the male terminal protrusion during insertion, causing the shutter to open in advance. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and prevents misalignment issues that would occur with simple offset structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter portion is designed as a dynamic component that automatically adjusts its position during the plug-in process. The inclined surface mechanism converts the insertion motion into shutter opening motion, ensuring real-time alignment adjustment. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the fixed offset limitations and assembling error sensitivity of static structures.
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
Ensures reliable plug-in connection and allows for a space-saving mechanism to open/close the plug-in port, enhancing the compactness and integration of the electric tool with the attachment device without obstructing the tool's usage when alone.
Implementation Method 1
an urging unit, which urges the connector toward the non-connection position
Implementation Method 2
a press portion, which comes into abutment on the connector to move the connector to the connection position against urging of the urging unit
Data Source
AI summary
A hammer drill is provided with a connector equipped with a female terminal, movably between a connection position where the female terminal is located inside a plug-in port and a non-connection position where the female terminal is in retreat from inside the plug-in port. The hammer drill is also provided with a torsion spring that urges the connector toward the non-connection position. The connector is provided with a shutter portion that is located inside the plug-in port to close the plug-in port at the non-connection position and is in retreat from inside the plug-in port at the connection position. A dust collecting device is provided with a press rail that comes into abutment on the connector to move the connector to the connection position against the urging of the torsion spring as the dust collecting device is mounted.