Connector With Sliding Housings For Position Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plug-in connectors face limitations in floatability and assembly complexity due to excessive play between components, resulting in restricted displacement and increased component count, which complicates the assembly process.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring sliding housings with control and position restricting portions allows for a large floating amount with a simple structure, reducing the number of components and assembly workload by eliminating the need for additional attaching members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If attaching play is increased to achieve floatability, then floating amount is improved, but attaching strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloating amountVSAvoidattaching strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The contact is designed to be movable within the contact receiving portion, allowing dynamic adjustment of position during assembly and operation. This enables the contact to float and accommodate position offsets between connector and connection object while maintaining secure attaching strength through the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If additional attaching members are used to secure components, then attaching strength is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattaching strengthVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing and contact receiving portion are integrated into a single structural component, eliminating the need for separate attaching members. The contact is directly received and secured within the integrated housing structure, reducing component count while maintaining attaching strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the contact receiving portion, and secures the contact without requiring additional attaching members. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the connector assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2696447B1Connector, connector device, and battery unit
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS IND LTD
  • EP2696447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2696447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2696447B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a connector, a connector device, and a battery unit which ensure a large floating amount of a contact with a simple structure and further which are small in the number of components to thereby reduce the workload for assembly. A connector (10) is provide with a first housing (20), a second housing (30) attached to the first housing (20) and forming a contact receiving portion (60) jointly with the first housing (20), and a contact (40) at least partially received in the contact receiving portion (60). The second housing (30) is attached to the first housing (20) so as to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the first housing (20). The contact (40) is received in the contact receiving portion (60) in a state where the contact (40) is not fixed to the first housing (20) or the second housing (30) so as to be movable relative to the first housing (20) and the second housing (30).