Vehicle Connector Terminal With Widened Connection Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reducing the size of vehicle connectors leads to stress concentration on the connection portion during terminal insertion, causing buckling issues due to the press-fitting protrusions contacting the terminal holding hole.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a terminal with a first and second protrusion portion, where the first connection portion has a width larger than the terminal body, and a second connection portion with a width greater than the terminal body's thickness, along with a specific configuration of the terminal holding hole to distribute stress and improve insertability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the size of the terminal is reduced to decrease connector weight and size, then the weight and size of the connector are reduced, but stress concentration occurs on the connection portion during insertion, causing buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is designed with a width greater than that of the terminal body, creating a local quality enhancement specifically at the stress-prone connection portion. This localized dimensional increase provides additional structural support and stress distribution capacity exactly where needed during insertion, preventing buckling while maintaining overall terminal size reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The connection portion is pre-designed with increased width before insertion occurs, preparing the structure in advance to withstand the stress concentration that will occur during terminal insertion. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when stress is applied during insertion, the connection portion is already configured to distribute and resist the forces effectively
2Volume of moving object
If the terminal size is reduced, then the connector size is reduced, but the connection portion becomes more susceptible to buckling under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is designed with a width greater than that of the terminal body, creating a local quality enhancement specifically at the stress-prone connection portion. This localized dimensional increase provides additional structural support and stress distribution capacity exactly where needed during insertion, preventing buckling while maintaining overall terminal size reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal is segmented into distinct portions with different dimensional characteristics - the connection portion has a greater width than the terminal body. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function: the connection portion for stress resistance and the terminal body for compactness
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3A
Figure 3B~4A
AI summary
A terminal (10) includes a terminal body (11), and a press-fitting protrusion (12) protruding from the terminal body (11) in an orthogonal direction (CD) orthogonal to a longitudinal direction (LD) of the terminal (10) to be press-fitted in the terminal holding hole (21). The press-fitting protrusion (12) includes a first protrusion portion (13, 14), and a second protrusion portion (15) disposed rearward of the first protrusion (13, 14) in an insertion direction (ID) and protruding father in the orthogonal direction (CD) than the first protrusion portion (13, 14). The terminal (10) has, between the first protrusion portion (13, 14) and the second protrusion portion (15), a first connection portion (17) having a width larger than a width of the terminal body (11).