Connector Ventilation Passage Groove Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors do not effectively allow pressure in a device case to escape when connected to a mating connector, as the ventilation passage is often blocked by the mating connector, leading to potential heat buildup and pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a ventilation passage formed by a groove in the overlapping surfaces of first and second cores, with the outer vent positioned closer to the case than the receptacle, ensuring that pressure can escape even when the mating connector is connected, and utilizing a core through hole and housing through hole to facilitate easy formation without relying on long pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ventilation passage is formed by a long pin in the mold, then the vent can be formed properly, but the pin may break during molding reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation passage formation process is segmented into multiple stages: first forming a recess in the first core, then forming a protrusion in the second core that fits into the recess. This replaces the single long pin approach with two separate, shorter forming elements that are less prone to breaking during molding.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess is formed in the first core before the second core is overlapped. This preliminary formation of the recess allows the subsequent protrusion to be formed without requiring a long pin to reach deep into the housing, reducing the risk of pin breakage during the molding process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the outer vent is positioned at the receptacle end, then the ventilation passage can be formed, but the mating connector blocks the vent when connected
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation passage is configured to extend in multiple dimensions: from the internal space through the cores, then through the housing wall at a position closer to the case than the receptacle. This spatial arrangement ensures that the outer vent opening is not blocked by the mating connector when connected, maintaining pressure release functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pin is made long to form the vent through the housing, then the vent can be formed, but the pin breaks during molding
Solution Approach 1:
The single long pin approach is segmented into two separate forming elements: a recess in the first core and a protrusion in the second core. These shorter, separate elements are much less prone to breaking during the molding process while still achieving the same vent formation function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forming the ventilation passage by inserting a pin from the outside in, the invention forms it by creating a recess in one core and fitting a protrusion from another core into it. This inverted approach eliminates the need for long pins that extend through the entire housing thickness.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector (1) is mounted on a case (12) including an internal space (120) accommodating an electronic board (11). The connector (1) includes first terminals (3), a first core (4), second terminals (5), a second core (6), a housing (7) and a ventilation passage (8). The ventilation passage (8) allows the internal space (120) of the case (12) to communicate with outside air. At least a part of the ventilation passage (8) is constituted by a groove (40) formed in at least one of mutually overlapping surfaces (411, 611) of the first core (4) and the second core (6). An outer vent (81) of the ventilation passage (8) is formed at a position closer to the case (12) than the receptacle (71) in a Z direction.