Connector Wedge Guiding and Press-Fit Holding Structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors experience backlash between the housing and cover, leading to unnecessary sound and vibration, particularly under external inputs like vehicle driving, which affects durability.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a flexible flat conductive component, a housing with a terminal fitting, and a cover with a locking, guiding, and holding structure, including wedge guiding protrusions and grooves, and press-fit protrusions to reduce backlash and vibration by securing the housing and cover in a press-fitted state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional connector housing and cover are connected without specialized guiding structures, then the device complexity is low, but backlash occurs between the housing and cover causing sound and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding structure is segmented into multiple functional elements: wedge guiding protrusions, wedge guiding grooves, and press-fit protrusions. Each element performs a specific function (guiding, locking, or holding) to systematically address backlash while maintaining manageable complexity through functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The press-fit protrusions are nested within the wedge guiding structures, with the holding function integrated into the guiding mechanism. This nested arrangement allows multiple functions (guiding and holding) to be combined in a compact configuration, reducing overall structural complexity while achieving backlash elimination
2Stability of the object's composition
If press-fit protrusions are added to the wedge guiding structures, then the holding capability and vibration reduction improve, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding and holding functions are merged into a single integrated structure where wedge guiding protrusions and press-fit protrusions work together. This combination eliminates the need for separate guiding and holding mechanisms, improving connection stability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge guiding structures serve multiple functions: they guide the cover relative to the housing during assembly and simultaneously provide holding capability through integrated press-fit protrusions. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, improving stability without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity
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
The design effectively reduces backlash, minimizing unnecessary sound and vibration, thereby enhancing the durability and operability of the connector.
Implementation Method 1
a wedge guiding protrusion provided to one of the housing and the cover, having a wedge-shaped section orthogonal to the connection direction, and extending in the connection direction, and a wedge guiding groove provided to the other of the housing and the cover, having a wedge-shaped section orthogonal to the connection direction, and extending in the connection direction to guide and be guided by the wedge guiding protrusion being inserted in the connection direction
Implementation Method 2
the holding structure includes a press-fit protrusion on at least one of the protrusion-side wall surface and the groove-side wall surface disposed opposite to each other in at least one of the two pairs of the protrusion-side wall surface and the groove-side wall surface disposed opposite to each other, the press-fit protrusion being configured to hold the wedge guiding protrusion and the wedge guiding groove in a press-fitted state when the housing and the cover are at the connection completed position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A connector includes a housing (20) in which a terminal fitting (10) is stored, and a cover (30). A guiding structure (70) configured to guide the housing (20) and the cover (30) in a connection direction, and a holding structure (80) configured to hold the housing (20) and the cover (30) at a connection completed position are provided between the housing (20) and the cover (30). The guiding structure (70) includes a wedge guiding protrusion (71) provided to the cover (30), and a wedge guiding groove (72) provided to the housing (20). The wedge guiding protrusion (71) and the wedge guiding groove (72) are formed to have a gap between a protrusion-side wall surface (71a) and a groove-side wall surface (72a) disposed opposite to each other in each of two pairs. The holding structure (80) includes a press-fit protrusion (81) being configured to hold the wedge guiding protrusion (71) and the wedge guiding groove (72) in a press-fitted state when the housing (20) and the cover (30) are at the connection completed position.