Contact Socket With Segmented Arms For Pin Adaptability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contact sockets for sockets or couplings face challenges in accommodating contact pins of different diameters and are prone to plastic deformation under torque, tensile, or leverage forces, leading to loss of resilience and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A contact socket design with two resilient socket legs that deflect apart when a contact pin is inserted, featuring a fork with outer and inner legs and limitations on the outer legs to restrict deflection, ensuring the socket can accommodate various pin diameters while resisting deformation and maintaining spring effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional contact sockets are used to accommodate contact pins of different diameters, then universality is achieved, but plastic deformation occurs in the socket legs
Solution Approach 1:
The contact socket is divided into outer legs and inner legs, where the inner legs are responsible for clamping the contact pin and the outer legs provide structural support. This segmentation allows the inner legs to be optimized for flexibility and clamping force while the outer legs maintain structural integrity and resist plastic deformation under various loads.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the contact socket have different properties: the inner legs are designed with higher flexibility to accommodate pins of different diameters through resilient deflection, while the outer legs are designed with higher stiffness to resist plastic deformation from torque and leverage forces. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between adaptability and strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If socket legs are made resilient to accommodate different pin diameters, then versatility is improved, but damage from torque and leverage forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the socket into outer legs and inner legs with distinct functions, the resilient inner legs can deflect to accommodate different pin diameters while the rigid outer legs provide resistance against torque and leverage forces, preventing damage while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer legs act as an intermediary structural element that protects the inner legs from harmful forces. The outer legs absorb and distribute torque and leverage forces, shielding the resilient inner legs from damage while allowing them to perform their clamping function effectively.
3Reliability
If socket legs deflect apart to clamp contact pin, then electrical contact is achieved, but loss of resilience and overheating may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The division into outer and inner legs allows the inner legs to perform resilient deflection for reliable electrical contact while the outer legs maintain the overall structure. This segmentation enables sustained spring effect because the outer legs prevent excessive deformation that would lead to permanent set, thereby maintaining resilience over time and preventing overheating.
4Adaptability or versatility
If contact pin with small diameter is inserted, then versatility is maintained, but leverage forces may force pin sideways or damage socket
Solution Approach 1:
The inner legs are designed with local flexibility to accommodate small diameter pins through resilient deflection, while the outer legs provide localized structural reinforcement to resist leverage forces that could force the pin sideways or damage the socket. This local differentiation allows acceptance of small pins while preventing harmful sideways forces.
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 allows flexible use with different pin diameters, enhances resistance to deformation forces, and maintains the spring effect for a longer duration, reducing the risk of damage and overheating.
Implementation Method 1
two resilient socket legs forming an insertion opening, between which a contact pin of a plug can be clamped in that the two socket legs are resiliently deflected apart when the contact pin is inserted
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a contact socket (1) for power outlets (9a) or couplings comprising two resilient socket arms (2a, 2b) which form an insertion opening (3) and between which a contact pin (10) of a plug is to be clamped such that the two socket arms (2a, 2b) are parted by resilient deflection when the contact pin (10) is introduced perpendicular to the deflection plane into the insertion opening (3). The contact socket (1) has a fork (12) comprising a first and a second outer arm (4a, 4b) between which a first and a second inner arm (5a, 5b) is formed, wherein the inner arms are in each case disposed on the free ends (6a, 6b) of the outer arms and a free end of each inner arm forms one of the socket arms, wherein between the socket arms and the outer arms free regions (F, F') are formed, such that when the contact pin is introduced into the insertion opening the two socket arms can be deflected resiliently outwards into the free regions. Between the socket arms and the outer arms, in particular on the first and/or the second outer arm, at least one limit is formed which limits the deflection of the first and/or second socket arm.