CPU Retainer With Embedded Metallic Supports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CPU connector assemblies with plastic retainers are fragile and prone to breaking at the corners where metallic positioning posts extend through, necessitating an improvement for enhanced durability.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector assembly featuring a metallic retainer with four metallic retaining supports embedded at the corners, allowing positioning posts to extend vertically, providing structural reinforcement and improved retention capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic retainer is used to hold the CPU, then the retainer is lightweight and easy to manufacture, but it is fragile and prone to breaking at the corners where positioning posts extend through
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is constructed using composite materials: a plastic frame part providing the basic structure and insulation, combined with metallic retaining supports embedded at the four corners for enhanced strength and durability. This composite structure allows the retainer to maintain ease of manufacture while significantly improving reliability at the critical corner regions where positioning posts extend through.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire retainer from metal, the invention applies metallic retaining supports only at the specific locations (four corners) where strength is needed to withstand the positioning posts. The rest of the retainer remains plastic, maintaining its lightweight and easy-to-manufacture properties. This localized application of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a plastic retainer is used to hold the CPU, then the retainer is cost-effective, but it lacks the strength to endure engagement with the positioning posts
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer combines plastic and metal materials to achieve both cost-effectiveness and strength. The plastic frame part is cost-effective and easy to manufacture, while the metallic retaining supports provide the necessary strength to endure engagement with the positioning posts without excessive cost, as only four corner supports are needed rather than a fully metal construction.
Solution Approach 2:
Metallic retaining supports are strategically placed only at the four corners where strength is required for positioning post engagement. The majority of the retainer structure remains plastic, maintaining cost-effectiveness. This localized strengthening approach provides the necessary strength while minimizing additional cost compared to a fully metal retainer.
3Reliability
If metallic retaining supports are embedded in the retainer corners, then the durability and retention strength are improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic retaining supports are pre-formed as separate components before being integrated into the plastic frame part. This preliminary preparation allows for standardized manufacturing of the metal supports, which can then be efficiently embedded into the plastic during the molding process, reducing the overall manufacturing complexity compared to creating a fully integrated metal-plastic component.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction allows the plastic frame part and metallic retaining supports to be manufactured separately using optimized processes for each material, then combined through embedding. This approach reduces manufacturing complexity by leveraging the strengths of each material's fabrication process rather than attempting to create a monolithic structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts retained to the housing, a metallic frame/fastener surrounding the housing, a retainer/clip positioned upon the housing and retaining a CPU thereon. The metallic frame includes four positioning posts at four corners, and the retainer includes a frame part to form a receiving space for receiving the CPU therein, and further includes four metallic retaining supports embedded within four corners of the retainer corresponding to the four positioning posts so as to allow the four positioning posts to extending therethrough in the vertical direction.