Elastic Arm Terminal With Buffer Section For Reduced Insertion Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector terminals require precise alignment and high insertion force due to narrow entrance spaces, making it difficult to insert mating terminals and maintain stable contact.
Innovation Solution
A terminal design featuring dual elastic arms with a buffer section and extension section, where the protrusions on the arms are sized and positioned to facilitate easy insertion and increase contact points, along with a strengthening rib for enhanced stability, allowing for reduced insertion force and improved contact reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the mating opening is surrounded by the receiving portion along its periphery, then the terminal structure provides sufficient positive force, but the entrance space becomes narrow requiring larger insertion force
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving portion is divided into multiple side walls that can be independently elastically displaced. Each side wall acts as a separate segment that can be pushed open individually, distributing the insertion force and making insertion easier while maintaining structural strength through the combined action of all segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The side walls are designed with elastic properties, changing their mechanical parameter from rigid to flexible. This allows them to deform elastically during insertion, reducing the force required to open the entrance space, while still providing sufficient positive force when in the closed position.
2Reliability
If the side walls are made rigid to provide sufficient positive force, then contact reliability is improved, but the insertion force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic structure. During insertion, the side walls deform elastically to reduce insertion force, then return to their original position to provide reliable contact force, achieving both easy insertion and reliable contact through dynamic mechanical behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical properties of the side walls are changed from rigid to elastic, allowing them to exhibit different force characteristics during different phases of operation: soft during insertion and firm during contact, thus resolving the contradiction between insertion force and contact reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment is performed on the mating terminal, then the narrow entrance space can be navigated, but the insertion process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the receiving portion into multiple independently movable side walls, the patent creates a self-aligning mechanism. The elastic side walls can deform to accommodate slight misalignments, reducing the precision requirements and simplifying the insertion process without compromising the reliability of contact.
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 enables easy insertion of mating terminals with reduced force requirement and enhances the stability of electrical connections by increasing the number of contact points and the positive force generated by the elastic arms.
Implementation Method 1
the pair of elastic arms each have a side wall and two protrusions protruding toward the insertion space... the side walls are opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other and each are formed with a buffer section close to an end edge
Implementation Method 2
the protrusion at the front is at least partially positioned in the buffer section and has a larger size than the protrusion at the rear... allowing both the protrusion at the front and the protrusion at the rear to contact the mating portion of the mating terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal comprises a base portion, a mating portion, an engaging portion and a fixed portion. The mating portion consists of a pair of elastic arms, the pair of elastic arms extend forwardly from the base portion in symmetry with each other and cooperatively define an insertion space, and the pair of elastic arms each have a side wall and two protrusions protruding toward the insertion space, the two side walls are opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other and each are formed with a buffer section close to an end edge and an extension section between the buffer section and the base portion, the two side walls each make a height of the buffer section lower than a height of the extension section, the protrusions of the each elastic arm are formed on the side wall and arranged along a front to rear direction and spaced apart from each other, the protrusion at the front is at least partially positioned in the buffer section and has a larger size than the protrusion at the rear. The engaging portion extends rearwardly from the base portion. The fixed portion protrudes from the base portion.