Elastic Contact Design for Smooth Insertion and Wear Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contacts experience issues with smooth relative movement and surface wear when only one connection object is inserted, leading to impaired contact reliability due to excessive rubbing and lack of clearance.
Innovation Solution
A contact design featuring conductive portions with biasing members and support structures that allow for smooth movement and clearance, preventing excessive rubbing by adjusting the distance between contact portions to accommodate different connection object thicknesses and maintaining a good surface state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distance between contact portions is set smaller than the thickness of the connection object, then the connection object can be held firmly between the contact portions, but smooth relative movement cannot be achieved and excessive rubbing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portions are designed with elastic properties, allowing them to dynamically adjust their distance based on the presence and thickness of connection objects. When connection objects are inserted, the contact portions elastically deform to accommodate varying thicknesses, maintaining both firm holding and smooth movement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The distance between contact portions is designed to be variable rather than fixed. The elastic deformation of contact portions changes the effective distance parameter dynamically, allowing it to adapt between smaller than thickness (for firm holding) and larger than thickness (for smooth movement) depending on operational conditions
2Reliability
If the distance between contact portions is set smaller than the thickness of the connection object, then the connection object is grasped firmly, but the surface state deteriorates due to excessive rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic contact portions dynamically adjust their configuration to minimize harmful rubbing. When connection objects are inserted, the elastic deformation allows the contact portions to adapt their shape and position, reducing friction and wear while maintaining reliable electrical contact
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of contact portions (distance, shape, position) are designed to change elastically in response to connection object insertion. This parameter adaptation reduces excessive rubbing and surface wear while preserving firm grasping and electrical connectivity
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
Ensures smooth relative movement and maintains a good surface state between the contact and connection object, enhancing contact reliability by providing clearance and reducing wear, even when only one object is inserted.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of conductive portions (50, 150, 250, 50A) and a biasing member (60, 160, 260) attached between the pair of conductive portions (50, 150, 250, 50A) and biasing the pair of conductive portions (50, 150, 250, 50A) toward each other
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a contact that, in the state where either one of connection objects is inserted into the contact, makes smooth the relative movement between the contact and the connection object and maintains a good surface state of the contact and the connection object. A distance (W1) between first contact portions (53) is set smaller than a thickness (T1) of a first connection object (91) in the state where neither of the first connection object (91) and a second connection object (83) is inserted into a contact (40). A distance (W2) between second contact portions (54) is set greater than a thickness (T2) of the second connection object (83) in the state where neither of the first connection object (91) and the second connection object (83) is inserted into the contact (40). When the first connection object (91) is inserted between the first contact portions (53), a pair of conductive portions (50) are relatively moved to shorten the distance between the second contact portions (54) so that the second connection object (83) is held between the second contact portions (54).