Female Electrical Terminal With Extraction-Preventing Tooth
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing female electrical terminals are prone to disengagement due to vibrations, leading to interruptions in electrical connections, and lack a secure mating mechanism with blade-like male terminals.
Innovation Solution
A female electrical terminal design featuring a pair of leaf spring laminas with a protrusion for contact and an extraction-preventing tooth that snaps into the male terminal's hole, ensuring stable and secure contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the female terminal uses only protrusions for contact like known terminals, then the insertion force is reduced through soft insertion, but the terminal becomes easily disengageable due to vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal structure is segmented into two distinct functional elements: protrusions for contact and an extraction-preventing tooth for securing. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - the protrusions enable soft insertion by contacting the male terminal blade, while the tooth prevents disengagement by engaging with the hole in the male terminal, thus resolving the contradiction between easy insertion and secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two previously separate functions into a single integrated terminal structure: the contact function (through protrusions) and the retention function (through the extraction-preventing tooth). By combining these functions in one terminal component, the design achieves both soft insertion capability and vibration resistance without requiring separate mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the female terminal is designed with an extraction-preventing tooth, then the connection stability is improved and disengagement is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction-preventing tooth is implemented as a localized feature on one of the leaf spring laminas rather than redesigning the entire terminal structure. This local modification approach adds minimal complexity - essentially one additional geometric element - while providing the critical retention function. The tooth is strategically positioned to engage with the hole in the male terminal, creating a simple yet effective anti-disengagement mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the female terminal uses offset protrusions on two pairs of laminas, then soft insertion is achieved, but the terminal lacks secure mating capability
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal structure is segmented into two distinct functional elements: protrusions for contact and an extraction-preventing tooth for securing. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - the protrusions enable soft insertion by contacting the male terminal blade, while the tooth prevents disengagement by engaging with the hole in the male terminal, thus resolving the contradiction between easy insertion and secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction-preventing tooth acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the female terminal and the male terminal hole. During insertion, the tooth passes through the hole and then locks into place, creating a secure mechanical interlock. This intermediary feature enables the transition from a loose contact (protrusions only) to a secure mating (tooth engaged in hole), maintaining soft insertion while adding retention.
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 terminal provides a firm and stable connection with blade-like male terminals, resisting disengagement from vibrations and allowing for soft insertion, while being manufacturable with existing equipment and technologies at a lower cost.
Implementation Method 1
an extraction-preventing tooth which is designed to be inserted with a snap action in a hole of said blade-like male terminal
Implementation Method 2
the offset of the protrusions on the laminas causes the two pairs of laminas to be divaricated at different times
Data Source
AI summary
A female electrical terminal, comprising at least one pair of mutually opposite leaf spring laminas, which are adapted to provide an accommodation and contact region for an associated blade-like male terminal. A first lamina is provided with a protrusion for contact with the blade-like male terminal, while a second opposite lamina has an extraction-preventing tooth which is designed to be inserted with a snap action in the hole of the interposed blade-like male terminal.