Female Terminal Fitting Stacked Plate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing female terminal fitting has complex fabrication processes and high costs due to the integration of multiple independently formed terminal holding plates, which require precise positioning and machining, and includes a male screw member that increases electrical resistance and allows for plate separation due to warping, reducing holding force.
Innovation Solution
A female terminal fitting with a terminal connecting portion formed by stacking metallic terminal holding plates, where auxiliary plates are folded onto a basic plate with a fixing piece engaging a locking portion, allowing for press fabrication and eliminating the need for a male screw member, ensuring stability and reducing fabrication complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple terminal holding plates are stacked and fastened with screw members, then the terminal connecting portion can be formed with multiple contact portions, but the fabrication process becomes complex and fabrication costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple terminal holding plates into a single integrated plate structure. Instead of stacking multiple separate plates and fastening them with screws, the invention uses one terminal holding plate that forms multiple terminal holding grooves through press working. This eliminates the need for multiple plates and screw fasteners, simplifying the fabrication process while maintaining the multi-contact capability for reliable electrical connection
Solution Approach 2:
The single terminal holding plate is segmented into multiple terminal holding grooves that are formed through press working. Each groove can hold a mating terminal fitting and establish electrical connection through contact portions. This segmentation allows the plate to provide multiple contact points while remaining a single integrated component that is easier to manufacture
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple terminal holding plates are stacked with high accuracy positioning, then the stacked configuration can be formed, but an exclusive positioning jig is required which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the need for positioning jigs by merging multiple terminal holding plates into a single integrated plate. Since there are no separate plates to position relative to each other, high-precision positioning equipment and exclusive positioning jigs become unnecessary. The single plate structure inherently maintains the required geometric relationships without additional positioning mechanisms
3Reliability
If a male screw member is used to connect the terminal connecting portion to the electric wire connecting portion, then the connection can be established, but the electric resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the male screw member from the connection structure. Instead of using a screw-based mechanical connection that introduces additional contact interfaces and increases electrical resistance, the patent directly integrates the terminal holding plate with the electric wire connecting portion through press working. This creates a more direct electrical path with fewer interfaces, reducing overall electric resistance while maintaining connection stability
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
This configuration simplifies the fabrication process, reduces costs, prevents plate separation due to warping, and maintains stable connecting performance by ensuring the terminal holding plates are securely fixed and the electric wire connecting portion is free from increased resistance.
Implementation Method 1
auxiliary terminal holding plates which are folded at portions where bending margins are provided so as to be in a stacked state on the basic terminal holding plate
Implementation Method 2
a fixing piece which is brought into engagement with a locking portion which is formed on the basic terminal holding plate to fix the auxiliary terminal holding plates which are stacked on one another
Data Source
AI summary
A female terminal fitting includes terminal holding plates stacked on one another are configured of a basic terminal holding plate formed integrally with one end of an electric wire connecting portion and auxiliary terminal holding plates which are formed on corresponding edges of the basic terminal holding plate via corresponding bending margins and which are folded up and then down on to the basic terminal holding plate so that the auxiliary terminal holding plates are in a stacked state on the basic terminal holding plate. A fixing piece is formed integrally on an auxiliary terminal holding plate which is stacked at an uppermost level at an edge portion on a side which lies opposite to a side where the bending margin is provided, so as to be brought into engagement with a locking portion on the basic terminal holding plate to fix the stacked state.