Female Terminal Locking Arrangement for Cylindrical Spring Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing female terminals with cylindrical spring contacts suffer from inefficient use of springs due to void generation and incorrect insertion issues, leading to reduced contact performance and ineffective utilization of all springs as points of contact.
Innovation Solution
The female terminal design incorporates asymmetrical fixing and locking parts, with notches and bending parts to securely lock the spring contact, preventing void formation and ensuring all springs are used effectively by overlapping end surfaces in a radial direction, thus preventing rotation and ensuring correct insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical spring contact is accommodated in a spring accommodation part formed by press working, then the spring contact can be securely held, but voids are generated at the joint where end surfaces oppose each other, causing incorrect insertion and reducing contact performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetrical positioning structures: a positioning projection protruding from the spring contact and a corresponding positioning groove in the terminal body. This asymmetrical arrangement prevents incorrect insertion by ensuring the spring contact can only be installed in the correct rotational position, thereby eliminating voids at joints and ensuring all springs make proper contact.
2Reliability
If the spring contact is restricted from moving rearward by a spring stopper, then the spring contact is prevented from falling out, but the spring contact cannot be restricted from rotating, leading to misalignment of joints
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds rotational stability through asymmetrical features: a positioning projection on the spring contact that fits into a positioning groove in the terminal body. This asymmetrical interface prevents rotation while maintaining the spring contact's ability to move forward and backward for electrical connection, thus ensuring the joint surfaces align properly without compromising retention.
3Productivity
If the joint of the spring contact overlaps with the joint of the terminal body in the radial direction, then all springs can be used as points of contact, but without asymmetrical positioning, incorrect insertion cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines both objectives by introducing asymmetrical positioning structures (positioning projection and groove) that prevent incorrect insertion. These asymmetrical features ensure the spring contact is oriented correctly, allowing all springs to align with corresponding contact points on the terminal body, thus maximizing spring utilization while guaranteeing insertion accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking part (13S) which is formed in an end part of a male terminal insertion side of a spring contact is fixed to a fixing part (11S) which is formed in an end part of a female terminal main body (11), and in this state, a joint (11T) at which one end surface and the other end surface which are positioned in a circumferential direction of the female terminal main body face each other, and a joint (T) at which one end surface and the other end surface which are positioned in a circumferential direction of a spring contact (13) each other, are positioned to overlap each other in a radial direction.