Floating Connector Structure for Vibration-Resistant Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face issues such as abrasion due to resonance frequency matching in vibration environments, creep phenomena, stress concentration at bent portions, and increased design costs due to varying connection target dimensions and specifications.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a separate add member for contact portions, which suppresses creep and allows for higher resonance frequencies, uses a fixed housing to limit excessive displacement, and employs common components for varying applications, reducing stress concentration and design complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the intermediate portion is made flexible to permit displacement, then the displacing portion can move relative to the fixed housing, but stress concentrates at bent portions causing potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate portion is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thicker at the bent portions and thinner at the center. This local quality variation allows the bent portions to withstand stress while maintaining flexibility for displacement, preventing stress concentration at critical locations
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion combines regions of different thickness and material properties within a single component. The varying cross-section creates a composite-like structure that distributes stress more evenly, allowing displacement while maintaining strength at stress-prone bent portions
2Reliability
If the connector design is customized for each connection target, then connection reliability is optimized, but design and manufacturing costs increase due to variations in dimensions and specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed housing and terminal are designed as universal components that can accommodate multiple connection targets with different dimensions and specifications. The movable housing and displacing portion are standardized, allowing a single connector design to serve multiple applications while maintaining connection reliability through the adaptable floating structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector 10 includes terminals 40, 50, and a movable housing 30 capable of displacing with respect to a mounting target 14. The terminals 40, 50 include displacing portions 44, 45, 54, 55 that displace together with the movable housing 30, and the displacing portions 44, 45, 54, 55 include one side contact portions 45, 55 that contact a connection target 11 from a one-side. The inner connector 10 includes add members 90 retained in the movable housing 30. The add members 90 include other-side contact portions 91 that contact the relay connector 11 from an other-side. The add members 90 are formed as separate bodies to the terminals 40, 50.