Floating Terminal Connector Structure for Vibration Wear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connectors used in vibration environments, such as automobiles, experience repeated sliding and elastic deformation of contact portions due to resonance with engine or road vibrations, leading to wear and breakage, as the displacement portion is fixed to the movable housing, increasing inertial force and decreasing resonance frequency.
Innovation Solution
A connector design where the movable housing and displacement portion are independently displaceable in the X direction, with limiting portions to restrict movement within predetermined ranges, reducing the mass of integrally displaced parts and preventing excessive sliding and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the displacement portion is fixed to the movable housing, then the movable housing and displacement portion can be displaced together to accommodate positional deviation, but the mass of the integrally displaced portion increases, causing increased inertial force and decreased resonance frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two independently displaceable components: the movable housing and the displacement portion. The movable housing can displace relative to the attachment object, and the displacement portion can displace relative to the movable housing. This segmentation allows each component to have smaller mass, reducing inertial force while maintaining the ability to accommodate positional deviation through combined displacements.
2Device complexity
If the displacement portion is fixed to the movable housing, then the structure is simplified, but the resonance frequency decreases due to increased mass, leading to repeated sliding and wear under vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into the movable housing and the displacement portion as separate displaceable components. This increases structural complexity but significantly raises the resonance frequency by reducing the mass of each component. The segmentation prevents harmful resonance with engine and road vibrations, thereby improving reliability and preventing wear and breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector employs dynamic displacement capabilities at two levels: the movable housing displaces relative to the attachment object, and the displacement portion displaces relative to the movable housing. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt to vibrations and positional deviations while maintaining high resonance frequency, thus improving reliability under vibrational conditions.
3Weight of moving object
If the movable housing and displacement portion are independently displaceable, then the mass of integrally displaced parts is reduced and resonance frequency increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into the movable housing and the displacement portion, each with independent displacement capabilities. This segmentation reduces the mass of integrally displaced portions and increases resonance frequency. Although it increases device complexity by adding components, the segmentation is essential to achieve the desired dynamic characteristics and prevent vibration-induced wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector implements dynamic displacement at two levels: the movable housing relative to the attachment object, and the displacement portion relative to the movable housing. This dynamic configuration reduces the mass of each moving component, raising the resonance frequency to avoid harmful vibrations. The increased device complexity is justified by the significant improvement in vibrational performance and reliability.
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 design suppresses repeated sliding and elastic deformation, enhancing durability and reducing the risk of wear and breakage by allowing the displacement portion to adjust to positional deviations without increasing inertial force.
Implementation Method 1
the mass of a portion that is integrally displaced when the displacement portion is displaced is large. Therefore, the inertial force acting on the portion integrally displaced tends to increase
Implementation Method 2
when the frequency of a vibration of an engine of an automobile, a vibration from a road surface, or the like coincides with the resonance frequency of the displacement portion of the connector in a state of being connected to the connection object, the displacement portion will vibrate violently
Implementation Method 3
limiting portions to restrict movement within predetermined ranges
Implementation Method 4
the contact portion formed in the displacement portion may repeatedly slide with respect to the connection object... Such repeated sliding and elastic deformation may cause wear of the contact portion
Data Source
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AI summary
The connector 10 includes a movable housing 40 that is displaceable with respect to an attachment object 90 in an X direction, which is a direction perpendicular to a connection direction, and a terminal 20 configured to electrically connect the attachment object 90 and a connection object 80. The terminal 20 includes the displacement portion 24 that is displaceable in the X direction with respect to the attachment object 90. The contact portions 24cl and 24fl configured to contact the connection object 80 are formed in the displacement portion 24. Here, the displacement portion 24 is displaceable with respect to the movable housing 40.