Glow Plug Connector With Sliding Bushing Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for diesel engine glow plugs are overly complex and large due to limited space, making them difficult to mount correctly and reliably.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a cylindrical housing with elastically deformable axial arms and a slidably mounted bushing with guide ribs and grooves, allowing for a pre-locking and final locking mechanism to ensure correct mounting and secure engagement of the electrical conductor to the glow plug terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex construction is used to ensure secure engagement, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated housing structure. The housing simultaneously provides mechanical support, guides the bushing through integrated guide ribs and grooves, and enables locking through integrated arms and features. This merging eliminates the need for separate components while maintaining secure engagement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it supports the electrical receptacle terminal, guides the bushing during assembly, provides locking mechanisms through its arms, and ensures correct positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the connector assembly.
2Reliability
If a complex construction is used to ensure secure engagement, then reliability is improved, but the available space is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing is nested within the housing structure, sliding along guide ribs that are integral to the housing. The electrical receptacle terminal is housed within the housing, and the locking arms are integrated into the housing body. This nesting arrangement maximizes space utilization and minimizes the overall connector volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ribs and grooves utilize the radial dimension of the cylindrical housing to provide guidance, while the locking mechanism operates in the axial dimension. This multi-dimensional approach allows secure engagement without increasing the primary dimensional footprint of the connector.
3Volume of moving object
If limited space is available, then device size is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ribs and grooves are pre-formed as integral features of the housing and bushing, respectively. This preliminary structuring guides the bushing automatically during assembly, ensuring correct positioning without requiring precise manual alignment. The elastically deformable arms are pre-configured to engage the terminal portion, facilitating easy mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastically deformable axial arms automatically engage the terminal portion of the glow plug when the bushing is assembled. The bushing's movement along the guide ribs self-aligns the components, and the locking mechanism activates automatically when the bushing reaches its final position, reducing the need for manual intervention.
4Volume of moving object
If limited space is available, then device size is reduced, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ribs and grooves provide continuous geometric feedback during assembly, guiding the bushing along a predetermined path and ensuring correct positioning. The elastically deformable arms provide tactile feedback during engagement, and the locking mechanism provides positional feedback to confirm proper assembly, all within the compact connector design.
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 solution enables reliable and efficient connection of the electrical conductor to the glow plug, reducing complexity and size while ensuring secure locking, thus addressing the space constraints and mounting challenges of existing connectors.
Implementation Method 1
an end opening defined by a pair of elastically deformable axial arms capable of engaging the terminal portion
Implementation Method 2
a bushing slidably mounted around the housing by engagement of a longitudinal guide rib disposed on an outer surface of the housing in a longitudinal guide groove disposed on an inner surface of the bushing
Data Source
AI summary
A connector for connecting an electrical conductor to a glow plug of a diesel engine comprises an electrical receptacle terminal, a housing capable of receiving a terminal portion of the glow plug, and a bushing slidably mounted around the housing by engagement of a longitudinal guide rib disposed on an outer surface of the housing in a longitudinal guide groove disposed on an inner surface of the bushing. The housing has a substantially cylindrical tubular body containing the electrical receptacle terminal with an end opening defined by a pair of elastically deformable axial arms capable of engaging the terminal portion. The bushing is movable with respect to the housing from a pre-locking position to a locking position only when the housing is in a correctly mounted position on the terminal portion.