Ground Terminal Fitting Lock Structure for Secure Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection structures for ground terminals face challenges in maintaining proper positioning and preventing displacement when bolts are tightened, especially when using female screw holes and through holes, leading to misalignment and inability to bolt-fasten securely.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure featuring a grounding member with female screw holes and a hole-shaped receiving portion, a lock with a step on the ground terminal fitting that registers with the receiving portion, and butting portions to prevent rotation, ensuring stable alignment and secure fastening by applying rotational force and contact with the ground contact surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a lock with a step is inserted into a receiving portion to position the ground terminal, then the ground terminal can be positioned with respect to the grounding member, but the step may deviate from the opening edge of the receiving portion and the lock may be inserted deep into the receiving portion when tightening the first bolt, causing displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a butting portion that prevents the lock from rotating too far before the step engages with the receiving portion. The butting portion contacts the grounding member to limit the rotation angle, ensuring the step properly aligns with the opening edge of the receiving portion during bolt tightening, thus preventing displacement and maintaining both positioning accuracy and alignment stability.
2Strength
If the lock is inserted deep into the receiving portion during bolt tightening, then the locking force increases, but the ground terminal becomes displaced with respect to the grounding member and the other through hole deviates from the female screw hole
Solution Approach 1:
The butting portion provides preliminary anti-action by limiting the rotation of the terminal main body during bolt tightening. This prevents the lock from inserting too deeply into the receiving portion, thereby maintaining the alignment between the through holes and female screw holes while still achieving sufficient locking force through proper step engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the butting portion contact the grounding member before the step fully engages with the receiving portion. This preliminary contact establishes the correct rotational position and prevents excessive insertion, ensuring both adequate locking force and precise hole alignment are achieved simultaneously.
3Reliability
If rotational force is applied to tighten the first bolt, then the first mounting hole is secured to the first female screw hole, but the terminal main body may rotate causing the second mounting hole to misalign with the second female screw hole
Solution Approach 1:
The butting portion provides preliminary anti-action against the rotation caused by tightening the first bolt. By contacting the grounding member, it limits the rotation angle of the terminal main body, ensuring that while the first mounting hole achieves secure fastening, the second mounting hole remains properly aligned with the second female screw hole.
Data Source
AI summary
A grounding member (20) is formed with a receiving hole (23), and a ground terminal fitting (10) is formed with a cantilevered lock (13) including a step (13B). The lock (13) is locked to the receiving hole (23) with the step (13B) contact with a stopper (24) of the receiving hole (23). In tightening a first bolt (51) at a first mounting hole (151) and a first female screw hole (51), a rotational force in a direction to bring the step (13B) into contact with the stopper (24) is applied to a terminal main body (11). Butting portions (14) protrude from side edges (13D) of the lock (13) and prevent following rotation of the terminal main body (11) by contacting receiving surfaces (25) when the first bolt (51) is tightened.