Ground Terminal Fitting Locking Mechanism for Panel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection structures for ground terminals face difficulties in positioning the terminal with respect to a ground panel, especially when a female screw hole is provided on the panel and a through hole is positioned with respect to the screw hole, and the introduction of a lock to facilitate positioning complicates the alignment of the lock and receiving portion.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure that includes a female screw hole and a receiving portion on a grounding member, with a locking portion on the terminal main body aligned with the wire's axis, allowing easy alignment and locking, and featuring mounting holes that correspond to the screw holes to prevent rotation of the terminal main body, utilizing a bolt to secure the terminal to the grounding member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lock and receiving portion are provided to facilitate positioning the ground terminal, then positioning ease is improved, but the alignment difficulty between the lock and receiving portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is positioned asymmetrically on the terminal main body at a location that aligns with the wire's axis line extension. This asymmetric positioning creates a natural visual reference that simplifies alignment with the receiving portion, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while maintaining the positioning facilitation benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The wire's axis line serves as an intermediary reference element that mediates the alignment between the locking portion and receiving portion. By positioning the locking portion on the wire's axis line extension, the wire itself becomes a visual guide that facilitates accurate alignment without requiring additional alignment features or complex procedures
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the locking portion is positioned on the wire's axis line extension, then visual alignment ease is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion serves multiple functions: it provides the locking mechanism, acts as a positioning feature, and serves as a visual alignment reference through its position on the wire's axis line extension. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate alignment features, thereby improving visual alignment ease without significantly increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is merged with the positioning and alignment reference functions by positioning it on the wire's axis line extension. This consolidation allows the same structural element to fulfill multiple roles, improving visual alignment ease while avoiding the need for additional separate components that would increase structural complexity
3Reliability
If the locking portion and receiving portion prevent following rotation, then anti-rotation function is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion and receiving portion are designed to simultaneously provide both positioning alignment and anti-rotation functions. The same interacting surfaces that enable the locking mechanism also prevent following rotation of the terminal main body, thereby improving anti-rotation reliability without requiring separate dedicated anti-rotation components
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning and anti-rotation functions are merged into the same locking mechanism. The locking portion's interaction with the receiving portion accomplishes both functions in a single structural arrangement, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation features and thereby maintaining structural simplicity while improving anti-rotation reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A connection structure connects a plate-like terminal main body (11) on the ground terminal fitting (10) in surface contact with a grounding member (20) that has female screw holes (41, 42) and a receiving portion (23). A wire connecting portion (12) on the ground terminal fitting (10) is connected to a wire (60). A lock (13) on the terminal main body (11) engages the receiving portion (23) and is on an axis line extension (70) of the wire (60). Mounting holes (151, 152) formed on the terminal main body (11) and aligned with the female screw holes (41, 42) by locking the lock (13) to the receiving portion (23). The ground terminal fitting (10) is connected to the grounding member (20) by screwing bolts (51, 52) inserted through the mounting holes (151, 152) into the female screw holes (41, 42).