Insulating Protective Tab for Electrical Connector Pinch Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors pose a risk of electric shock to technicians due to contact between conductive tools and pinch springs during assembly, as they often require conductive tools for operation, leading to potential tension and unsafe handling.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring a casing of insulating material with a conductive pinch spring and a movable, electrically insulating protective tab that isolates the tool from the pinch spring, allowing safe operation by preventing electrical discharge through a tangential actuation channel and positioning channel configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conductive tool is used to operate the pinch spring, then the operation can be performed, but the technician risks electric shock due to contact between the tool and the conductive pinch spring
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically insulating protective tab is introduced as an intermediary element between the conductive tool and the conductive pinch spring. The protective tab is movable and positioned to cover the pressure zone during tool insertion, preventing direct electrical contact while still allowing mechanical force transmission to operate the pinch spring.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective tab is positioned to prevent electrical contact, then safety is improved, but the tool insertion path must be designed with additional constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation channel is designed to approach the pressure zone tangentially rather than directly from the front. This angular approach allows the protective tab to effectively intercept the tool before it can contact the pinch spring, while the tool still reaches the pressure zone to apply force. The positioning channel provides a separate dimensional path for conductor insertion.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective tab extends to the dividing wall when the tool is inserted, then complete isolation is achieved, but the protective tab must be precisely positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The protective tab is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to automatically position itself in the correct location during tool insertion. The tab moves to cover the pressure zone when the tool is inserted into the actuation channel and extends toward the dividing wall, achieving complete isolation without requiring pre-positioning or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical connector (100) for connecting the stripped end (206) of an electrical conductor (204), said electrical connector (100) comprising: - a housing (102) made of electrically insulating material, - a pinch spring (110) made of electrically conductive material and housed in the housing (102), the pinch spring (110) forming a loop and having a window (112), the pinch spring (110) being provided to assume a rest position (Fig. 1) in which one of the edges of the window (112) is in contact with one of the ends (138) of said pinch spring (110) and an operating position (Fig. 2) in which said edge of the window (112) is not in contact with said end (138) and in which said stripped end (206) can be inserted into the window (112), the transition from the rest position to the operating position, achieved by applying pressure to a pressure zone (118) of said loop,and - a protective tab (132) made of electrically insulating material and movably mounted in the housing (102), the housing (102) having an actuation channel (126) opening substantially tangentially to said pressure zone (118) and intended to receive a tool (202), the housing (102) comprising a locking recess (130) disposed opposite the actuation channel (126) and separated from the pinch spring (110) by a separating wall (124), the free end of said protective tab (132) being disposed so as to be interposed between said pressure zone (118) and the end of the tool (202) when it is inserted into the actuation channel (126), the free end of the protective tab (132) extending to the separating wall (124) when the end of The tool (202) is housed in the locking housing (130).