Interlock Connector Housing for Detector Alignment During Cover Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment of detectors in connectors can be cumbersome due to manufacturing tolerances, making the mounting of covers on connector housings more difficult as the position of the device-side detector may deviate, requiring manual alignment of the cover-side detector with the connector-side detector.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a holder with flexible wires and independently movable first and second housings within the connector housing, allowing for individual alignment of cover and standby terminals without requiring precise positioning of the second housing, facilitated by extra length portions of the flexible wires and a fixing portion within the tubular portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the device-side detector position deviates from the proper position within manufacturing tolerances, then the connector-side detector must move to align with it, but the operation of mounting the cover becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The connector-side detector is made movable in the plane direction through a slider mechanism guided by guide rails. This dynamic structure allows the detector to automatically adjust its position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the device-side detector, enabling easy alignment without making the cover mounting operation cumbersome.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider mechanism acts as an intermediary between the fixed connector housing and the movable connector-side detector. It provides a controlled degree of freedom that mediates the position mismatch caused by manufacturing tolerances, allowing the detector to find its correct alignment position while the cover mounting remains straightforward.
2Ease of operation
If the connector-side detector is made movable to compensate for position deviations, then alignment becomes easier, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connector-side detector is made movable in the plane direction through a slider mechanism guided by guide rails. This dynamic structure allows the detector to automatically adjust its position to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the device-side detector, enabling easy alignment without making the cover mounting operation cumbersome.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable connector-side detector structure enables the system to self-align during the cover mounting process. The detector automatically positions itself relative to the device-side detector through the slider mechanism, eliminating the need for complex external alignment procedures or additional adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises two connection terminals, two wires, a connector housing, a cover, and an interlock connector (200). The interlock connector (200) has two first terminals (210), two second terminals (220), two flexible wires (230), a first housing (240), a second housing (250), and a holder (260). The holder (260) holds the first housing (240) and the second housing (250) movably in the plane direction. Each flexible wire (230) has an extra length portion (230a) that is pulled out from the holder (260) to the outside of the holder (260) and allows the first housing (240) and the second housing (250) to move in the plane direction with respect to the holder (260). The connector housing has a fixing portion that fixes the holder (260).