Joint Connector With Elastic Tabs For Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint connectors experience increased contact resistance due to vibrations and temperature variations, which can lead to loss of electrical conductivity between neighboring terminals.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of elastically deformable tabs in the connector housing that contact the sidewalls of the terminal body, compensating for clearance changes and stabilizing the joint terminals' position, thereby maintaining stable contact between the first and second contact portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If clearance is provided between the terminal body and partitions to enable insertion, then the terminal body can be inserted into the terminal chamber, but the joint terminal may vibrate under vibrational environment causing increased contact resistance
Solution Approach 1:
A deformable tab is introduced as an intermediary component between the partition and the terminal body. The tab extends into the terminal chamber and contacts the terminal body, serving as a mediator that both guides insertion and prevents vibration. The tab's deformable nature allows it to accommodate the terminal body during insertion while its elastic restoration behavior restrains vibration during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab's physical state is changed from rigid to elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adjust its properties. During insertion, the tab deforms to accommodate the terminal body; during operation, it uses its elastic restoration behavior to maintain contact and prevent vibration, thus adapting to different operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If clearance is provided between the terminal body and partitions, then the terminal body can be inserted into the terminal chamber, but the terminal body position may change due to temperature variations causing increased contact resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The tab's elastic properties enable it to respond to temperature-induced dimensional changes. As temperature varies, the tab deforms accordingly and uses its elastic restoration behavior to maintain consistent contact pressure with the terminal body, compensating for thermal expansion or contraction and preventing position drift.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable tab acts as a cushioning element that anticipates and absorbs the effects of temperature variations. By being pre-installed in the partition, it is positioned to absorb thermal expansion forces before they can cause the terminal body to shift position or lose contact.
3Device complexity
If no additional components are used for connecting neighboring joint terminals, then the device complexity is reduced, but the contact resistance increases under vibrations and temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable tab serves as a simple intermediary component that provides vibration and thermal compensation without requiring complex mechanisms. This single element achieves what would otherwise require multiple components, maintaining low device complexity while significantly improving reliability under environmental stress.
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 deformable tabs effectively restrict the increase in contact resistance caused by vibrations and temperature variations, ensuring stable electrical conductivity between neighboring joint terminals.
Implementation Method 1
the opposed deformable tabs contact with sidewalls of the terminal body of the each of the neighboring joint terminals, respectively, by an elastic restoration behavior of the opposed deformable tabs
Data Source
AI summary
A joint connector includes a housing that includes terminal chambers. At least two neighboring joint terminals are housed in terminal chambers neighboring among the terminal chambers, respectively. Each of the neighboring joint terminals includes a wire-crimping portion, a terminal body housed in a terminal chamber among the plurality of terminal chambers, and a pair of first and second contact portions, respectively. The first contact portion of one of the neighboring joint terminals is electrically contacted with the second contact portion of another of the neighboring joint terminals. The connector housing is provided with pairs of elastically deformable tabs, each of the pairs including two opposed deformable tabs and provided in each of the plurality of the terminal chambers. The opposed deformable tabs contact with sidewalls of the terminal body of the each of the neighboring joint terminals, respectively, by an elastic restoration behavior of the opposed deformable tabs.