Joint Connector Terminal Locking Piece Deflection Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional joint connectors for electric wire harnesses face challenges in inspecting the reliable short-circuiting of multiple wire terminals due to the deep location of the joint terminal, requiring additional components and increased size for effective insertion verification.
Innovation Solution
A joint connector design featuring deflectable terminal locking pieces that project outwardly until the wire terminals reach the proper insertion depth, then return to secure the connection, allowing for easy inspection without increasing component count or size, and an optional jig insertion space for detecting deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a retainer is added to the connector housing to enable inspection of wire-side terminal insertion, then the inspection capability is improved, but the number of components and size of the joint connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal locking piece is integrated directly into the connector housing as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate retainers. The locking piece serves dual functions: securing the wire-side terminal and providing external indication of insertion depth, thereby merging the locking function and inspection function into a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal locking piece performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a locking mechanism to secure the wire-side terminal, provides mechanical support, and serves as an inspection indicator through its deflection state. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional inspection components.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a retainer is added to the connector housing to enable inspection of wire-side terminal insertion, then the inspection capability is improved, but the size of the joint connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal locking piece is integrated directly into the connector housing as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate retainers. The locking piece serves dual functions: securing the wire-side terminal and providing external indication of insertion depth, thereby merging the locking function and inspection function into a single component.
3Reliability
If the joint terminal is located at a deepmost position in the connector housing, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the ease of determining insertion state deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal locking piece provides visual or tactile feedback about the insertion state of the wire-side terminal. When the terminal is properly inserted, the locking piece deflects to a specific position that can be observed or felt from outside the connector, providing immediate feedback on insertion completeness without requiring internal inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal locking piece acts as an intermediary between the deep-located joint terminal and the external inspector. It translates the internal insertion state into an external observable condition, allowing determination of insertion completeness without direct access to the deepmost position of the connector housing.
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
Ensures accurate and reliable short-circuiting of multiple wire terminals by facilitating easy inspection of insertion depth through visible projection or jig detection, maintaining the connector's compactness and simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
each of the terminal locking pieces has a shape deflectable so as to be retracted from the wire-side terminal perpendicularly to an insertion direction thereof and oppositely to the terminal insertion space, and a position of the terminal locking piece is set such that, until the wire-side terminal reaches a proper insertion depth position in the terminal insertion space, the terminal locking piece is deflected, by a pressing force from the wire-side terminal, so as to project outwardly from the main body wall, and, when the wire-side terminal reaches the proper insertion depth position, the wire-side terminal is electrically connected to the joint terminal and the terminal locking piece comes back into the main body wall by its elastic returning force
Data Source
AI summary
A joint connector capable of mutually short-circuiting wires reliably without an increase in the number of components and size thereof. The joint connector (JC) comprises a joint terminal for short-circuiting and a connector housing. The joint terminal includes a plurality of electric contact portions and a short-circuiting portion connecting the electric contact portions. The connector housing has a bottom wall and other walls surrounding a terminal insertion space into which each of the wire-side terminal is inserted, and a lance for locking the inserted wire-side terminal. The lance adapted to be deflected so as to project outwardly from the bottom wall, until the wire-side terminal reaches a proper insertion depth position, to be retracted from the wire-side terminal, and elastically return into the bottom wall, when the wire-side terminal reaches the position. The deflection of the lance allows the insertion of the wire-side terminal to be checked.