Lateral Support Ribs for Junction Box Terminal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrical junction boxes with L-shaped connecting terminals face stability issues during connector connection and removal due to potential backward movement, leading to unstable connections and risks of inaccurate positioning and solder crack formation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of lateral support ribs on both the terminal support and the housing to sandwich the L-shaped connecting terminal, preventing backward movement during connector insertion/removal and ensuring accurate positioning, thus enhancing connection stability and reducing solder crack occurrence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an L-shaped connecting terminal is used to adjust position and height, then positioning flexibility is improved, but connection stability deteriorates due to backward movement during connector connection
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple components: terminal support positioned behind the upward extending portion, housing supporting the leading end, first lateral support rib preventing width-direction displacement, and second lateral support rib providing additional lateral constraint. This segmentation allows each component to address specific stability issues while maintaining the L-shaped terminal's positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal support and lateral support ribs are positioned in advance to counteract the backward movement force that occurs during connector connection. The terminal support is preliminarily positioned to receive the upward extending portion before connection, and the lateral support ribs are pre-configured to prevent width-direction displacement, thereby preventing connection instability before it occurs.
2Ease of operation
If the connecting portion is not securely positioned, then insertion flexibility is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates leading to unstable connections
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the support structure provide different types of constraints: the terminal support provides rearward support for the upward extending portion, the housing provides support for the leading end, the first lateral support rib provides width-direction constraint, and the second lateral support rib provides additional lateral constraint. This local differentiation of support qualities achieves both flexibility and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral support ribs act as intermediary elements between the connecting terminal and the external environment. They mediate the interaction by providing controlled constraints that maintain positioning accuracy while allowing necessary movement for connector insertion and removal.
3Device complexity
If the L-shaped connecting terminal is used without additional support, then device complexity is reduced, but solder joint reliability deteriorates due to displacement during connector operations
Solution Approach 1:
The support functions are merged into the existing structural components: the terminal support is integrated with the connector housing structure, the lateral support ribs are formed as part of the housing, and the housing itself provides support for the leading end. This merging provides comprehensive support while minimizing additional components and maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical junction box is provided which has a novel structure that enables connectors to be stably connected even when an L-shaped connecting terminal is used as a connecting terminal of a lateral connection type connector. An upward extending portion (92) extending upright from an internal circuit (87) of a connecting terminal (90) is sandwiched by a housing (114) of a lateral connection type connector (128) and a terminal support (42), a first lateral support rib (64a) is provided on the terminal support (42), a second lateral support rib (64b) is provided on the housing (114), and a connecting portion (93) of the connecting terminal (90) is sandwiched by the pair of lateral support ribs (64a) and (64b) from both sides in the width direction.