Lever-Type Connector Cover Mounting Guide System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lever-type connectors face issues with smooth cover mounting and inadequate holding force due to relative displacement between the slider and lever, leading to interference and reduced engagement efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a guide system on the cover and housing that aligns the cover with the housing during mounting, preventing detachment and enhancing the holding force through undeflectable engagement, with a stopper tooth to prevent slider movement and a temporary holding mechanism for smooth cam pin guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover is mounted by fitting onto the connector housing with resilient pieces, then the cover can be easily mounted, but the holding force is insufficient and the gear and rack cannot be smoothly engaged due to relative displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting process is divided into two distinct phases: first mounting the cover at a non-engageable position where the gear teeth and rack teeth are not engaged, then moving the cover to an engageable position where the gear teeth and rack teeth engage. This segmentation allows the cover to be mounted without interference while ensuring proper engagement, resolving the contradiction between ease of mounting and holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide and guide receiving portion are designed to preliminarily align the cover with the housing before the gear teeth and rack teeth engage. This preliminary alignment action prevents relative displacement during mounting, ensuring both smooth mounting and reliable engagement, thereby improving holding force without compromising ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the cover is mounted at a position where the gear teeth and rack teeth are engaged, then the holding force is improved, but the cover cannot be smoothly mounted due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting process is divided into two distinct phases: first mounting the cover at a non-engageable position where the gear teeth and rack teeth are not engaged, then moving the cover to an engageable position where the gear teeth and rack teeth engage. This segmentation allows the cover to be mounted without interference while ensuring proper engagement, resolving the contradiction between ease of mounting and holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is mounted in a direction along the connecting direction to a non-engageable position first, and then moved to an engageable position. This dimensional approach to mounting sequence allows the cover to be installed without gear-rack interference, then properly engaged to achieve reliable holding force.
3Ease of operation
If the guide and guide receiving portion are deflectable, then the cover can be easily mounted, but the cover can be detached in the connecting direction
Solution Approach 1:
The guide and guide receiving portion act as intermediary elements that come into contact with each other in the connecting direction. This intermediary contact prevents the cover from being detached while allowing the cover to be smoothly mounted by guiding its movement, resolving the contradiction between ease of mounting and prevention of detachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A lever (4) mounted on a cover (3) is held at a standby position and, in that state, the cover (3) is fitted to a housing (1) in a connecting direction to a position where the cover (3) is not aligned with the housing (1). At this position, gear teeth of the lever (4) and rack teeth of sliders (2) do not interfere with each other and are not engaged. If the cover (3) is subsequently moved in a direction perpendicular to the connecting direction via a guiding action of the engagement of guide receiving portions (9) of the connector housing (1) and U-shaped guide portions (15) formed on the cover (3), the cover (3) is smoothly mounted at a proper mounting position. At this time, since the guide portions (15) vertically sandwich the guide receiving portions (9), upward detachment of the cover (3) is prevented.