Lever-Type Connector Locking Mechanism for Detector Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lever-type connectors face issues with inadvertent movement of the detecting member during transportation and connection, leading to increased workload and potential interference with other connectors or external objects.
Innovation Solution
A lever-type connector design featuring a first housing, a rotatable lever, and a second housing with a full locking portion, where the detector is locked at the standby position by the lever-side lock, preventing unintended movement to the detection position, and the lever is maintained at a retracted position for transportation, with the lever-side locking portion positioned differently from the full locking portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lever is locked to the female housing at the proper connection position, then the connector size is reduced and interference is avoided, but the detector may be pressed by the lock protrusion and move to the detection position inadvertently
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a lock protrusion for full locking and a detector locking portion for securing the detector. This segmentation allows the detector to be locked independently from the full locking mechanism, preventing inadvertent detector movement while maintaining compact connector size.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated detector locking portion acts as an intermediary element between the detector and the lever. This intermediary component specifically prevents detector movement without interfering with the full locking function, resolving the conflict between compact size and detector stability.
2Ease of operation
If the lever is retracted to reduce projection and avoid interference, then transportation is improved, but the detector locking reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The detector locking portion is designed to engage the detector in advance at the standby position, before the lever is retracted. This preliminary locking action ensures that the detector remains secured during the retraction process and throughout transportation, maintaining reliability while enabling compact configuration.
3Device complexity
If a single lock mechanism is used for both full locking and detector locking, then device complexity is reduced, but the detector may be inadvertently moved when full locking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional portions: a lock protrusion for full housing locking and a separate detector locking portion for securing the detector. This segmentation prevents the detector from being inadvertently moved during full locking operations, while adding minimal complexity to the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
A lever-type connector has a lever that rotates about a shaft on a first housing between a retracted position and a connection start position. The first housing and a second housing are connected by rotation of the lever from the connection start position. A detector is movable between a standby position and a detection position with respect to the lever. The lever includes a lock on an end separated from the shaft. The second housing includes a full locking portion to engage the lock when the housings are connected. The detector locks the lock at the standby position and becomes movable to the detection position when the full locking portion engages the lock. The first housing includes a housing-side lock, and the lever includes a lever-side lock that locks the housing-side lock at the retracted position. The lever-side lock is at a position different from the lock of the lever.