Lever-Type Connector Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lever-type connectors with position ensuring members face challenges in operability, particularly in transitioning the position ensuring member from a standby to a fully locked position, requiring the release of a locked state, which complicates the fitting and connection process.
Innovation Solution
The lever-type connector incorporates a rotational lever member and position ensuring member with locking mechanisms that allow for reduced fitting and removal operation forces by transitioning between temporarily fitted and completely fitted states through rotational operations, with specific locking mechanisms restricting movement based on the lever's position, enhancing the operability of the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a position ensuring member is provided in a lever-type connector to ensure complete fitting, then connection reliability is improved, but the operability deteriorates because the position ensuring member requires release of a locked state to move from standby to fully locked position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the position ensuring member's locking function with the lever member's rotational operation. The locked state release and position transition are merged into a single lever rotation action, eliminating the need for separate operations and improving ease of use while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever member is designed to automatically release the locked state of the position ensuring member during its rotational operation. This preliminary action of automatic locked state release prepares the position ensuring member for smooth transition to the fully locked position, reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to restrict position ensuring member movement, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever member serves multiple functions: it provides the primary fitting/removal operation, controls the locking mechanism, and drives the position ensuring member transition. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing automatic engagement and disengagement based on lever position. This dynamic behavior provides reliable locking when needed while simplifying the structure by eliminating permanent mechanical constraints.
Data Source
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AI summary
Between a housing (10) and a position ensuring member (40), provided are: a first locking mechanism (51) that locks move of the position ensuring member (40) at a standby position in an ensuring-operation direction toward a fitting assured position when a lever member (30) is not at a completely fitted position; and a second locking mechanism (52) that locks move of the position ensuring member (40) at the fitting ensured position in an ensuring-release direction that is a reverse direction of the ensuring-operation direction when the lever member (30) is at the completely fitted position. Between the lever member (30) and the position ensuring member (40), provided is a locking release mechanism (60) that releases a locked state of the position ensuring member (40) with the first locking mechanism (51) when the lever member (30) comes at the completely fitted position.