Rotatable Lever Connector Latch for Secure Pre-Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional connectors are prone to accidental disconnection due to insufficient retention force and misalignment, especially under external forces or vibrations, leading to potential damage during handling and storage.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring an elastic L-shaped latching tongue that blocks rotation in the delivery position, with deformation mechanisms to prevent unwanted movement under excessive load, including a housing rib to support the latch and flanges to maintain the lever's position, ensuring robustness and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple frictional engagement or basic latch mechanism is used to secure the connector, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability is insufficient due to accidental disconnection under vibrations or external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a cam member with cam surface for guided insertion, a latch member with latch surface for secure locking, and a lever member for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam surface and cam member perform a preliminary guided insertion action before the latch member engages. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and positioning of the connector and counter-connector before the final latching occurs, preventing misalignment damage and ensuring reliable engagement.
2Manufacturing precision
If no guided insertion process is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but misalignment occurs leading to potential damage to connector pins or counter-connector housing
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surface provides a guided insertion path that preliminarily positions the connector relative to the counter-connector before latching occurs. This preliminary guidance ensures precise alignment of pins and housing features, preventing misalignment damage during the mating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam surface acts as an intermediary element between the connector housing and counter-connector housing during insertion. It mediates the alignment process by providing a controlled sliding path that guides the connector into proper position before the latch engages, ensuring precise alignment without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.
3Strength
If a deformable lug with abutment surface is used to block the lever, then the structure is simple, but the lever-housing interface is insufficient under excessive load during storage or transport
Solution Approach 1:
The latch member is designed with elastic material properties that allow it to deform under excessive load and then return to its original position. This parameter change (elastic deformation) enables the latch to absorb and dissipate abnormal forces during storage or transport, protecting the lever-housing interface from damage while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic latch member provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-configured to deform elastically under excessive load. This prior cushioning capability protects the lever-housing interface from damage during abnormal conditions such as storage or transport, absorbing shock and stress before they can cause permanent damage.
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
The design provides a more reliable lever-housing interface that withstands higher loads without damage, optimizing compactness, weight, and material efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic L-shaped latching tongue in a lever cutout blocks rotation when in delivery position with unlatching by bending the tongue through pre-engaging connector into counter-connector
Implementation Method 2
A lever may be arranged so as to provide a coupling aid, where an action on the lever generate an effort that bring connector and counter connector closer to each other
Implementation Method 3
When the housing 3 of the connector 1 is inserted M9 into the counter-connector 35, as illustrated in FIG. 2b, a protruding cam 30 of the blocking lug 10 is laterally pushed inward
Data Source
AI summary
A connector designed for mating with a counter-connector through the insertion of a connector housing into a counter-connector housing includes a lever that rotates around an axis between a first position for pre-engagement and a second position for full insertion. The connector features a latch with a tongue parallel to the lever's rotation plane, elastically flexible at its connection area with the housing. The tongue's free extremity blocks lever rotation in the delivery position, thereby preventing movement toward the mated position by abutting the lever. This extremity is displaced from its blocking position by a cam-like shape on the counter-connector during pre-engagement. The blocking action is cantilevered relative to the tongue's connection with the housing and/or angled with respect to the tongue's normal direction, causing deformation within the tongue's plane. This configuration ensures secure pre-engagement and controlled transition to the fully mated position.