Lever Connector Transport Lock for Detecting Member Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lever-type connectors face issues where the detecting member inadvertently moves from the standby position to the detection position during transportation, leading to increased man-hours for returning it to the correct position, especially when handling the connectors from the connector process to the harness process.
Innovation Solution
The lever-type connector incorporates a transportation position between the temporary locking and complete locking positions, utilizing a lever lock portion and transportation lock portion to maintain the detecting member at the standby position during transportation, preventing unintended movement by releasing the locking mechanism at the complete locking position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the lever is locked to the female housing at the proper connection position, then the lever does not project from the female housing and interference is avoided, but the detecting member may inadvertently move to the detection position during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent segments: a transportation lock portion that locks the lever at the transportation position, and a complete locking portion that locks the lever at the complete locking position. This segmentation allows the detecting member to be reliably locked during transportation while still enabling proper connection locking, resolving the contradiction between avoiding interference and maintaining detecting member stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever is preliminarily locked at the transportation position using the transportation lock portion before the actual connection process. This preliminary locking action ensures the detecting member remains stable during transportation, preventing inadvertent movement, while still allowing the lever to be subsequently moved to the complete locking position for proper connection.
2Ease of operation
If the detecting member is allowed to move freely, then it can detect connection status, but it may inadvertently move during transportation increasing man-hours
Solution Approach 1:
The detecting member's mobility is made dynamic through the dual-locking mechanism. During transportation, the transportation lock portion constrains the lever and detecting member to prevent inadvertent movement. During connection, the complete locking portion allows the detecting member to move freely to detect connection status. This dynamic control eliminates the need to manually return the detecting member, reducing man-hours.
3Device complexity
If a single locking mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously prevent detecting member movement and enable proper connection locking
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into two independent portions: the transportation lock portion with transportation lock protrusions that engage with the lever at the transportation position, and the complete locking portion with lock protrusions that engage at the complete locking position. This segmentation provides reliable position control for both transportation and connection phases without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever lock portion acts as an intermediary element between the housing and the detecting member. It transmits the locking action from both the transportation lock portion and the complete locking portion to control the detecting member's position, enabling reliable position control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A lever-type connector of the present disclosure is provided with a housing, a lever and a detecting member. A transportation position is set between a temporary locking position and a complete locking position in a movement path of the lever. The lever includes a lever lock portion and a transportation lock portion. The housing includes a complete locking portion for holding the lever at the complete locking position by being locked to the lever lock portion and a temporary locking portion for holding the lever at the transportation position by being locked to the transportation lock portion. The detecting member is held at the standby position by being locked by the lever lock portion at the transportation position, and allowed to move from the standby position to the detection position by releasing locking with the lever lock portion by the complete locking portion at the complete locking position.