Lever Connector Wire Cover Locking for Large-Diameter Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors face challenges in stably mounting wire covers, especially when using wires with large diameters, due to the risk of disengagement of engaging projections and increased complexity and cost associated with different wire exit orientations.
Innovation Solution
The connector design incorporates a first lock portion with a cover-side engaging projection and a body-side receiving projection, along with a wall to suppress disengagement, and symmetrical lock pieces to allow reversible wire cover mounting, reducing the need for multiple connector types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wire cover is mounted on a connector body with conventional locking mechanisms, then the wire cover can be locked to the connector body, but the engaging projections may disengage when using wires with large diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent lock portions: a first lock portion that locks the wire cover in the first direction (preventing disengagement of engaging projections) and a second lock portion that locks the wire cover in the second direction (preventing rotation). This segmentation allows each lock portion to specialize in preventing specific types of disengagement, thereby improving overall reliability when using wires with large diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The first lock portion performs preliminary locking action by engaging the first engaging projection with the first engaging groove before the wire cover is fully mounted. This preliminary action stabilizes the wire cover in the first direction, preventing the engaging projections from disengaging during the mounting process, especially when dealing with large diameter wires that may cause instability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different connector types are used for different wire exit orientations, then wire cover mounting can be optimized for each orientation, but production and management costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single connector body design incorporates both a first lock portion and a second lock portion, enabling it to handle multiple wire exit orientations and mounting scenarios universally. The first lock portion manages locking in the first direction while the second lock portion manages locking in the second direction, allowing one connector type to replace multiple specialized connector types, thereby reducing production and management costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple lock portions into a single connector body. Instead of using different connector types for different wire exit orientations, the single connector body integrates both the first lock portion (for preventing disengagement) and the second lock portion (for preventing rotation), combining multiple locking functions into one universal component that reduces device complexity and inventory requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A lever-type connector to be connected to a male connector is provided with a connector body and a wire cover. A first lock portion includes a first lock piece extending downward (forward in a connection direction) from the wire cover and having a cover-side first engaging projection protruding leftward (toward one side in a first direction orthogonal to the connection direction), and a first lock receiving portion provided on a left side (one side) of the first lock piece in the connector body and including a body-side first engaging projection protruding rightward (toward the other side in the first direction) and to be engaged with the cover-side first engaging projection. A wall for suppressing the disengagement of the cover-side first engaging projection from the body-side first engaging projection is provided on a right side of the first lock piece.