Lever Fitting Connector Fulcrum Protrusion Groove Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lever fitting type connectors experience idle rotation issues due to premature release of the unrotatable state of the lever, which affects the reliable fitting of connectors, caused by a gentle angle of the taper portion on the release plate and varying force application methods.
Innovation Solution
The connector design incorporates a fulcrum protrusion with a guiding groove and receiving groove system, along with a taper portion on the release plate that increases in thickness towards the fitting direction, and an angle between 60° to 90−(tan−1×friction coefficient μ)°, and first and second taper walls in the receiving groove to ensure precise positioning of the fulcrum protrusion, preventing idle rotation and enhancing the locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the taper portion angle is made gentle to facilitate the temporary retaining portion passing over, then the release timing becomes delayed, but this causes the lever operation stroke to increase and the unrotatable state to be maintained too long
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving groove is divided into two distinct segments: a guiding groove portion that guides the fulcrum protrusion during insertion, and a receiving groove portion that receives and positions the fulcrum protrusion at the correct timing. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both smooth passage and precise timing control.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding groove portion performs the preliminary action of guiding the fulcrum protrusion along a predetermined path before the receiving groove portion takes over to position it precisely. This preliminary guidance ensures that when the unrotatable state is released, the fulcrum protrusion is already in the correct position, preventing idle rotation.
2Loss of time
If the unrotatable state is released early to reduce lever operation stroke, then the fitting reliability decreases due to idle rotation, but maintaining it too long increases operation stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple taper-based release mechanism with a more sophisticated groove-based positioning system. The guiding groove and receiving groove work together to provide precise mechanical guidance, ensuring the fulcrum protrusion reaches the correct position exactly when the unrotatable state is released, eliminating idle rotation while maintaining short operation stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure automatically guides the fulcrum protrusion to the correct position through its geometric configuration. The guiding groove portion and receiving groove portion work together to self-position the fulcrum protrusion without requiring additional control mechanisms, ensuring reliable timing based on the mechanical interaction itself.
3Reliability
If the fulcrum protrusion positioning is not precise, then idle rotation occurs affecting fitting reliability, but precise positioning requires complex groove structures
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure serves multiple functions: the guiding groove portion guides the fulcrum protrusion during insertion, the receiving groove portion positions it precisely, and together they control the release timing. This multi-functionality achieves precise positioning without requiring separate complex positioning mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional taper angle adjustment to a two-dimensional groove geometry approach. By designing the groove with specific cross-sectional shapes and orientations, the system achieves precise positioning control through geometric constraints in multiple dimensions, rather than relying solely on angular parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A lever fitting type connector includes a male connector, a lever which is rotatably attached to the male connector, and a female connector which has a fitting space into which the male connector is inserted. The lever has a fulcrum protrusion provided on one end portion of the lever. An inner wall forming the fitting space of the female connector has a guiding groove portion and a receiving groove portion for receiving the fulcrum protrusion. The guiding groove portion extends in a fitting direction of the male connector with respect to the female connector from an upper end portion of the inner wall toward the inside of the fitting space. The receiving groove portion which is communicated with the guiding groove portion and extends in a direction intersecting the fitting direction from one end of the guiding groove portion which is away from the upper portion of the inner wall. The fulcrum protrusion is positioned to the inside of the receiving groove portion at a time when an unrotatable state of the lever is released.