Plug Socket Connection With Rotating Lever Assembly Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug-in connections with multi-pole or multi-row pin and socket strips require significant effort for assembly and disassembly, and are prone to failure under harsh environmental conditions, such as those found in vehicle technology, due to the lack of robust designs that can withstand vibrations and dirt interference.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable lever with latching means that interacts with latching means on the pin or socket strip, featuring an eccentric actuating pin and guide bars, ensures robust assembly and disassembly by applying forces through a rotary motion, preventing tilting or breakage, and incorporating resilient latching for secure locking and easy separation, while allowing for correct alignment through coding means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lever is used to assemble and disassemble multi-pole pin and socket strips, then assembly and disassembly effort is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lever mechanism with the locking mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The lever (3) incorporates both the actuating function for moving the socket strip and the locking function through its latching means (12), eliminating the need for separate assembly and locking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the actuating mechanism to move the socket strip during assembly/disassembly, provides locking through its latching means, and ensures secure connection through the interaction with guide bars. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
2Reliability
If conventional assembly mechanisms are used without robust design, then the structure remains simple, but reliability under harsh environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to prevent dirt and vibrations from affecting the mechanism, the patent designs the guide bars (17) and actuating pin (25) interaction to actively exclude dirt particles. The guide bar geometry and the way the actuating pin interacts with it create a mechanism that is inherently resistant to contamination, allowing the mechanism to function reliably even in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching means (12) on the lever and the corresponding latching means on the pin strip are designed to engage before the final locked position is reached. This pre-latching provides a cushioning effect that absorbs shocks and vibrations, preventing the locking mechanism from disengaging under harsh environmental conditions.
3Reliability
If latching means are added to secure locking, then locking reliability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The latching means (12) are integrated into the lever structure itself rather than being separate components. The lever's web (26) forms part of the latching mechanism, combining the lever actuation function with the locking function in a single unified structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If coding means are implemented to prevent incorrect positioning, then connection accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coding means consist of asymmetric coding elements (15) on the pin strip that correspond to asymmetric coding recesses (16) on the socket strip. This asymmetric geometry ensures that only the correct alignment allows the lever to function properly, preventing incorrect positioning while using simple geometric features that are easy to manufacture.
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 solution reduces assembly and disassembly forces, ensures secure locking and easy separation, prevents incorrect positioning and electrical contacts, and maintains reliability under harsh conditions by using a robust and resilient design that compensates for tolerances and withstands vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
By means of this lever and its rotary motion, the forces required for the mating or separating are applied
Implementation Method 2
the lever having a pivot pin with which it is rotatably mounted on the pin strip, and an eccentrically arranged actuating pin
Implementation Method 3
the lever has latching means which interact with latching means arranged on the pin strip or the socket strip
Implementation Method 4
the latching means arranged on the pin strip or the socket strip or the latching means arranged on the lever are arranged resiliently
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5
AI summary
The connection has a male connector (1) and a female connector (2) that are formed pluggable together and separable by a rotating lever (3). The lever has a pintle that rotatably supports the lever at the male connector or female connector. The lever has an eccentrically arranged actuating bolt that works together with a guiding bar at the female connector or male connector during plugging together or separation. The male connector, the female connector and the lever are made of plastic and are manufactured in a plastic injection molding process.