Lever-Type Connector Retainer Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lever-type connectors with retainers positioned inside an outer housing face difficulties in moving the retainer from a released position to a locked position, leading to incomplete latching and potential contact loss due to misalignment between the tool insertion direction and retainer movement direction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an inner and outer housing with a slider and lever mechanism, featuring first and second retainer operation passageways that align only when the slider is in a mated position, allowing the retainer to be moved efficiently from a released to a locked position by matching the tool insertion direction with the retainer movement direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the retainer is arranged inside the outer housing to prevent unintentional release, then the reliability of latching is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because it becomes difficult to move the retainer from released to locked position
Solution Approach 1:
A tool insertion passageway is provided on the outer housing that allows a tool to be inserted and move the retainer from the released position to the locked position. This intermediary access path enables easy operation of the retainer while it remains positioned inside the outer housing for reliable latching, resolving the contradiction between protection and operability
2Device complexity
If the tool insertion direction is not aligned with the retainer movement direction, then the outer housing structure is simplified, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to incomplete latching
Solution Approach 1:
The tool insertion passageway is designed with an asymmetric orientation that aligns the tool insertion direction with the retainer movement direction. This asymmetric configuration ensures that when the tool is inserted through the passageway, it directly pushes the retainer in the correct direction to achieve complete latching, eliminating the problem of misalignment while maintaining structural simplicity
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
This configuration ensures secure and efficient secondary latching of contacts by the retainer, preventing contact loss and facilitating easy operation by aligning the tool insertion path with the retainer movement, thus enhancing the reliability of the connector.
Implementation Method 1
a lever (30) for moving the slider (13) by rotation of the lever
Implementation Method 2
utilizing effect of boosting by a lever
Implementation Method 3
having a cam groove into which a cam pin provided on the mating connector is inserted
Data Source
AI summary
A lever-type connector capable of securely and efficiently carrying out a secondary latch onto a contact by a retainer and release of the secondary latch is provided. The lever-type connector includes an inner housing, an outer housing, a retainer, a slider, a lever and a first and second retainer operation passageway. The inner housing includes a contact receiving passageway for receiving a contact, which is latched by a retainer inserted into the inner housing. The inner housing is inserted into and received by the outer housing. The slider is movable within the outer housing and having a cam groove into which a cam pin provided on the mating connector is inserted. The lever is attached to the outer housing and moves the slider by rotation of the lever. The first retainer operation passageway is positioned on a side surface of the outer housing, while the second retainer operation passageway is located on the slider. The first retainer operation passageway is in communication with the second retainer operation passageway when the slider is set to a mated position.