Locking Protrusion Jig Groove for Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing locking structures in electrical connection boxes for automobiles face durability issues due to vibration, which causes the engaging surfaces to wear off, making it difficult to maintain a stable engaged state, and thickening the protrusion complicates the release mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A locking structure with a thickened locking protrusion and a jig groove that allows for easy release using a jig or screwdriver, while maintaining durability, where the jig groove is positioned at the center and features inclined or curved surfaces for guiding the release tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking protrusion is thickened to improve durability against vibration, then the durability is improved, but the space for inserting a release tool is not generated making it difficult to release the engaged state
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusion is segmented into two functional zones: a thickened engagement portion for durability and a grooved release portion for tool insertion. The groove is formed by removing material from the thickened portion, creating a dedicated space for the release tool while preserving the overall thickened structure for vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
A groove is introduced as an intermediary feature that mediates between the thickened protrusion structure and the release tool. The groove serves as the interface that allows the release tool to access and push the locking arm without requiring the entire protrusion to be thin.
2Ease of operation
If the arm tip is made longer to generate space for release, then the engaged state can be released, but the arm tip abuts against the wall during bending preventing release
Solution Approach 1:
The release function is extracted from the arm tip and transferred to the locking protrusion. Instead of relying on the arm tip to provide release space, the groove is formed in the locking protrusion itself, allowing the release tool to push the locking arm from above without the arm tip contacting the wall.
3Ease of operation
If the locking protrusion is made thinner to allow release, then the release mechanism works, but the durability against vibration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusion has non-uniform thickness with different local qualities: the engagement portion is thickened for durability while the release portion contains a groove for tool access. This local differentiation allows both durability and release functionality to coexist.
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 enhances the durability of the locking protrusion and maintains ease of engagement release, ensuring a stable engaged state even under vibration, and improves workability during disengagement.
Implementation Method 1
the locking arm 5 elastically returns to the original state thereof as illustrated in FIG. 14
Data Source
AI summary
A locking structure includes: a locking protrusion and a locking arm. The locking arm includes a flexible arm main body and an engaging projection portion protruding from an outer surface of the arm main body. The locking protrusion includes a protrusion main body on which an arm guide surface, a protruding tip surface, and an engaging surface are disposed along the engagement direction, and a jig groove that is formed in the protrusion main body. The engaging projection portion is formed on the outer surface at a position away from an arm tip of the arm main body in the engagement direction. The protruding tip surface is longer than the arm tip in the engagement direction. The jig groove cuts out the protrusion main body in the engagement direction from the arm guide surface to the protruding tip surface.