Movable Connector Member for Low-Resistance Terminal Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connector designs that use levers to reduce friction resistance between female and male terminals often result in a larger connector size and can lead to settling of resilient contact pieces, which compromises proper contact pressure during connection.
Innovation Solution
A connector configuration featuring a movable portion with a slide-contact portion that slides and inclines to displace from a releasing position to a terminal deforming position, allowing resilient contact pieces to be deformed away from male terminals without the need for additional retainer components, thereby reducing connection resistance and preventing settling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a lever is used to cause cam action for reducing connection resistance, then connection resistance is reduced, but the connector size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of the lever (cam action) and applies it directly to the male housing through the inclined slide-contact portion, eliminating the need for a separate lever component. This reduces connector size while maintaining the force-reducing effect during connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the lever's cam action function into the male housing structure itself by forming the inclined slide-contact portion directly on the male housing. This integration eliminates the separate lever component and reduces overall connector size while maintaining the connection resistance reduction effect.
2Force
If resilient contact pieces are deformed in advance by a retainer, then connection resistance is reduced, but the resilient contact pieces settle and proper contact pressure cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a dynamic movable portion that can displace between positions, allowing the resilient contact pieces to be deformed only during the connection process rather than being held in a deformed state. This dynamic approach prevents settling while reducing connection resistance, ensuring proper contact pressure is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion is positioned to deform the resilient contact pieces away from the male terminal fitting in advance of the actual connection, but without fixing them in this deformed state. This preliminary deformation reduces connection resistance while allowing the contact pieces to return to their proper position for reliable contact.
3Volume of moving object
If the number of components is reduced to minimize connector size, then connector size is reduced, but the complexity of ensuring proper contact pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable portion serves multiple functions: it deforms the resilient contact pieces to reduce connection resistance, prevents their settling through controlled displacement, and ensures proper contact pressure is maintained. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion automatically displaces and returns based on the connection process itself, without requiring additional control mechanisms or components. The inclined slide-contact portion on the male housing provides the self-service action that deforms and releases the resilient contact pieces, simplifying the overall device structure.
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 effectively reduces connection resistance between female and male housings while maintaining proper contact pressure and preventing settling of resilient contact pieces, all while minimizing the number of components required.
Implementation Method 1
sliding in contact with the other of the movable portion and the male housing
Implementation Method 2
resilient contact piece... resiliently deformed away from the male terminal fitting
Data Source
AI summary
It is aimed to reduce connection resistance between a female housing and a male housing without causing the settling of a resilient contact piece of a female terminal fitting. A female connector (F) includes a female housing (10) configured to accommodate female terminal fittings (20) and to be connected to a male housing (50), and a movable portion (31) displaceable between a terminal deforming position where resilient contact pieces (25) are resiliently deformed away from male terminal fittings (60) and a releasing position where the movable portion is disengaged from the resilient contact pieces (25). As the connection of the female housing (10) and the male housing (50) proceeds, a retainer-side slide-contact portion (32) slides in contact with male-side slide-contact portions (55) and the movable portion (31) is displaced from the releasing position to the terminal deforming position.