Movable Screw Holding Member for Universal Connector Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current connector designs face issues where a plug with a male screw member cannot be properly connected to a receptacle without a female screw portion, as the male screw member or screw holding member often abuts the housing, preventing the end of the plug from aligning with the receptacle's inner wall.
Innovation Solution
A connector with a male screw member and a screw holding member that is relatively movable, allowing it to mate with both connectors having a female screw portion and those without, by using a screw holding member that can adjust its position to avoid abutting the housing, ensuring proper alignment and connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a male screw member is provided in the connector, then secure connection with female screw portion is achieved, but the connector cannot be properly mated with connectors lacking female screw portion due to abutment with housing
Solution Approach 1:
The screw holding member is designed to be movable relative to the connector main body along the insertion direction. During mating, it automatically shifts position: when mating with a connector having a female screw portion, it engages the screw; when mating with a connector lacking female screw portion, it retracts to avoid abutting the housing, enabling proper alignment and mating of the connector end with the receiving portion inner wall
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed to universally mate with two types of connectors: those with female screw portions and those without. The screw holding member serves dual functionality - providing secure screw engagement when needed, and automatically retracting to enable direct end-to-end mating when no screw is present, thus achieving multi-functionality and broad compatibility
2Device complexity
If the screw holding member is fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but proper alignment with receptacle inner wall cannot be achieved when mating with connectors without female screw portion
Solution Approach 1:
The screw holding member transitions from a fixed structure to a movable one, capable of shifting along the insertion direction. This dynamic capability allows it to automatically adjust its position during mating - remaining engaged when screw connection is needed, and retracting when mating with connectors lacking female screw portions, thereby achieving precise alignment without complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a connector main, a male screw member and a screw holding member. The connector main selectively connectable with a mating connector having a female screw portion and another mating connector having no female screw portion in a predetermined direction. The screw holding member holds the male screw member. The screw holding member has a male screw seat which is brought into contact with a female screw seat when the male screw member is connected with the female screw portion. The screw holding member is attached to the connector main and relatively moveable with respect to the connector main in the predetermined direction.