Parallel Connector Holder for Multi-Cylinder Engine Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
In internal combustion engines with multiple cylinders, the process of fitting power receiving connectors to power feed connectors is labor-intensive due to the need for individual fitting operations, resulting in a large workload, especially in multi-cylinder engines where multiple fittings are required.
Innovation Solution
A connector device featuring a holder that accommodates multiple connectors in parallel, allowing them to be collectively fitted to mating connectors, reducing the need for separate fitting operations and minimizing workload through a locking mechanism and movable detecting members for precise alignment and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If individual fitting operations are performed for each connector, then precise alignment and reliable connection are achieved, but the workload and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple connectors are integrated into a single holder assembly, allowing them to be fitted to mating connectors simultaneously as one unit rather than individually. This merging of multiple fitting operations into a single collective action directly resolves the contradiction by improving productivity while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder pre-positions and aligns multiple connectors before the fitting operation begins. By performing alignment准备工作 in advance, the actual fitting process becomes faster and more efficient, addressing both the productivity improvement and time reduction goals.
2Ease of operation
If multiple connectors are held in a holder for collective fitting, then the workload is reduced, but the complexity of the holder structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs multiple functions: holding multiple connectors, maintaining their alignment, guiding them during insertion, and securing them in place. This consolidation of multiple functions into a single device improves ease of operation while managing structural complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder structure is divided into modular components including connector holding portions, alignment features, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design manageable and not excessively complex.
3Productivity
If connectors are collectively fitted, then workability is improved, but precision in maintaining alignment despite manufacturing errors becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The holder incorporates adjustable or compliant elements that can accommodate variations in connector spacing caused by manufacturing tolerances. By allowing certain parameters (such as position or orientation) to change within acceptable ranges, the system maintains alignment precision while enabling collective fitting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder design includes built-in compensation mechanisms that anticipate and accommodate manufacturing errors before the fitting operation. These mechanisms pre-adjust for potential misalignments, ensuring that even with manufacturing variations, the connectors maintain proper alignment during collective fitting.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector device with improved workability in fitting connectors may include a plurality of connectors configured to be fitted to a plurality of mating connectors, and a holder configured to hold the plurality of connectors in parallel so that the plurality of connectors are collectively fitted to the plurality of mating connectors. The holder may include a pair of halves, and the pair of halves may be coupled to each other with the plurality of connectors in between.