Partitioned Connector Housing for Creepage Distance and Terminal Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face challenges in maintaining a sufficient creepage distance between busbars and stably supporting varying numbers of terminals, particularly when transitioning between low-voltage and high-voltage busbars, which can lead to instability and increased risk of short circuits.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes an inner housing with partitions to securely accommodate multiple terminals and an outer housing with protrusions that ensure a sufficient creepage distance between busbars, allowing for flexible support of both low-voltage and high-voltage configurations by partitioning the terminal space and providing additional support structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple busbars are mounted on the connector to handle varying voltage levels, then the adaptability and versatility of the connector is improved, but the risk of short circuits increases due to insufficient creepage distance between busbars
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is segmented into multiple independent spaces using partitions, with each space accommodating a specific busbar. This physical segmentation ensures that busbars operating at different voltage levels are electrically isolated from each other, maintaining sufficient creepage distance while allowing the connector to handle varying voltage levels and improving overall adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connector accommodates varying numbers of terminals (9 for low-voltage, 15 for high-voltage), then the versatility is improved, but the stability of terminal support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal accommodation space is divided into multiple independent terminal spaces using partitions within the housing. Each terminal space is designed to securely hold a specific number of terminals (configured for either 9 terminals in low-voltage mode or 15 terminals in high-voltage mode). This segmentation allows the connector to adapt to different terminal configurations while maintaining stable support for the specific number of terminals in each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector employs a reconfigurable terminal support structure that can dynamically adjust between different terminal configurations. The support structure includes adjustable elements that can be positioned to accommodate varying numbers of terminals, ensuring stable support whether configured for 9 terminals in low-voltage applications or 15 terminals in high-voltage applications.
3Reliability
If partitions are added to the housing to separate terminal spaces and ensure creepage distance, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it separates terminal spaces to ensure creepage distance between busbars, provides mechanical support for terminals, and defines the structural framework of the housing. By merging these multiple functions into a single integrated partition system, the design improves reliability through proper electrical isolation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A connector includes an inner housing, multiple terminals (14) inserted into the inner housing, and an outer housing (12) detachably connected to the inner housing and configured to cover the multiple terminals (14), wherein each of the multiple terminals (14) may include a terminal body, and multiple terminal arms formed to extend from the terminal body, and the inner housing may include an inner housing body (111), and an inner partition (116) formed to protrude from an inner side surface of the inner housing body (111) and configured to partition a space for accommodating the multiple terminals (14) into multiple spaces.