Pivot-Locking Connector Assembly With Dual Sealing Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector assemblies for vehicles face issues with connector tightness and insufficient waterproofness, which can lead to hazards during operation due to the risk of loosening and water or dust ingress.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design featuring a board end connector with a base and extending tube body, a wire end connector with a shell and inner guide groove, and an operating element with extension arms and hooks, which ensures tight mating and double-sided rubber rings for waterproofing without additional sealants, enhancing user experience and preventing loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If merely a rubber sealing ring or fastening element is used at the wire end or board end, then the structure is simple, but waterproofness and connector tightness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple sealing zones with separate rubber sealing rings positioned at different locations (between wire end connector and board end connector, and between board end connector and printed circuit board). Each sealing ring independently addresses specific sealing requirements, achieving comprehensive waterproofness through segmented protection rather than a single complex seal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire end connector is sleeved on the extending tube body of the board end connector, creating a nested structure. The shell of the wire end connector contains an inner guide groove that guides the protrusion of the board end connector, forming nested guiding structures that ensure precise alignment and tight mating while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If waterproof glue or sealant is used to seal the circuit board and conducting wires, then waterproofness is improved, but additional dispensing steps and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the waterproofing function from the manufacturing process (removing the need for glue or sealant dispensing) and implements it through pre-installed rubber sealing rings that provide waterproofing through their inherent elastic sealing properties. This eliminates the additional dispensing steps and simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable waterproofness.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber sealing rings provide self-sealing through their elastic properties, automatically adapting to slight dimensional variations and assembly tolerances without requiring additional sealants or complex assembly procedures. The sealing action is self-regulating, ensuring waterproofness through the material properties of the rubber rings themselves rather than external sealing agents.
3Reliability
If the connector design does not include anti-loosening features, then the structure is simpler, but the risk of loosening during operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating element is designed with extension arms that engage with the shell and guiding structures before final mating is complete. The pivoting portion rotates during the mating process to guide the connectors into proper alignment, and the hooked portion engages with the shell to lock the connection in place, preventing loosening through preliminary engagement actions rather than requiring complex anti-loosening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating element transitions from an unlocked position to a locked position through rotation about the pivoting portion. This dynamic movement allows the extension arms to guide the mating process and then secure the connection, providing anti-loosening functionality through motion rather than static complex structures. The hooked portion engages with the shell to maintain the locked state dynamically.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly comprises a wire end connector, a board end connector, and an operating element. The board end connector includes a base and an extending tube body, which laterally forms a protrusion. The wire end connector includes a body and a wire connecting portion. The body has a shell that forms a guide groove and a side hole. The operating element has a pivot portion, a first extending arm, and a second extending arm. When the board end connector and the wire end connector are in an initial state and the operating element is in an unlocked position, the second extending arm is away from the guide groove. When the board end connector and the wire end connector are switched to a mating state, the protrusion contacts the first extending arm, causing the operating element to rotate from the unlocked position to a locked position.