Plug Connector Grounding Element for Metal Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of metal connector housings in connectors poses a risk of electrical conductivity issues and security concerns, particularly during overvoltage events, and existing solutions do not provide a simple and effective means to ensure grounding without additional assembly steps.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly featuring a grounding element with a housing contact portion that is integrated into the insulating body, allowing for automatic electrical connection with the plug housing and mechanical attachment, ensuring a common earth potential between connector parts without additional assembly steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal plug housing is used to improve mechanical strength and durability, then the connector part becomes more robust and reliable, but electrical conductivity issues and security risks occur due to potential overvoltage and lack of grounding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grounding element as an intermediary component between the metal plug housing and the ground contact element. This grounding element with its housing contact portion provides a dedicated grounding path, mediating the electrical connection to eliminate conductivity issues while preserving the mechanical benefits of the metal housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding function is segmented from the main housing structure into a separate grounding element. This segmentation allows the metal housing to maintain its structural integrity while the dedicated grounding element handles the electrical safety function, resolving the contradiction between mechanical strength and electrical safety.
2Reliability
If a grounding element is added to ensure electrical safety, then electrical reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding element is merged with the contact insert assembly, where the housing contact portion integrates with the insulating body's fastening portion. This merging combines the grounding function with the existing connector structure, improving electrical safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding element is designed to automatically contact the housing during the normal insertion process. The housing contact portion self-contacts with the plug housing when the contact insert is inserted, eliminating the need for separate grounding assembly steps and reducing overall assembly complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a grounding element with housing contact portion is integrated into the insulating body, then automatic grounding connection is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening portion of the insulating body serves multiple functions: it mechanically fastens the contact insert to the plug housing and simultaneously provides the grounding connection path through the integrated housing contact portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate grounding alignment features, lowering manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly for a plug connector part (1, 3) comprising a plug housing (10, 30) and a contact insert (2, 4) which can be connected to the plug housing (10, 30) and which has an insulating body (20, 40) that consists of an electrically insulating material, forms a plug section (206, 406) which can be connected to a mating plug connector part (3, 1) in a plugged manner along a plug-in direction (E), and is arranged on the at least one electric contact element (22, 42) for electrically contacting a paired mating contact element (42, 22) of the mating plug connector part (3, 1). Additionally, a grounding element (23, 24, 25, 43, 44) is provided which is arranged on the insulating body (20, 40) and has a housing contact section (231, 242, 252, 431, 442) and is electrically connected to a grounding contact element (220, 230, 420, 430) arranged on the plug section (206, 406) in order to contact the mating plug connector part (4, 2) in a grounding manner, wherein the housing contact section (231, 242, 252, 431, 442) is designed to electrically contact the plug housing (10, 30) when the contact insert (2, 4) is connected to the plug housing (10, 30). In this manner, a plug connector part assembly is provided which simply and inexpensively allows the use of a plug housing made of metal.