Plug-in Element Locking Ring for Secure Cable Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector plug parts face challenges in securely and reliably mounting cables, leading to potential disconnection and wear, especially when subjected to axial forces.
Innovation Solution
A plug part design featuring a housing with a holding device that includes a locking ring with inclined locking teeth, which engages with a locking groove on the housing, providing a self-retaining axial lock. The locking ring is supported on the housing's inner side, and the teeth are designed to bend and form barbs upon assembly, ensuring secure positioning and resistance to counterforces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking ring with locking teeth is used to secure the cable in the housing part, then the axial holding force and position security are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The locking ring integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, engages with locking grooves for axial positioning, and incorporates locking teeth for securing the cable. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining reliable cable mounting security.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking teeth are designed to automatically engage with the locking grooves during assembly without requiring additional fastening steps. The elastic material of the locking ring allows the teeth to flex and snap into place, creating a self-retaining mechanism that secures the cable position reliably without complex assembly procedures.
2Strength
If the locking teeth are designed to bend and form barbs upon assembly, then the mechanical stability and resistance to axial forces are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking teeth are designed with specific geometric parameters including an inclination angle between 2° and 24° relative to the plane of the base ring. This parameter optimization allows the teeth to bend and form barbs during assembly, providing mechanical stability and resistance to axial forces while remaining manufacturable with standard precision capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking teeth are designed to change their shape dynamically during assembly - they start in a straight configuration and bend to form barbs as the locking ring is pressed into the housing. This dynamic transformation allows the structure to adapt during assembly, achieving high mechanical stability without requiring extremely precise pre-forming of the bent shape.
3Reliability
If the locking ring is supported on the inner side of the housing part to generate axial holding force, then the position security is improved, but the space inside the housing part is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking grooves are formed on the inner side surface of the housing part rather than protruding axially into the housing volume. This uses the radial dimension of the housing wall to provide locking engagement, maintaining axial position security while minimizing the impact on the available axial space inside the housing for other components.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The part (1) has a locking ring (13) i.e. plate spring, surrounding a cable (8) at a circumferential side and comprising an edge bar, which is completely rotated against a plane of a bottom ring (19) of the locking ring. The bar is inclined at an angle between 3 to 15 degrees in a mounted final state of the plug part. The bar is supported at an inner side of a housing part (2) at an assembled state of the plug part. The ring comprises safety teeth (20, 21) that are outwardly arranged by the bottom ring and supported at the inner side at the assembled state of the plug part. An independent claim is also included for a method for mounting a plug part for an electrical plug-in connector.