Poke-in Wire Connector Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connectors with poke-in wire contacts face challenges in efficiently releasing multiple electrical wires due to their short strip length and dense arrangement, making it time-consuming and skill-intensive, thereby increasing reworking, repairing, and replacement costs.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring a housing with movable contact beams and a release member equipped with a spring mechanism that allows simultaneous movement of contact beams from closed to open positions, facilitating the release of multiple wires by moving the release member along a central longitudinal axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple electrical wires are individually released from poke-in wire contacts, then each wire can be removed, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires greater skill due to short strip length and dense wire arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple contact beams into a single integrated contact assembly where all contact beams are simultaneously actuated by a single release member. This merging of previously independent release operations into one unified action allows all electrical wires to be released at once, eliminating the time-consuming sequential release process while maintaining ease of operation through a simple single-motion release mechanism
2Reliability
If contact beams are held in closed position to maintain electrical connection, then reliable electrical contact is achieved, but releasing multiple wires becomes more difficult due to the securing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs contact beams that are resilient and capable of dynamic movement between closed and open positions. The release member is designed to simultaneously deflect all contact beams from their closed position (maintaining electrical connection) to an open position (releasing wires). This dynamic design allows the system to transition smoothly between secured and released states, maintaining reliability during operation while enabling easy release when needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies the release of multiple electrical wires, reducing the time and skill required, thereby lowering costs and improving efficiency in reworking, repairing, and replacing electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
the release member includes a spring that biases the release member away from the plurality of contact beams in a direction along the central longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end of the internal chamber and within the internal chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrical connector (10) includes a housing (24) and electrical contacts (40) held by the housing. The electrical contacts include contact beams (44) having wire interfaces (46) configured to engage in physical contact with corresponding electrical wires (12). The contact beams are movable between closed positions and open positions. The wire interface of each contact beam is configured to engage in physical contact with the corresponding electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface of each contact beam is configured to be disengaged from physical contact with the corresponding electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. A release member (48) is movably held by the housing such that movement of the release member is configured to move a plurality of the contact beams from the closed positions to the open positions thereof and thereby release a plurality of the electrical wires from the corresponding electrical contacts.