Power Connector Cable Clamp Layout for Reduced Strain Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power connectors for mobile devices, such as autonomous vehicles and mobile robots, are prone to damage due to stress and strain from bending, pulling, and impact, leading to impractical reuse or repair of components.
Innovation Solution
A supply charging device with a supply power connector featuring a supply housing, cable assembly, and data communication module, where supply power cables exit perpendicular or at non-parallel angles to the mating axis, and include separable cable clamps for easy repair or replacement, reducing strain on cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power cables are permanently connected to power contacts through welding or crimping, then connection reliability is improved, but repairability and reusability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The power connector is divided into separable components: a connector body with contacts, and cable assemblies that can be independently removed and replaced. The cable clamp mechanism allows the cable assembly to be detached from the connector body without damaging either component, enabling repairability while maintaining connection reliability through proper clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable clamp incorporates a movable clamp member that can transition between clamped and released positions. This dynamic mechanism allows the connection to be securely maintained during operation (clamped position) while enabling easy disassembly for repair or replacement (released position), resolving the contradiction between reliability and repairability.
2Device complexity
If power cables are oriented parallel to the mating axis, then device complexity is reduced, but cable strain and damage susceptibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power cables are oriented perpendicular to the mating axis rather than parallel, changing the spatial dimension of cable routing. This perpendicular orientation allows cables to exit the connector body in a direction that naturally reduces bending strain and pulling forces during connector insertion and removal, while the cable clamp secures the cables at this optimized angle.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cable clamps are fixed and non-separable, then connection stability is improved, but maintenance and replacement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable clamp uses a movable clamp member that can be actuated between a clamped position for stable connection and a released position for maintenance. This dynamic design allows the same mechanism to provide both connection stability during operation and ease of maintenance when needed, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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
The solution provides a robust and reliable charging connection that minimizes cable strain and facilitates easy maintenance, extending the lifespan of the connectors and cables.
Implementation Method 1
the end of the supply power cable is compression connected between the base and the clamp member when in the clamped position
Data Source
AI summary
A supply charging device for a mobile device includes a supply power connector having a supply housing having a mating end at the front mated with a receive power connector of the mobile device along a mating axis. The supply power connector has a cable end at the bottom. A supply contact chamber is at the mating end and a supply cable chamber is at the cable end. The supply power connector includes supply power contacts and a data communication module at the mating end. The supply charging device includes a cable assembly extending from the cable end at the bottom of the supply housing. The supply power cables extend along cable axes oriented non-parallel to the mating axis.