Push-pull connector sleeve with flexing fingers for sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push-pull connectors face challenges in forming an environmental seal and electrical shield while meeting industry standards, and are often costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly featuring a plug body with a sleeve member and collar, where the sleeve member's fingers flex to engage the mating connector's inner surface, forming an environmental seal and electrical shield, and the collar's ring slides to lock the fingers in place, ensuring a secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If segments with compressible material are used to form interference fit, then connection reliability is improved, but connector size increases and electrical shielding is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin-walled sleeve member with circumferential ridges that flex radially outward to engage the mating connector. The sleeve member acts as a flexible shell that provides the necessary compliance for interference fit without requiring thick compressible material, thus maintaining compact connector size while ensuring reliable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve member is divided into multiple circumferential ridges or segments that can independently flex and engage with the mating connector. This segmentation allows distributed contact pressure and reliable engagement while using minimal material thickness, avoiding the need for large-volume compressible segments.
2Ease of manufacture
If segments with gaps are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but material availability for thread engagement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous thin-walled sleeve member with circumferential ridges provides sufficient material for thread engagement across the entire circumference, eliminating the material loss associated with gapped segments while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single-piece construction.
3Reliability
If compressible material segments are used, then interference fit is achieved, but electrical shielding is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve member is made of electrically conductive material that combines the compliance needed for interference fit with the electrical conductivity required for shielding. This composite functionality eliminates the need for separate compressible material and shielding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve member performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the compliant interference fit through radial flexing, maintains electrical shielding through continuous conductive contact, and engages the mating connector through circumferential ridges. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between achieving reliable fit and providing electrical shielding.
4Speed
If conventional push-pull connector design is used, then connection speed is fast, but manufacturing cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the engagement and locking functions into a single sleeve member with circumferential ridges that flex radially outward to engage the mating connector. This integrated design eliminates the need for separate engagement and locking mechanisms, reducing part count and manufacturing cost while maintaining fast push-pull connection speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential ridges on the sleeve member automatically engage with the mating connector through radial flexing during the push-pull motion, providing self-aligning and self-locking functionality without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
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 connector assembly effectively forms a reliable environmental seal and electrical shield while being cost-effective and compliant with industry standards, enhancing the connection's durability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of fingers are resilient and are configured to flex radially outward away from the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A connector assembly (102) configured to engage a mating connector. The connector assembly (102) includes a plug body (110) that has loading and mating ends (103, 105) and a central axis (109) extending therebetween. The mating end (105) is configured to be inserted into a cavity of the mating connector to establish at least one of communicative and power connections. The plug body (110) has an outer surface that surrounds and faces away from the central axis (109). The connector assembly (102) also includes a ring (131) that is slidably mounted over the plug body (110). The ring (131) is configured to slide along the outer surface of the plug body (110) in an axial direction between withdrawn and locked positions. The connector assembly (102) also includes a sleeve member (142) that is slidably mounted over the plug body (110) and the ring (131). The sleeve member (142) includes a plurality of fingers (146) that extend toward the mating end (105) and are biased toward the outer surface of the plug body (110). The ring (131) is configured to engage the fingers (146) and the fingers (146) are configured to flex away and engage the mating connector.