Rectangular Connector With Front-Mounted Contact Carrier Adapter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rectangular connectors are inflexible and often require separate assembly of contact carriers and cable harnesses, limiting their usability and compatibility with components from different manufacturers, and necessitate rear or front mounting which is not suitable for both types.
Innovation Solution
A rectangular connector design featuring a two-sided open housing with a mounting adapter and spring element, allowing contact carriers to be mounted from both sides, with fastening means on the adapter rather than the housing, enabling easy assembly and compatibility with various contact carriers from different manufacturers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the contact carrier is mounted from the rear in conventional rectangular connectors, then the assembly can be completed, but the connector cannot accommodate prefabricated cable harnesses with contact carriers already connected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by enabling contact carrier installation from the front side of the connector housing rather than from the rear. The contact carrier is guided through the housing from the front and secured by fastening means on the rear side, allowing prefabricated cable harnesses to be mounted without disassembly while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing is segmented into distinct functional zones: a front opening for contact carrier insertion, a recess for receiving the contact carrier, and a rear side with fastening means. This segmentation allows the contact carrier to be guided through from the front while being secured from the rear, enabling front-side mounting of prefabricated assemblies.
2Reliability
If fastening means are formed on the connector housing, then the contact carrier can be secured, but the fastening means form a stop surface that interferes with assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening means are positioned on the rear side of the housing in a different spatial dimension relative to the contact carrier insertion path. The contact carrier is guided through the housing from the front and secured by fastening means on the rear side, allowing the fastening elements to engage without creating stop surfaces that would interfere with the insertion process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different manufacturers' connector variants are used, then market selection is available, but components from different manufacturers cannot be combined
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is designed with universal features including a standardized recess geometry, front opening configuration, and rear fastening means arrangement that can accommodate contact carriers from different manufacturers. The modular design allows the housing to serve multiple functions while maintaining compatibility with various contact carrier types and manufacturers.
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
Facilitates quick and cost-effective assembly of contact carriers with prefabricated cable harnesses, allowing for flexible mounting from either side and ensuring secure connection of contact carriers to the connector, enhancing compatibility with components from different manufacturers.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element is also provided in order to fix the mounting adapter in the mounted state in the recess of the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rectangular connector consisting of a connector housing that is open on two sides and has at least one cavity for a mounting adapter for mounting a contact carrier in the connector housing, and at least one mounting adapter that includes at least one fastening means for securing the contact carrier as well as a connecting means for supporting the mounted mounting adapter in the cavity in the connector housing.