Removable Conductive Terminal with Spring Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors require the entire plug or socket to be replaced when issues arise with conductive terminals, such as poor contact or wear, leading to reduced efficiency and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A removably mounted conductive terminal design with a clamping portion and spring locking mechanism, allowing for easy removal and replacement of the terminal using an external tool, thereby isolating the issue to the terminal rather than the entire connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive terminals are permanently fixed in the housing, then connection stability is improved, but maintenance cost and time increase when terminals wear out or fail
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal is divided into separable components: a terminal body and a locking portion. The locking portion can be independently engaged or disengaged from the housing, allowing the terminal to be segmented into replaceable and fixed parts. This enables the terminal to be securely mounted during operation while allowing easy removal when maintenance is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is designed with elastic deformation capability, transitioning between locked and unlocked states. When installed, the locking portion elastically deforms to engage with the housing, providing stable fixation. When maintenance is needed, external force causes the locking portion to deform and disengage, enabling easy removal. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between stable connection and easy replacement.
2Reliability
If entire plug or socket connectors are replaced when terminals fail, then reliability is maintained, but cost and work efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is extracted as a separate functional element from the terminal body and housing. This extracted locking mechanism can be independently engaged or disengaged, allowing the terminal to be removed and replaced without affecting the housing or other components. This resolves the contradiction by enabling selective replacement of only the terminal rather than the entire connector assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the terminal to be easily discarded (removed) when it fails or wears out, and a new terminal can be quickly installed by engaging its locking portion with the housing. The housing and locking mechanism are recovered and reused, while only the terminal is replaced. This significantly improves productivity compared to replacing entire connectors.
3Device complexity
If conductive terminals are permanently fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability for maintenance and reconfiguration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is designed to automatically engage with the housing upon terminal insertion, providing self-locking functionality. The terminal itself provides the locking mechanism through its elastic locking portion, eliminating the need for separate locking devices or complex assembly procedures. This maintains structural simplicity while enabling easy removal and reconfiguration 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 enables efficient maintenance and cost reduction by allowing only the faulty conductive terminals to be replaced, maintaining connector functionality without replacing the entire plug or socket.
Implementation Method 1
a spring locking portion disposed on the body portion and obliquely extending from the body portion in a direction away from the body portion toward the second end. The locking portion is configured to engage a bottom wall of the receiving passage.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector comprises a housing having a receiving passage and a conductive terminal inserted and removably mounted in the receiving passage in an insertion direction. The conductive terminal includes a body portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, a clamping portion disposed at the first end of the body portion and configured to clamp a wire of a cable, and a spring locking portion disposed on the body portion and obliquely extending from the body portion in a direction away from the body portion toward the second end. The locking portion is configured to engage a bottom wall of the receiving passage. The engagement of the locking portion with the bottom wall of the receiving passage is released by driving the locking portion with an external tool inserted in the insertion direction.