Retainer Spring Axial Insertion for Ground Contact Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing plug design with a bushing and insulating body, which uses a retainer spring for grounding and fixing contacts, is difficult to assemble due to the need for radial insertion of the spring after the ground contact is inserted, and has a limited contact surface.
Innovation Solution
The retainer spring features a plug-in part that can be inserted axially within the insulating body, with a spring arm extending radially to fix the ground contact, allowing for simpler assembly and a larger contact surface through a snap-in mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the retainer spring is inserted radially through a lateral opening after the ground contact is inserted, then the ground contact can be fixed in the correct positional arrangement, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer spring is pre-assembled on the insulating body before the ground contact is mounted. The spring's plug-in part is inserted through the lateral opening and positioned within the perforation, with spring arms extending to engage the ground contact. This preliminary arrangement allows the ground contact to be simply pushed into place and automatically fixed by the spring arms, eliminating the need for subsequent radial insertion operations and significantly simplifying the assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer spring is divided into functionally distinct segments: a plug-in part for insertion through the lateral opening, spring arms for engaging and fixing the ground contact, and a body portion for structural support. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently and enables simplified assembly where the ground contact can be independently inserted and automatically secured by the pre-positioned spring segments
2Reliability
If the retainer spring uses two spring arms engaging the ground contact, then the ground contact can be fixed, but the contact surface on the spring arms is relatively small
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer spring utilizes the radial dimension by extending spring arms laterally from the plug-in part to engage the ground contact. This radial arrangement in addition to the axial insertion direction creates multiple engagement points and increases the effective contact surface area between the spring and ground contact, thereby improving both fixing reliability and electrical contact without complicating the assembly process
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 assembly of the ground contact by allowing it to be inserted with a plug-in motion, ensuring secure fixation and a larger contact surface, while maintaining electrical conductivity and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the spring arm extends on its outside, which has, on a free end extending past the plug-in part, a projection that is directed radially inwardly and that reaches into the plug-in path of the ground contact and that applies a fixing force onto the ground contact in the position of use
Data Source
AI summary
A plug (1) with a housing in the form of a sleeve (2) and an insulating body (3) arranged therein is provided, which retains extended contacts (4), which includes an electrically conductive retainer spring (9) for a ground contact (5) having a sleeve-like plug-in piece (10) for the ground contact (5) arranged in a hole or perforation (6) of the insulating body (3), which has a free passage in an axial direction, the plug-in piece (10) accommodating the retainer spring (9) via a lateral opening (8) in the insulating body (3), and the hole or perforation (6) forms with the lateral opening (8) a back-cut for the somewhat elastically compressible plug-in piece (10). A spring arm (11) extends along an outer side of the plug-in piece (10) arranged on the outside of the insulating body (3), even when in use, which contacts the inner side of the sleeve (2) and has an inwardly directed projection (12) arranged on a free end thereof which engages in a depression or recess (7) on the ground contact (5) and fixes the ground contact (5) in the axial direction.