Terminal-Fitted Retainer Thick Portion Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal-fitted retainers experience rattling and inclination issues during assembly due to manufacturing tolerances and clearance requirements, making it difficult to assemble multiple terminal fittings into a housing.
Innovation Solution
A terminal-fitted retainer design featuring a recess on the terminal's outer surface, a retainer mounting portion with a thick portion that fits into the clearance between the terminal holding and recess surfaces, and resin-molded rear engaged portions, which prevent rattling and inclination by ensuring secure contact and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If clearances are set between terminal fittings and contact portions to accommodate manufacturing tolerance, then the retainer can be mounted into the terminal accommodating portion, but the terminal fittings are allowed to rattle and become inclined
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a thick portion that extends in the front-back direction (depth dimension) to fill the clearance space between the terminal holding portion and the recess surfaces. This dimensional extension transforms the clearance from a harmful gap into a filled space that prevents rattling while still allowing mounting tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The thick portion acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the terminal holding portion and the recess surfaces. It fills the clearance space and provides contact surfaces that prevent terminal inclination and rattling, while allowing the retainer to be mounted with manufacturing tolerance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If terminals are bent behind a recess, then the terminal can be connected, but the recess must be formed by cutting after bending which makes manufacturing very difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is formed by resin molding before the terminal bending process. This preliminary formation of the recess eliminates the need for subsequent cutting operations after bending, significantly simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the ability to create bent terminal configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical cutting process with resin molding to form the recess. Resin molding allows the recess to be formed in a single step before bending, eliminating the need for post-bending cutting operations and reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Productivity
If terminal fittings are assembled with a retainer in advance to form a terminal-fitted retainer, then the assembly process is streamlined, but the terminal fittings become inclined making it difficult to assemble with the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The thick portion serves as an intermediary that maintains terminal alignment during the assembly process. By filling the clearance and providing contact surfaces, it prevents terminal inclination that would otherwise occur during housing assembly, enabling both pre-assembly and final assembly to proceed smoothly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the terminal holding portion by adding the thick portion. This modification alters the clearance characteristics and contact geometry, preventing terminal inclination while maintaining assembly feasibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal-fitted retainer (20) includes terminals (50) that have recesses (57) provided on outer peripheral surfaces thereof and to be inserted and accommodated into terminal accommodating chambers (38) formed in a housing (30) from behind. A retainer (70) is mounted into the housing (30) while retaining the terminals (50). The retainer (70) includes terminal holding portions (74) for holding the terminals (50) by being fit into the recesses (57) and thick portions (78) to be accommodated into clearances formed between the terminal holding portions (74) and either front or rear surfaces of the recesses (57) in a front-back direction.