Rotary Light Guide Pipe Assembly for Durable Connector Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector assemblies for light guiding devices suffer from complex manufacturing and assembly processes due to elastic latching structures that are prone to damage during assembly and disassembly, leading to increased costs and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly featuring a rotary type assembling structure with locking blocks and position-limiting blocks that secure the light guiding pipe to a base, allowing for reliable engagement without damage during repeated assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic latching structures are used to secure the light guiding pipe, then the assembly can be easily installed and disassembled, but the latching structure is prone to damage during assembly and disassembly, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is divided into separate functional components: a positioning structure with positioning grooves and positioning protrusions for precise alignment, and a separate locking structure with locking grooves and locking protrusions for secure fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without the complexity and fragility of elastic latching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using elastic deformation to achieve latching (conventional approach), the patent uses a rigid geometric interlocking mechanism where positioning protrusions fit into positioning grooves and locking protrusions fit into locking grooves. The fixation is achieved through geometric compatibility rather than elastic recovery.
2Strength
If elastic latching hooks are used for mounting the light shading cover, then the cover can be firmly positioned, but the elastic latching hook may be damaged or detached if subjected to too large or improper force during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning structure provides preliminary alignment and support before the locking structure engages. The positioning protrusions fit into positioning grooves first, guiding the assembly process and distributing forces evenly, preventing concentrated stress on any single latching element during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning structure acts as an intermediary between the light guiding pipe and the base, providing initial alignment and force distribution. This mediator prevents direct transmission of assembly forces to the locking structure, protecting it from damage.
3Ease of operation
If elastic latching structures are used, then the assembly can be disassembled by pulling the latching hook, but this operation easily damages the light guiding pipe or the base
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusions are designed to be removable from the locking grooves without applying force to the light guiding pipe or base body. The disassembly action is extracted and concentrated on the locking mechanism itself, allowing the main structural components to remain undamaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking structure creates a duplicate engagement path: positioning grooves/protrusions for alignment and locking grooves/protrusions for fixation. This redundant geometric copying allows disassembly to occur at the locking interface without affecting the main structural integrity of the light guiding pipe or base.
4Manufacturing precision
If separate mounting of light shading cover at tip of each light guiding post is performed, then the cover can be precisely positioned, but manufacturing and assembling become too complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning and locking functions are merged into an integrated geometric interlocking system. The positioning grooves and locking grooves are formed as part of the base structure, and the corresponding protrusions are part of the light guiding pipe, eliminating the need for separate mounting operations for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves and protrusions structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: positioning, alignment, locking, and force distribution. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate positioning and mounting operations, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly includes a shielding cage, a light guiding pipe and a base. The shielding cage has a plurality of walls and an accommodating space defined by the plurality of walls. The light guiding pipe is assembled to the shielding cage, the light guiding pipe has a light outputting end, a light inputting end and a first assembling portion at a location of the light guiding pipe adjacent to the light inputting end. The base has a light guiding pipe accommodating hole and a second assembling portion provided to the light guiding pipe accommodating hole. The light guiding pipe is assembled in the light guiding pipe accommodating hole, and the first assembling portion of the light guiding pipe is assembled to the second assembling portion of the light guiding pipe accommodating hole, after the first assembling portion of the light guiding pipe is assembled to the second assembling portion of the light guiding pipe accommodating hole from up to down relative to the base, the light guiding pipe is rotated along a rotating direction so that the first assembling portion is fixed to the second assembling portion at the light guiding pipe accommodating hole.