Rotatable Cover Locking Tabs for Battery Terminal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic component protecting covers for vehicle battery terminals and fuse units face issues with reduced engagement holding force due to repeated opening and closing operations, and poor workability during engagement, primarily due to the concentration of load on locking protrusions leading to wear and decreased holding forces.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rotatable cover portion with engaging and catching portions configured to engage at multiple points, featuring rib-shaped locking tabs and frames that deflect during engagement, with locking protrusions protruding bilaterally symmetrically to distribute forces and reduce abrasion, and a unique sloping face configuration to minimize insertion force and maintain engagement force over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the locking protrusion height is increased to raise engagement holding force, then the engagement holding force is improved, but the insertion force increases and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusion is divided into multiple functional surfaces: a first sloping face for insertion, a second sloping face for engagement, and a third sloping face for force distribution. This segmentation allows each surface to perform its specific function optimally, reducing insertion force while maintaining engagement holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
Different surfaces of the locking protrusion are given different geometric properties: the first sloping face has a gentle inclination for easy insertion, the second sloping face provides engagement leverage, and the third sloping face distributes forces. This local differentiation of geometric qualities optimizes both workability and holding force.
2Strength
If the protrusion height is increased to maintain engagement force, then the engagement holding force is improved, but the load concentration on locking protrusions increases leading to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The third sloping face is specifically designed to distribute lateral forces away from the locking protrusion tip toward the body of the locking tab. This local force redistribution prevents stress concentration at the tip, reducing wear and improving durability while maintaining engagement holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric configuration of the sloping faces is designed in advance to guide force distribution during engagement. The third sloping face预先 (in advance) directs lateral forces away from the vulnerable tip area, preventing wear before it occurs during repeated operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the locking protrusion is formed as a simple hemispherical shape, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the load concentrates at the vertex causing wear during repeated operations
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining the overall hemispherical shape for easy molding, the locking protrusion is given localized geometric modifications: the first, second, and third sloping faces create different local surface qualities. This allows simple manufacturing while preventing load concentration at the vertex through the force-distributing third sloping face.
Solution Approach 2:
The hemispherical locking protrusion is segmented into multiple functional zones defined by the intersecting sloping faces. Each zone handles specific force vectors, preventing the load concentration that would occur with a simple unsegmented hemisphere while retaining molding simplicity.
4Device complexity
If a single engagement point is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the engagement holding force is insufficient for repeated operations
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement system is segmented into multiple engagement points formed by the interaction of the locking protrusion's three sloping faces with corresponding surfaces on the locking frame. This segmentation of the engagement interface multiplies the holding force without adding complex separate components.
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 configuration enhances the total engagement holding force without increasing protrusion height, reduces abrasion, and maintains consistent insertion force and engagement force even with repeated operations, improving durability and workability.
Implementation Method 1
rib-shaped locking tabs and frames that deflect during engagement
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic component protecting cover includes a fixed cover portion, a hinge portion, and a rotatable cover portion. One of the fixed cover portion and the rotatable cover portion has engaging portions at two locations, and the other of the fixed cover portion and the rotatable cover portion has catching portions at two locations, the engaging portions and the catching portions being configured to be engaged with each other. Each of the engaging portions has a pair of locking tabs, and each of the catching portions has a pair of locking frames. Because each of the engaging portions and each of the catching portions has double-locking structure, sufficient locking force can be provided.