Rotatable Plug Connector With Replaceable Detent Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotatable connector assemblies face issues with secure latching and high wear due to unstable detent mechanisms and difficulty in adjusting torque, leading to unreliable locking and potential damage from vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable connector assembly featuring a first connector element with radially movable detent pins and spring elements that interact with locking teeth on a second connector element, providing a large-area contact surface and allowing for easy adjustment of torque by exchanging locking pins and spring elements, which are designed to reduce wear and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If leaf springs are used to create detent in rotatable connector assembly, then detent position is achieved, but the detent is conditionally stable and causes wear leading to rounding of the inner connector part
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs replaceable detent pins with sacrificial friction surfaces. These pins are designed to wear preferentially rather than the expensive connector housing, allowing economical replacement of small components instead of the entire assembly. The detent pins act as disposable elements that protect the main connector structure from wear.
2Reliability
If balls are used for detent mechanism, then secure locking is achieved, but high point load causes rapid wear and complex structure is required for torque adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables torque adjustment by changing physical parameters of existing components - specifically, selecting detent pins with different diameters or spring elements with different force characteristics. This allows torque customization without redesigning the entire mechanism or adding complex adjustment devices, simply by varying dimensional parameters of replaceable parts.
3Reliability
If multiple locking mechanisms are added to improve stability, then vibration resistance increases, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components. The detent pins simultaneously provide locking, friction-based vibration damping, and torque control. The spring elements both urge the pins against the connector surface and provide the necessary elastic force for detent engagement. This functional integration achieves vibration resistance without proportionally increasing component count or complexity.
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
The solution achieves stable latching with low wear, increased security against vibrations, and simplified torque adjustment, resulting in a cost-effective and durable connector assembly that maintains performance even after multiple rotations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of spring elements are arranged in the first connector element, each spring element urging a detent pin radially towards the detent teeth of the second connector element
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The component has two connector units (2, 4) partially arranged into one another and rotatable against each other. The unit (4) has ratchet teeth (10) at the periphery, where the teeth face the unit (2). A number of radially movable resting pins (6) and spring units (8) are arranged in the unit (2). Each spring unit radially pushes one of the resting pins in the direction of the ratchet teeth of the unit (4). An independent claim is also included for a torque-adjusting set with resting pins and /or spring units, which are designed in a rotatable plug-in connector component.