Rotating Connector Housing That Holds Open During Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connector devices for electric and hybrid cars face issues with operability due to unintentional rotation from the open to close position during separation, leading to potential damage and complexity in the separation process.
Innovation Solution
The connector device incorporates a maintenance portion and mating maintenance portion that temporarily maintain the connector at the open position, preventing unintentional rotation and ensuring it can stand unheld, thus simplifying the separation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connector is rotated from close position to open position without a maintenance mechanism, then the separation operation becomes simpler, but the connector may unintentionally rotate back to close position causing damage and complicating the separation process
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance portion enables the connector to maintain its own open position without continuous external support. The connector structure itself, through the maintenance portion and mating maintenance portion interaction, provides the stabilizing function that prevents unintended rotation back to close position.
2Reliability
If the connector is held continuously during separation, then the connector position is stable, but the operator cannot change holding manner freely and the operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the connector and the operator. It provides the stabilizing function that would otherwise require continuous operator attention, allowing the operator to change holding manners freely while the maintenance portion ensures the connector remains at the open position.
3Ease of operation
If the connector can stand unheld at open position, then the separation process is simplified and damage risk is reduced, but additional maintenance portions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance portion is integrated into the existing connector housing structure rather than being a separate component. This merging approach provides the necessary stabilizing function while minimizing additional complexity in the overall connector design.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector device comprises a connector and a mating connector. The connector and the mating connector are mateable with each other. The connector comprises a housing and a terminal. The housing is provided with an axis portion and a maintenance portion. The mating connector comprises a mating housing and a mating terminal. The mating housing is provided with a mating axis portion and a mating maintenance portion. One of the axis portion and the mating axis portion is a rotation axis with an axis direction. A remaining one of the axis portion and the mating axis portion is a bearing. The connector is rotatable around the rotation axis between an open position and a close position when the axis portion and the mating axis portion are combined with each other. The maintenance portion and the mating maintenance portion temporarily maintain a position of the connector at the open position.