Rotating Touch Protection in Plug Connectors for Harsh Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in ensuring faultless transmission of electricity in mechanically stressed, warm, unclean, damp, and chemically aggressive environments, while also requiring secure and easy assembly and handling.
Innovation Solution
The design of electrical connectors with rotatable terminal and mating terminal touch protection means, featuring toothing engagement for secure plugging, and a combination of prongs and teeth for comprehensive protection and alignment, allowing for easy assembly and enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical connectors are used in harsh environments, then they can transmit electricity, but they face challenges in ensuring faultless transmission in mechanically stressed, warm, unclean, damp, and chemically aggressive environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a touch protection means that extends along the terminal before connection is made. This protective structure is pre-positioned to shield the terminal contact portion from environmental contaminants and mechanical damage before the harmful effects can act on the electrical connection, thereby ensuring reliable transmission even in harsh conditions.
2Reliability
If connectors are designed for secure locking and fastening, then they ensure faultless transmission, but they become more complex in structure
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables locking and fastening through integrated locking devices, and protects the terminal through the integrated touch protection means. By combining these functions into a single housing structure rather than separate components, the patent achieves secure locking without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If terminal touch protection means are added to protect electrical terminals, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch protection means is merged with the connector housing into an integrated structure. The housing itself is formed with the protective extension that shields the terminal, eliminating the need for separate protective components. This merging approach provides terminal protection while minimizing increases in device complexity by using the existing housing structure for dual purposes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical plug-type connection (0), preferably for the automotive sector, comprising a connector (10) with a connector housing (100; 102, 103) and at least one electrical terminal (150; 152, 154) arranged therein, and a mating connector (20) which is/can be plugged together with the connector (10) and having at least one electrical mating terminal (250) extending in an axial direction (Ax), and a mating terminal touch protection means (210; 220, 230) for the latter, wherein the connector housing (100; 102, 103) and the mating terminal touch protection means (210; 220, 230) are mutually formed in such a way that, when/after the two connectors (10, 20) are plugged together, the mating terminal touch protection means (210; 220, 230) is/can be moved, in particular is/can be rotated from an initial position (V) into a final position (E) at/in the mating connector (20) by means of the connector housing (100; 102, 103).