Slider Connector Assembly for Wear-Free Contact Mating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector assemblies experience wear and reliability issues due to the mechanical fitting process, particularly when high current is applied, leading to impaired electric connection between contacts.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design where a second connector is fitted to a first connector using a slider with a female screw portion and a screw member with a male screw portion, allowing for orthogonal pressing of contacts without direct rubbing, enhancing the reliability of the electric connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fastening bolt is rotated to be screwed to the nut for fitting the second connector to the first connector, then the connectors are securely fastened, but the first contact and second contact wear due to direct pressing during fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the fitting function and contact pressing function into distinct components: the slider body handles connector fitting while the pressing portion handles contact pressing. This segmentation prevents the contacts from wearing during the fitting process, as the pressing action is decoupled from the fitting motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider is preliminarily positioned at the rear end of the moving direction before the fitting operation begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the pressing portion is already in place to press the contacts together before any fitting-induced wear can occur, protecting the contact surfaces during the entire fitting process.
2Reliability
If the first contact and second contact are pressed against each other along the fitting direction, then electrical connection is achieved, but wear occurs due to direct rubbing during fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the dimension of the pressing action by introducing a pressing portion that extends in the fitting direction from the slider body. This allows the contacts to be pressed together in a direction perpendicular to the fitting motion, eliminating direct rubbing while maintaining electrical connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider acts as an intermediary component between the fitting mechanism and the contacts. It translates the fitting motion into a controlled pressing action through its pressing portion, preventing direct rubbing between contacts during fitting while ensuring reliable electrical connection.
3Power
If high current is applied through the electric wire, then the connector handles higher power loads, but the contact size increases leading to higher contact force and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the forces acting on the contacts by introducing the pressing portion that applies controlled pressing force independent of the fitting force. This allows high current-carrying contacts to be pressed together with optimized force, preventing excessive wear even when large contact forces are required for high power applications.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A connector assembly includes a first connector having a first insulator, a first contact and a slider, and a second connector having a second insulator, a second contact and a screw member, the slider including a slider body portion and a pressing portion, when the second insulator is situated at a contact position to contact the first insulator, the second contact opposes the first contact with a predetermined gap from the first contact, and when the screw member is rotated , the slider slides in the fitting direction, the first insulator is pressed against the second insulator by the slider body portion whereby the first connector and the second connector are fitted together, and the first contact and the second contact are pressed against each other by the pressing portion to be thereby electrically connected to each other.