Snap-lock Connector for UV Lamp Vibration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultraviolet lamps in air and water purifiers face issues with secure electrical connections, misalignment of contact pins, and potential for vibration-induced disconnection, leading to unreliable operation and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A snap-lock connector system comprising an end cap with clips and a socket body with conductive channels and flexible clip arms, allowing for easy and secure insertion and locking of the lamp with minimal force, preventing accidental disconnection and electrical shock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional slide-in connector is used, then the lamp can be easily inserted, but the connection is not secure and may disconnect due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a dynamic snap-lock mechanism where flexible clip arms can deflect during insertion and then lock into place, transitioning from a compliant state during insertion to a rigid locked state during operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and connection security
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into separate functional components: the end cap with clips, the socket body with channels, and the base. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the clips provide easy attachment while the locked structure ensures secure connection, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
2Ease of operation
If contact pins are extended to facilitate connection, then electrical connection is simplified, but the pins may become misaligned or bent
Solution Approach 1:
The socket body includes pre-formed conductive channels that guide the contact pins into proper alignment during insertion. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that pins are automatically positioned correctly, eliminating the need for extended pins while maintaining ease of connection and improving alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive channels act as an intermediary structure between the contact pins and the electrical terminals. These channels provide a guided pathway that mediates the connection process, ensuring proper alignment and reducing the risk of pin bending or misalignment while maintaining simple operation
3Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then the connection becomes vibration-resistant, but the insertion requires more force and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible clip arms are designed to automatically lock into the socket body channels upon insertion without requiring additional locking actions. The structure self-secures through the natural deflection and elastic recovery of the clips, providing vibration resistance while maintaining simple operation and avoiding complex mechanical locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The connector utilizes changes in the physical state of the flexible clip arms - transitioning from a flexible, deflectable state during insertion to a rigid, locked state during operation. This parameter change allows the same component to provide both easy insertion and secure locking, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining vibration resistance
4Reliability
If multiple contact pins are used, then electrical connections are improved, but alignment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket body contains pre-formed conductive channels that are positioned and shaped to receive multiple contact pins simultaneously. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that all pins are guided into correct alignment during a single insertion motion, improving electrical connection reliability while maintaining ease of operation despite the multiplicity of contacts
Data Source
AI summary
A safety lamp connector assembly for use with at least one of more lamps which may include: an end cap for the lamp and having end cap clips; an intermediate snap action socket body for receiving the end cap; a socket base comprising: resilient clip arms with clip section on their ends which snap clips to the end cap clips with the intermediate snap action socket body located between the end cap and the socket base.