Multi-piece Socket Contact Assembly Vibration Fretting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-piece socket contact assemblies experience movement between the spring body and socket body during vibration, leading to fretting and potential non-conductive barriers that compromise electrical continuity.
Innovation Solution
A socket contact assembly comprising a socket body, a spring body, and a sleeve, where the spring body's tines are frictionally engaged with the sleeve and socket body to prevent movement, utilizing materials with high yield strength for the spring body and ductility for the socket body, with the sleeve creating a frictional force to secure the spring body against the socket body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spring body is press-fit onto the socket body to create a multi-piece assembly, then the socket contact can have different material properties (high yield strength spring body, ductile socket body), but during periods of high vibration the spring body moves in relation to the socket body causing fretting and potential non-conductive barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The socket contact is divided into two separate pieces: a spring body made from a first material with high yield strength and a socket body made from a second material with high ductility. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining electrical continuity through controlled frictional engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
Different material properties are assigned to different components: the spring body uses a material optimized for elastic deformation and yield strength, while the socket body uses a material optimized for ductility and permanent deformation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each part to have the ideal material properties for its specific role.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single piece of material is used to manufacture the socket contact, then manufacturing is simpler, but the front end cannot have high yield strength while the back end has high ductility simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The socket contact is segmented into a spring body and socket body that can be manufactured separately using optimal materials for each function, then assembled through press-fit engagement. This resolves the contradiction by allowing material property differentiation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly combines two different materials with complementary properties: a spring body material optimized for elastic behavior and a socket body material optimized for ductile deformation. This composite approach allows each component to exhibit the ideal material characteristics for its specific functional requirements.
3Reliability
If the spring body is secured to the socket body with a sleeve, then movement during vibration is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frictional engagement between the spring body and socket body creates a self-securing mechanism that automatically prevents relative movement during vibration without requiring additional fastening components. The friction force itself serves to lock the components in place, eliminating the need for a sleeve and reducing device 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 assembly effectively reduces movement between the spring and socket bodies during vibration, preventing fretting and maintaining electrical continuity by creating a secure frictional engagement between the components.
Implementation Method 1
the distal end of the spring body is configured to be placed over the proximal end of the socket body, so that the distal end of the spring body is in communication with the outer surface of the proximal end of the socket body, and the sleeve is configured to be secured to both the distal end of the spring body and the socket body, wherein the distal end of the spring body further includes a plurality of tines that are configured to be placed over the outer surface of the proximal end of the socket body, and frictionally engaged between the outer surface of the proximal end of the socket body and the at least one inner surface of the sleeve
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method is provided for securing a spring body (100) against a socket body (120), thereby reducing movement of the spring body (100) during periods of vibration. Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with a socket body (120) that includes at least a proximal end (124), a spring body (100), that includes at least a distal end (102), and a sleeve (130). In one embodiment of the present invention, the distal end (102) of the spring body (100) is configured to be placed over the proximal end (124) of the socket body (120), and the sleeve (130) is configured to be placed over the distal end (102) of the spring body (100). The sleeve (130) preferably includes an inner circumference that is sized to creating a frictional engagement between an inner surface of the sleeve (130) and an outer surface of the spring body (100), and between an inner surface of the spring body (100) and an outer surface of the socket body (120).