Spring Biased Female Terminal Insertion Force Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional female terminals with separate spring members for biasing require complex working processes, increased insertion force, and variable contact pressure, which can lead to difficulty in insertion and potential damage during the connection of male and female terminals.
Innovation Solution
A female terminal design featuring a male terminal inserting tube with overlapping plates that are biased by a spring, allowing the male terminal to be press-fit with reduced insertion force and maintaining high contact pressure, while minimizing variations due to external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a separate spring member is mounted after the male terminal is inserted into the case, then a large contact pressure can be achieved, but the working process becomes complex and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the spring member and connecting portions into a single integrated structure where the spring is formed as part of the terminal body rather than being a separate component. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting operations while maintaining the contact pressure function, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving large contact pressure and simplifying the working process
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member is pre-installed and configured within the terminal housing before the male terminal insertion process. This preliminary action ensures the spring is already in position to apply biasing force, eliminating the need for post-insertion spring mounting and simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining effective contact pressure
2Stress or pressure
If a large biasing force is applied in advance to the connecting portions, then contact pressure is improved, but the insertion force increases making insertion difficult or causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spring-based dynamic mechanism that provides biasing force only after the male terminal is inserted. During the insertion process, the spring remains compressed and does not exert full biasing force, allowing easy insertion. Once insertion is complete, the spring expands to provide the desired contact pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining high contact pressure and reducing insertion force
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member operates in a periodic manner, remaining inactive during insertion and becoming active after insertion is complete. This periodic action pattern allows the system to achieve high contact pressure in the operational state while maintaining low resistance during the insertion process, preventing damage and facilitating easy assembly
3Stress or pressure
If a spring member is used to apply biasing force, then contact pressure is maintained, but external forces cause variation in contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the terminal structure into multiple segments including the spring member, connecting portions, and housing elements. This segmentation allows each component to independently absorb and manage external forces, preventing them from directly affecting the contact pressure between mating terminals. The spring acts as an isolator that maintains consistent contact pressure despite external disturbances
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member serves as an intermediary element between the housing and the connecting portions. It absorbs and isolates external forces applied to the terminal assembly, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the contact interface. This intermediary function stabilizes the contact pressure by decoupling the contact mechanism from external disturbances
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 design simplifies the working process, reduces insertion force, and stabilizes contact pressure between male and female terminals, enhancing workability and conduction stability.
Implementation Method 1
a spring held on the female terminal fitting, the spring holding the male terminal inserting tube in a reduced diameter state by biasing the pair of overlapping plates in a direction to overlap the pair of overlapping plates on each other
Implementation Method 2
the male terminal inserting tube being resiliently deformed in a diameter expanding direction against the biasing force of the spring to allow the male terminal to be press-fit into the male terminal inserting tube
Data Source
AI summary
A female terminal, including: a female terminal fitting including a connector to be conductively connected to a male terminal; a male terminal inserting tube provided in the female terminal fitting, the male terminal being press-fit into the male terminal inserting tube, the male terminal inserting tube forming the connector by an inner surface; a pair of overlapping plates connected to a pair of first divided portions provided by dividing the male terminal inserting tube over an entire length in an axial direction at one position in a circumferential direction, the pair of overlapping plates being separated from each other and projecting outward; and a spring held on the female terminal fitting, the spring holding the male terminal inserting tube in a reduced diameter state by biasing the pair of overlapping plates in a direction to overlap the pair of overlapping plates on each other.