Terminal Contact Structure for Stable Load Under Tab Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminal fittings experience a reduction in contact load when the tab portion is displaced, leading to rattling issues, which existing designs fail to adequately suppress.
Innovation Solution
A terminal fitting with a tubular body and two resilient pieces, where the first resilient piece extends along the length of the tab portion and is displaceable with a fulcrum at one end, and the second resilient piece extends oppositely with a fulcrum at the other end, allowing for seesaw-like displacement to maintain contact load, even when the tab portion is displaced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If three resilient contact pieces are arranged side by side to support the tab portion, then the rattling of the tab portion is suppressed, but the contact load is reduced when the tab portion is displaced
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient piece is divided into two segments (first and second resilient pieces) connected at a connection portion. Each segment has its own contact point portion, allowing independent displacement behavior. When the tab portion tilts in one direction, one contact point maintains high contact load while the other adjusts accordingly, preventing overall contact load reduction while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient piece is designed to be flexible and displaceable in the vertical direction, allowing it to dynamically adapt to tab portion displacement. The connection portion acts as a hinge enabling rotational movement, so the resilient piece can tilt in response to tab portion movement, maintaining contact load through dynamic adjustment rather than rigid fixation.
2Force
If the resilient piece is made more rigid to maintain contact load during displacement, then contact load stability improves, but the ability to accommodate tab portion displacement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient piece incorporates flexibility through its resilient material properties and hinge-like connection portion, enabling it to tilt and rotate in response to tab portion displacement. This dynamic behavior allows the contact point portions to maintain optimal contact load while accommodating various displacement directions and magnitudes, achieving both load stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient piece utilizes material elasticity and geometric configuration to change its physical state during operation. When the tab portion displaces, the resilient piece deforms elastically and changes its orientation angle, transforming from a static support structure to a dynamic element that adapts its parameters (position, angle, deformation) to maintain contact load while accommodating displacement.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses the reduction in contact load, ensuring reliable connection and preventing rattling by distributing the load across multiple contact points, even during displacement.
Implementation Method 1
a first resilient piece and a second resilient piece provided inside the body portion... the first resilient piece extends in a first direction along a length direction of the tab portion from a first fixed end fixed to the body portion and is resiliently displaceable with a fulcrum of the first fixed end as a center, the second resilient piece extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction from a second fixed end fixed to the first resilient piece and is resiliently displaceable with a fulcrum of the second fixed end as a center
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal fitting T includes a tubular body portion, a first resilient piece and a second resilient piece provided inside the body portion, a first contact point portion provided on the first resilient piece and configured to contact a tab portion, and a second contact point portion provided on the second resilient piece and configured to contact the tab portion. The first resilient piece extends in a first direction along a length direction of the tab portion from a first fixed end fixed to the body portion and is resiliently displaceable with a fulcrum of the first fixed end as a center. The second resilient piece extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction from a second fixed end fixed to the first resilient piece and is resiliently displaceable with a fulcrum of the second fixed end as a center.