Terminal Contact Structure for Vibration-Stable Electrical Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing terminal unit design, where a flat plate-like male terminal is sandwiched between wall portions of a female terminal, results in a low gripping force, leading to increased contact resistance due to slight sliding friction between the terminals under vibration.
Innovation Solution
A terminal unit design with a male terminal and a female terminal featuring inclined portions and contact point forming fittings that suppress displacement of the male terminal, using resilient restoring forces to maintain contact pressure and reduce sliding friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the male terminal is sandwiched between wall portions of the female terminal, then the connection structure is simple, but the gripping force against external force in plate width direction is small
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies curved surfaces by forming inclined portions on the male terminal and corresponding inclined side edge parts on the female terminal. These curved/angled surfaces work together to increase the gripping force against external forces in the plate width direction, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and sufficient gripping force.
2Device complexity
If the male terminal is sandwiched between wall portions of the female terminal, then the structure is simple, but slight sliding friction increases contact resistance value
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined portions and inclined side edge parts create a curved surface interaction that eliminates sliding friction between the male and female terminals. This curved surface design prevents the sliding motion that would otherwise generate friction and increase contact resistance, while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Stress or pressure
If resilient contact pieces are used to press the male terminal, then contact pressure is maintained, but displacement in plate width direction occurs under vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined portions and inclined side edge parts work together to constrain the male terminal against displacement in the plate width direction. The curved surface geometry provides mechanical interlocking that prevents vibration-induced displacement while allowing the resilient contact pieces to maintain contact pressure.
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 effectively suppresses an increase in contact resistance by preventing the male terminal from displacing in the plate width direction, ensuring stable connection without additional clips and enhancing contact area and followability.
Implementation Method 1
one wall portion is provided with a resilient contact piece for pressing the male terminal against the other wall portion
Implementation Method 2
the pair of first contact point portions being respectively pressed into contact with the pair of inclined portions of the male terminal and the pair of inclined portions of the male terminal being respectively sandwiched between the pair of first inclined side edge parts and the pair of second inclined side edge parts of the female terminal by resilient restoring forces
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal unit includes a male terminal and a female terminal. The female terminal includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The male terminal includes a pair of inclined portions. The first contact portion includes a pair of first inclined side edge parts. The second contact portion includes a pair of second inclined side edge parts. A contact point forming fitting formed by a separate thin metal plate is conductively fixed to the pair of first inclined side edge parts or the pair of second inclined side edge parts. The contact point forming fitting includes a pair of first contact point portions. The first contact point portions are respectively pressed into contact with the inclined portions and the inclined portions are respectively sandwiched between the pair of first inclined side edge parts and the pair of second inclined side edge parts.