Terminal Fitting Cantilever Contact Elastic Reinforcement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal fittings with reduced sizes face challenges in maintaining sufficient contact pressure between the tab and the elastic contact piece due to decreased elastic restoring force, especially when the elastic contact piece is extended like a cantilever and its free end is non-contact with the body portion's wall.
Innovation Solution
A terminal fitting design featuring an elastic contact piece extended like a cantilever with an elastic reinforcing piece, where the extended end of the contact piece abuts on the body portion's wall, providing two-point support and increased elastic restoring force, and the reinforcing piece is positioned to stabilize the contact pressure, even when the tab is inserted or inclined.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the terminal fitting size is reduced, then the compactness is improved, but the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece decreases leading to insufficient contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic contact piece is divided into multiple functional segments: a base end portion fixed to the body, a contact portion for tab contact, and an extended end portion that abuts on the wall-shaped portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining sufficient contact pressure in a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic contact piece is configured to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion/pull-out direction of the tab. This dimensional change creates a cantilever structure where the extended end abuts on the wall-shaped portion, providing additional support and maintaining contact pressure without increasing the fitting's overall size in the insertion direction.
2Device complexity
If the elastic contact piece is extended like a cantilever with non-contact free end, then the structure is simplified, but sufficient contact pressure cannot be obtained even with elastic reinforcing piece
Solution Approach 1:
The extended end portion of the elastic contact piece is pre-configured to abut on the wall-shaped portion of the body before tab insertion. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the tab is inserted and the contact portion deflects, the extended end provides immediate counter-support, maintaining sufficient contact pressure without requiring complex additional structures.
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 ensures high and stable contact pressure between the tab and the elastic contact piece, preventing collisions and maintaining shape stability, thereby enhancing contact reliability and preventing plastic deformation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic contact piece provided to face the inserting space, having a configuration as to be extended like a cantilever... and having a contact portion to come in contact with the tab... the elastic contact piece being elastically flexed through an abutment of the tab on the contact portion
Implementation Method 2
an elastic reinforcing piece provided on an opposite side to the inserting space with the elastic contact piece interposed therebetween... causing an extended end to correspond to a displaced region in an elastic flexure in the elastic contact piece, the elastic contact piece being elastically flexed... and the elastic reinforcing piece being elastically flexed through an abutment of the elastic contact piece
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal fitting includes: a body portion having a space for inserting a tab of a mating terminal therein; an elastic contact piece provided to face the space, having a configuration as to be extended like a cantilever in a direction of an insertion and pull-out of the tab with respect to the space through a wall-shaped portion constituting the body portion, and having a contact portion to come in contact with the tab; and an elastic reinforcing piece provided on an opposite side to the space with the elastic contact piece interposed therebetween, having a configuration as to be extended like a cantilever in the direction of the insertion and pull-out of the tab from the wall-shaped portion constituting the body portion, and causing an extended end to correspond to a displaced region in an elastic flexure in the elastic contact piece.