Terminal Front End Protection via Protective Shroud
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric terminals are prone to damage during mating, which can impair the connection between conductive components, leading to inadequate electrical contact.
Innovation Solution
An electric terminal design featuring a conductive base with contact arms and a spring portion made of electrically conductive material, including a protective shroud that extends beyond the contact arms to prevent damage and ensure proper alignment, with optional projections to narrow the shroud opening and guide the mating terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact arms are exposed for mating, then electrical connection is enabled, but damage to contact arms occurs during mating
Solution Approach 1:
A protective shroud is introduced as an intermediary element between the contact arms and the external environment. The shroud extends beyond the contact arms and provides a protective barrier that prevents direct exposure to damaging forces during mating operations, while still allowing the contact arms to function when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective shroud is pre-positioned around the contact arms before mating occurs. This preliminary protective structure is already in place to prevent damage before the harmful mating action takes place, rather than attempting to protect after damage occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If protective shroud extends beyond contact arms, then protection from damage is improved, but misalignment risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment features act as intermediary elements between the protective shroud and the mating terminal. These features (protrusions and recesses) are positioned on the shroud to guide and constrain the mating process, ensuring proper alignment while the shroud extends beyond the contact arms for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective shroud has non-uniform structure with different regions serving different functions: the extended portions provide protection, while specific localized areas contain alignment features (protrusions and recesses) that ensure precise positioning. This local differentiation allows the shroud to simultaneously provide protection and alignment guidance.
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 protective shroud and spring portion effectively prevent damage to the contact arms and ensure proper alignment, maintaining a reliable electrical connection and reducing the risk of misalignment-induced damage.
Implementation Method 1
The spring portion is configured to bias at least one of the plurality of contact arms in an inward direction
Data Source
AI summary
An electric terminal includes a conductive portion with a base, a box supported on the base, and a plurality of contact arms extending therefrom. The electric terminal also includes a spring portion formed as a separate piece from and supported on the box of the conductive portion. The spring portion includes a contact arm that biases at least one of the plurality of contact arms of the conductive portion and a protective shroud that extends farther from the base of the conductive portion than the contact arms.