Terminal Insertion Groove Notch Design for Plastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminals with U-shaped insertion grooves are prone to plastic deformation when pressing in electrical wires, leading to reduced holding force and poor repairability, and increasing the required load to enhance strength makes it difficult to press in the wire.
Innovation Solution
A terminal design featuring a pair of conductive arm parts with a notched part larger than the insertion groove width, which cancels out loads applied to the insertion groove and opening, facilitating elastic deformation and reducing stress concentration, thereby preventing plastic deformation and ensuring repairability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the strength of the insertion part is enhanced for ensuring predetermined force of holding the electrical wire, then the holding force is improved, but the U-shaped slit becomes difficult for pressing-in of the electrical wire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a notched part at the end of the insertion groove where stress concentrates, while maintaining the overall strength of the insertion part. The notched part locally modifies the stress distribution without compromising the global structural integrity, allowing the insertion part to be both strong and easy to press into.
2Device complexity
If a U-shaped insertion groove is provided in a platy insertion part, then the structure is simplified, but the insertion part is apt to be plastically deformed when pressing an electrical wire
Solution Approach 1:
The notched part is provided locally at the end of the insertion groove where stress concentrates during pressing. This local modification prevents plastic deformation at the critical stress concentration point while maintaining the overall simplicity of the platy insertion part structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful stress concentration at the end of the insertion groove into a beneficial feature by providing a notched part. The notch intentionally creates a controlled stress distribution pattern that prevents harmful plastic deformation, turning the stress concentration problem into a solution.
3Ease of operation
If the insertion part is plastically deformed by pressing-in of the electrical wire, then the electrical wire can be inserted, but the holding force decreases and repairability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The notched part is provided at the specific location where stress concentrates during pressing. This local structural feature allows the insertion part to deform elastically rather than plastically, enabling the wire to be inserted while maintaining holding force and allowing for repairability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter of the insertion groove by adding a notched part at the end. This parameter change modifies the stress distribution and deformation characteristics, allowing elastic deformation that preserves holding force and enables repairability.
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 allows for reduced plastic deformation, maintaining holding force during reinsertion, simplifying the conductive arm part configuration, and lowering production costs while making it easier to press in the conductor.
Implementation Method 1
facilitating elastic deformation and reducing stress concentration
Implementation Method 2
stress concentrates on a region S
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(B)
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3(A)~4
AI summary
Provided is a terminal which does not require a large amount of applied load at the time of pressing-in of an electrical wire and can avoid plastic deformation that occurs by the pressing-in of the electrical wire, thus improving the repairability at the time when the electrical wire is pulled out of an insertion groove and reinserted thereinto to be used. Therefore, in a terminal (11) where an insertion groove (13) to be pressed into by a conductor (6) is provided between a pair of conductive arm parts (14), a notched part (16) larger than a width of the insertion groove (13) is provided at the end (13b) of the insertion groove (13).