Combination Terminal Lock Structure for Low-Resistance Manual Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing assembly process of terminal bodies generates high sliding resistance due to strong rubbing of lock protrusions, making manual assembly difficult.
Innovation Solution
A combination terminal design featuring a first terminal fitting with a resiliently deformable lock piece and a second terminal fitting with a lock portion, along with a protecting member to prevent external interference, allowing for assembly in a direction intersecting the stacking direction and reducing resistance through resilient deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lock protrusions are strongly pressed against mating plate-like overlapping portions during assembly, then locking function is improved, but sliding resistance increases making manual assembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lock piece is designed to be resiliently deformable, changing its physical state from rigid to flexible. This allows the lock piece to elastically deform during assembly, reducing sliding resistance, and then maintain a locked state after assembly, ensuring reliable locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient lock piece acts as an intermediary between the terminal bodies. Instead of directly pressing lock protrusions against mating surfaces (which generates high friction), the resilient lock piece mediates the connection through elastic deformation, reducing direct frictional contact while maintaining locking capability.
2Device complexity
If resilient lock piece is exposed during assembly, then locking mechanism is simplified, but external matter interference increases risking plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The protecting member is nested over the resilient lock piece, creating a protective enclosure. This nested structure shields the lock piece from external contaminants and forces that could cause plastic deformation, while allowing the locking mechanism to function through the protected interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The protecting member functions as a protective shell or film covering the resilient lock piece. This thin protective barrier prevents direct contact between external matters and the lock piece, maintaining its elastic properties and preventing plastic deformation while allowing the locking mechanism to operate.
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
Enables manual assembly with reduced resistance and high reliability of the locking function, improving workability and preventing plastic deformation of the resilient lock pieces.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently deformable resilient lock piece
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention enables manual assembly. This combination terminal comprises a first terminal fitting (11) including a first baseplate portion (12), and a second terminal fitting (51) which includes a second baseplate portion (52) that is stacked on the first baseplate portion (12) and which is assembled to the first terminal fitting (11) by being displaced in a direction intersecting a stacking direction, wherein: an elastic locking piece (20) that is elastically deformable is formed in the first terminal fitting (11); a locking portion (56) that engages with the elastic locking piece (20) to lock the first terminal fitting (11) and the second terminal fitting (51) in an assembled state is formed in the second terminal fitting (51); and a protective member (40) for preventing foreign matter from interfering with the elastic locking piece (20) is attached to the first terminal fitting (11).