Terminal Locking Lance Structure for Compact Electrical Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in properly locating and securing terminals within the housing, leading to potential damage and improper mating, and the use of locking lances increases connector size.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design incorporates locking lances with lance arms and retention fingers that engage retention shoulders in the housing, ensuring proper terminal positioning and retention, while maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If locking lances are added to terminals to secure them in the housing, then terminal retention and positioning are improved, but the overall length and size of the electrical connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lance is nested within the terminal body, with the lance arm extending from the terminal and the retention finger positioned to engage the retention shoulder. This nested configuration allows the locking mechanism to be integrated into the terminal structure without significantly increasing the overall terminal length or connector size, while still providing reliable terminal retention.
2Manufacturing precision
If locking lances are used to secure terminals, then terminal positioning accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the terminal structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lance is segmented into distinct functional components: the lance arm that extends from the terminal body and the retention finger that engages the retention shoulder. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity. The retention finger can be designed as a separate element that flexes or moves independently to engage and disengage from the retention shoulder, providing precise positioning without excessive complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If locking lances with retention fingers are implemented, then assembly damage prevention is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention finger is designed with specific geometric parameters including its length, thickness, and engagement angle with the retention shoulder. These parameters are optimized to provide sufficient retention force during assembly while allowing the retention finger to flex or deform elastically to accommodate minor misalignments. This parameter optimization prevents assembly damage by allowing the retention mechanism to accommodate manufacturing tolerances without requiring excessively complex manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a connector housing having a base with terminal cavities and a retention shoulder within each terminal cavity. Terminals are received in the corresponding terminal cavities. Each terminal includes a main body extending between a mating end at a front of the terminal and a terminating end at a rear of the terminal. Each terminal includes a locking lance extending from the main body. The locking lance includes a lance arm extending in the axial direction of the terminal and a retention finger extending transversely from the lance arm to a retention edge. The retention edge engages the corresponding retention shoulder to retain the terminal in the corresponding terminal cavity.