Terminal Tube Openings for Optical Contact Gap Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional terminal designs with resilient contact pieces inside a tube portion face challenges in accurately inspecting the interval between the contact piece and the inner wall due to variations caused by the shape of the wire connecting portion, leading to either loose connections or excessive force requirements during insertion.
Innovation Solution
A terminal design featuring a tube portion with strategically placed first and second openings on its sides, allowing light to enter and exit without obstruction from the wire connecting portion, enabling accurate interval inspection between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall, regardless of the wire connecting portion's shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light is irradiated toward the front opening of the tube portion, then inspection can be performed, but the wire connecting portion obstructs the optical path and prevents accurate inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the inspection approach from front-to-back light transmission through the tube portion to side-to-side light transmission through openings formed in the side walls of the tube portion. This dimensional change in the optical path allows light to pass through the tube portion without being obstructed by the wire connecting portion, enabling accurate interval inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the inspection function from the front opening of the tube portion and relocates it to side openings. By forming first and second openings in the side walls of the tube portion, the inspection path is separated from the wire connecting portion, allowing independent inspection without interference from the wire assembly process.
2Ease of operation
If the interval between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall is large, then insertion workability is improved, but the connection becomes loose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual inspection methods with optical inspection using light transmission through the side openings. This allows precise measurement of the interval between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall, enabling optimization of the interval to achieve both good insertion workability and reliable connection tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an inspection mechanism that provides feedback on the interval between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall. By measuring the light transmission through the side openings, the system can detect whether the interval is appropriate, allowing for adjustments to ensure both ease of insertion and connection reliability.
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 design allows for precise interval inspection between the resilient contact piece and the inner wall of the terminal, improving workability and reducing the need for excessive force during terminal insertion, while maintaining terminal strength and ensuring sufficient light transmission for accurate measurements.
Implementation Method 1
an optical path of light entering from either one of the first or second opening and coming out from the other secured
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal of the present disclosure is to be connected to a mating terminal and includes a tube portion and a wire connecting portion provided on a rear end part of the tube portion. A resilient contact piece is provided inside the tube portion. The resilient contact piece presses the mating terminal inserted from front of the tube portion toward an inner wall of the tube portion. An upper inspection opening and a lower inspection opening are formed in side walls of the tube portion. The upper inspection opening is formed on an upper side. The lower inspection opening is formed on a lower side (other side). The resilient contact piece is partially exposed from the upper and lower inspection openings with an optical path of light entering from either one of the upper or lower inspection opening and coming out from the other secured.