Terminal Retainer With Isolation Plate And Bushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors require excessive force for plugging and unplugging, leading to potential damage of connection terminals due to the lack of protective structures, making the process inconvenient and prone to terminal bending or breaking.
Innovation Solution
A terminal retainer with a plate body, terminal isolation plate, bushings, and a hook is designed to stabilize and protect connection terminals, featuring through-holes, varying bushing heights, and a centrosymmetric structure to prevent damage and facilitate easy connection, with the isolation plate and bushings ensuring secure and staggered terminal alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If connection terminals are arranged without protective structures, then the device structure is simple, but the connection terminals are prone to bending or breaking during plugging-unplugging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a terminal retainer structure with multiple through-holes and isolation plates that segment the connection space. Each through-hole is isolated by terminal isolation plates, creating independent protective compartments for individual connection terminals. This segmentation protects terminals from mutual interference while maintaining overall structural organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal retainer is pre-installed on the plate body with bushings and isolation plates positioned in advance. The bushings are preliminarily fixed in the through-holes, and isolation plates are pre-positioned to surround specific through-holes. This preliminary arrangement ensures terminals are protected from the start of the plugging process, preventing damage before it occurs.
2Strength
If a larger force is applied to plug male and female terminals in place, then the connection is tight, but the connection terminal is prone to being bent or broken
Solution Approach 1:
The bushings made of elastic or cushioning material are installed in the through-holes before terminal insertion. These bushings act as preliminary cushioning elements that absorb and distribute the plugging force, preventing direct transmission of large forces to the terminal bodies. The isolation plates also provide structural cushioning by surrounding and supporting the terminals during the plugging process.
3Productivity
If multiple male terminals and female terminals are plugged simultaneously, then the connection is efficient, but a larger initial force is required making it difficult to plug
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal retainer divides multiple connection points into separate, isolated through-holes with individual isolation plates. This segmentation allows terminals to be plugged independently without requiring simultaneous force application to multiple points. Each terminal can be inserted with minimal force since it doesn't need to overcome the combined resistance of multiple other terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The bushings act as intermediary elements between the plugging force and the connection terminals. These elastic intermediaries facilitate easier insertion by gradually transmitting force, allowing multiple terminals to be plugged with reduced initial force requirements while maintaining secure connections.
4Reliability
If terminal isolation plates are added to protect terminals, then terminal damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Terminal isolation plates are selectively positioned to surround only specific through-holes that require protection. Not all through-holes need identical isolation structures - the design applies isolation plates locally where terminals are most vulnerable or where mutual interference is most likely. This local quality approach provides necessary protection while avoiding unnecessary complexity in areas where simple through-holes suffice.
Data Source
AI summary
The application discloses a terminal retainer and a mating terminal retainer. The terminal retainer has a plate body and a terminal isolation plate, wherein the plate body is provided with a plurality of first through-holes and/or a plurality of second through-holes; the terminal isolation plate has one end thereof disposed on the plate body and extends to a selected height from the plate body. The terminal retainer provided by the application can help a connection terminal to be stable and firm. During plugging in, the terminal retainer can prevent the connection terminal from being bent or broken under stress thereby to be safe and convenient for use. The terminal retainer is provided with a bushing, so that the connection terminals can be isolated from each other to avoid mutual interference.