Terminal Spacer with Variable Slit Width for Wire Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing terminal spacer for electric wires connected to terminals can easily come off due to its uniform slit design, and while narrowing the slit may prevent this, it complicates the attachment process.
Innovation Solution
A terminal spacer with an electric wire insertion slit portion having a wider opening than the narrow slit portion, where the electric wire is inserted from the end surface and pushed against a tapered surface to enter the narrower slit, ensuring secure attachment without excessive force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the terminal spacer is designed with a uniform slit opening throughout its length, then the attachment operation is facilitated, but the terminal spacer easily comes off the electric wire and terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The slit portion is designed with varying opening widths at different locations: a first slit portion with a first opening width and a second slit portion with a second opening width that is narrower than the first. This local variation in geometry allows the slit to provide easy insertion at one location while providing secure retention at another location, resolving the contradiction between ease of attachment and reliability of retention.
2Reliability
If the opening width of the slit is decreased to prevent the terminal spacer from coming off, then the retention is improved, but the attachment operation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slit portion is divided into two regions with different opening widths: the first slit portion has a wider opening to facilitate easy attachment operation, while the second slit portion has a narrower opening to provide secure retention. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing the appropriate slit width at the appropriate location.
3Reliability
If the slit is formed with almost no opening to prevent coming off, then the retention is maximized, but the attachment operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The slit portion is designed with a first slit portion that has sufficient opening width to enable easy attachment operation, and a second slit portion that has a narrower opening to provide retention. This localized variation in opening width allows the structure to achieve both easy attachment and secure retention without requiring the entire slit to have minimal opening.
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal spacer (50) having a cylindrical shape is attached to the circumference of an electric wire (W) connected to a charge terminal (20A). The terminal spacer (50) includes a slit portion (51) extending across the entire length in the axial direction (SD) of the terminal spacer (50). The slit portion (51) includes an electric wire insertion slit portion (52) into which the electric wire (W) can be inserted, and a narrow slit portion (53) continuously extending from the electric wire insertion slit portion (52) and having an opening width narrower than that of the electric wire insertion slit portion (52).