Terminal Unit Resilient Contact for Vibration Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing terminal unit design is prone to displacement in the plate width direction due to external forces and vibration, resulting in low contact resistance values, as the gripping force is insufficient and fine sliding friction occurs between the male and female terminals.
Innovation Solution
The terminal unit incorporates a male terminal with inclined portions and a female terminal featuring resilient contact and projecting contact points, which generate inward forces to prevent displacement, enhancing contact resistance and stability by utilizing reaction forces and optimizing the angle of inclination for improved structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the terminal unit uses a simple sandwich structure with pair of wall portions, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the gripping force against external forces is small and displacement occurs in plate width direction
Solution Approach 1:
The second wall portion is segmented into multiple contact point portions (first contact point portions and second contact point portions) that can independently contact different locations on the male terminal. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain simplicity while providing multiple contact points that collectively enhance gripping force and prevent displacement in the plate width direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact point portions are strategically positioned at different locations on the second wall portion to contact specific areas of the male terminal. The first contact point portions contact the upper surface while the second contact point portions contact the lower surface, creating localized contact zones that provide targeted gripping force to prevent displacement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the terminal unit uses a simple sandwich structure, then manufacturing is easy, but fine sliding friction occurs between male and female terminals due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The contact point portions are designed to be resilient and capable of elastic deformation. When external forces or vibrations occur, the contact point portions can dynamically adjust their position and contact pressure, maintaining stable electrical contact and preventing fine sliding friction that would increase contact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient contact point portions can change their contact pressure and position parameters in response to external forces and vibrations. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures consistent electrical contact and prevents the fine sliding friction that occurs with rigid contact structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the terminal unit increases gripping force to prevent displacement, then stability improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The second wall portion serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates the insertion gap, and contains multiple contact point portions for electrical contact and gripping. This multi-functionality allows the structure to achieve enhanced gripping force without adding separate components, thereby avoiding increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact point portions are integrated directly into the second wall portion rather than being separate components. This merging of functions allows the structure to provide enhanced gripping force through multiple contact points while maintaining a unified, simple overall structure that does not increase device complexity.
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 configuration effectively suppresses displacement of the male terminal in the plate width direction, reduces fine sliding friction, and increases contact resistance, providing enhanced stability and performance compared to conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient contact portion being resiliently deformable in a direction separating from the second wall portion to bias the male terminal toward the second wall portion
Implementation Method 2
fine sliding friction between the male and female terminals caused by vibration
Data Source
AI summary
In a terminal unit a female terminal includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion arranged to face each other across a male terminal insertion gap, into which a male terminal is inserted and arranged. The male terminal includes a pair of inclined portions, inclined toward one side in a plate thickness direction of the male terminal on both sides in a plate width direction. The first wall portion includes a resilient contact portion 40 facing a surface of the male terminal on the one side in the plate thickness direction and projecting toward the second wall portion. The resilient contact portion is resiliently deformable in a direction separating from the second wall portion to bias the male terminal toward the second wall portion.