Vehicle Connector Assembly Guiding Plug Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle connectors face issues with moisture leakage due to separation of sealing members during assembly, leading to potential defects and reduced assembly efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A connector assembly featuring a plug assembly with a guide flange and a header assembly having a guider aligned with a partition wall, which restricts the coupling position and prevents separation of the sealing member by ensuring proper alignment and contact between the guide flange and the guider.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the plug and header are coupled without a gap to ensure tight sealing, then the watertight performance is improved, but interference occurs between the plug and sealing member leading to separation of the sealing member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatertight performanceVSAvoidsealing member integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guider acts as an intermediary component between the plug and header housing. It provides a guided insertion path that allows the plug to be inserted without directly interfering with the sealing member, thus maintaining both watertight performance and sealing member integrity simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the sealing member is made deformable and compressible using elastic material to achieve sealing, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealing member separates during coupling due to interference with the plug

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guider serves as a mediator that facilitates the assembly process by providing a defined insertion path. This allows the deformable sealing member to compress and seal effectively without being displaced or separated during the coupling operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guider is pre-positioned in the header housing to establish the correct insertion trajectory before the plug makes contact with the sealing member. This preliminary positioning prevents interference and ensures smooth assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the plug and header are tightly coupled to prevent moisture leakage, then the watertight performance is improved, but the assembly complexity increases due to alignment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatertight performanceVSAvoidassembly alignment requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guider simplifies the assembly alignment process by providing a physical guide structure that automatically positions the plug correctly as it is inserted into the header housing, reducing the complexity of alignment requirements while maintaining tight coupling for watertight performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2961001B1Connector assembly for vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.12.25 TYCO ELECTRONICS AMP KOREA

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AI summary

A header assembly (12) for a connector of a vehicle has a plurality of head housings (121, 122) into which plugs are to be inserted. A partition wall (123) is configured to separate the plurality of head housings (121, 122), and a guider (14) is provided on an outer side of the partition wall (123) to restrict a coupling position of each of the plugs and guide coupling of each of the plugs.