CN114221169A

CN114221169A - Stress relief sleeve and thermocouple sensor connection assembly

Info

Publication number: CN114221169A
Application number: CN202111060206.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 姜雪; 殷俊
Original assignee: Wuxi Valeo Automotive Components and Systems Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wuxi Valeo Automotive Components and Systems Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-10
Filing date: 2021-09-10
Publication date: 2022-03-22
Also published as: WO2023036231A1

Abstract

A strain relief sleeve for a cable connector and a thermocouple sensor connection assembly are disclosed. The strain relief sleeve includes a body portion and at least one cable retention portion. The body portion has first and second ends opposite in a cable insertion direction, the first end having an open opening. At least one cable retention portion is connected to and extends away from the second end of the body portion, the interior space of the at least one cable retention portion being in communication with the interior space of the body portion. The at least one cable holding portion is capable of elastically flexing relative to the body portion.

Description

Stress relief sleeve and thermocouple sensor connection assembly

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a strain relief sleeve for a cable connector and a thermocouple sensor connection assembly.

Background

The cable of the digital thermocouple sensor is a continuous carrier of each part of an automobile, and mainly has the functions of ensuring the transmission of electric signals and the reliability of a connecting circuit, providing a specified current value for electronic and electric elements, preventing electromagnetic interference on surrounding circuits and eliminating electrical short circuit. If a cable connected to a cable connector of a thermocouple sensor is pulled or dragged in a lateral direction deviating from the cable insertion direction, various stresses (e.g., tensile stresses) are generated on the cable. In the repeated dragging or pulling process, the cable is easy to be broken, damaged and the like under the stress action.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a strain relief sleeve for a cable connector, comprising: a body portion and at least one cable retention portion. The body portion has first and second ends opposite in a cable insertion direction, the first end having an open opening. At least one cable retention portion is connected to and extends away from the second end of the body portion, the interior space of the at least one cable retention portion being in communication with the interior space of the body portion. The at least one cable holding portion is capable of elastically flexing relative to the body portion.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a thermocouple sensor connection assembly, including: a cable connector; at least one cable; and a stress relief sleeve as in any above. The strain relief sleeve is joined to the cable connector by the body portion, and at least one cable is connected to the cable connector through a respective cable retention portion of the strain relief sleeve.

In this way, when the cable is dragged or pulled in a direction other than the cable insertion direction (in particular, a lateral direction), the stress relief boot can effectively reduce or relieve the adverse stresses generated in the insertion end of the cable on the one hand, and can avoid the adverse stresses generated in the portion of the cable located outside and abutting the stress relief sleeve on the other hand, thereby avoiding damage due to these adverse stresses.

In one example, the body portion is cylindrical and the at least one cable holding portion is tubular.

In one example, the strain relief sleeve includes a plurality of cable retention portions that are independently elastically deflectable relative to one another.

In this way, it is possible to avoid the cable holders interfering with each other during the respective flexing, so that it is possible to provide protection for a plurality of cables drawn in different directions simultaneously by means of one stress relief sleeve.

In one example, the stress relief sleeve is a shell having a predetermined thickness.

In one example, the predetermined thickness is in a range of 1 millimeter to 2 millimeters.

In this way, the stress relief sleeve itself is compact and does not take up excessive space.

In one example, the material of the at least one cable retention portion and the body portion is at least one of silicone rubber, polyurethane, and viton.

Thus, the stress relief sleeve has excellent temperature resistance, oil resistance, vibration resistance, and friction resistance and is suitable for use as a stress relief sleeve for cables around engines.

In one example, the shore a hardness value of the at least one cable retention portion and the body portion is in a range of 60 to 80. In this way, the strain relief sleeve can provide excellent support protection for the insertion end of the cable.

In one example, the elongation at break of the at least one cable retention portion and the body portion is in a range of 110% to 340%. Thus, the stress relief sleeve itself is not easily damaged.

In one example, the body portion and the at least one cable retention portion are integrally formed by an injection molding process. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the stress relief sleeve is simple and easy for mass production.

In one example, the body portion includes a snap structure at the opening for engaging the cable connector.

In one example, the snap-fit structure is an at least partially annularly extending recess on an inner wall of the body portion.

In one example, the snap-fit structure is a plurality of recesses discretely distributed on an inner wall of the body portion.

In one example, the plurality of recesses are through holes.

In one example, the plurality of recesses each have a T-shaped profile.

In this way, the engagement between the strain relief sleeve and the cable connector is simple and stable.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other embodiments can be obtained by using the drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a strain relief sleeve for a cable connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stress relief sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line AA';

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a thermocouple sensor connection assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a stress relief sleeve for a cable connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a thermocouple sensor connection assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the embodiments described are only a few embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the described embodiments of the invention without any inventive step, are within the scope of protection of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The use of "first," "second," and similar terms in the description and claims of the present application do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather the terms are used to distinguish one element from another. The word "comprise" or "comprises", and the like, means that the element or item listed before "comprises" or "comprising" covers the element or item listed after "comprising" or "comprises" and its equivalents, and does not exclude other elements or items. The terms "connected" or "coupled" and the like are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a strain relief sleeve for a cable connector. When the cable is dragged or pulled in a direction other than the cable insertion direction (in particular, a lateral direction), the stress relief boot can effectively reduce or relieve the adverse stress generated in the insertion end of the cable on the one hand, and can avoid the adverse stress generated in the portion of the cable located outside and abutting the stress relief sleeve on the other hand, thereby avoiding damage due to these adverse stresses.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a strain relief sleeve for a cable connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stress relief sleeve of FIG. 1 taken along line AA'; fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a thermocouple sensor connection assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a strain relief sleeve 100 for a cable connector and a thermocouple sensor connection assembly 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3.

In the first embodiment, the stress relief sleeve 100 includes a body portion 110 and first and second

cable holding portions

121 and 122 connected to the body portion 110.

The body portion 110 has first and second ends opposite in the cable insertion direction. The first end of the body part 110 has an opening P opened. Here, the cable insertion direction refers to, for example, a length direction of a passage for mounting a cable (also referred to as a cable) on a cable connector to which the stress relief sleeve 100 is mated. In one example, for example, the cable insertion direction may be a direction in which the strain relief sleeve 100 is directed from the first cable holding part 121 and/or the second cable holding part 122 toward the body part 110 in an initial state without significant deformation. For example, the cable insertion direction is a straight direction.

For example, the main body 110 is cylindrical, and the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 are each tubular. Here, the terms "cylindrical" and "tubular" are not intended to indicate any significant shape difference. In some examples, the cylindrical body portion 110 may have a similar shape to any one of the first cable holding portion 121 and the second cable holding portion 122.

In the first embodiment, the body portion 110 has a relatively flat cylindrical shape with respect to any one of the first cable holding portion 121 and the second cable holding portion 122, and any one of the first cable holding portion 121 and the second cable holding portion 122 may have a relatively round tubular shape with respect to the body portion 110. The specific shape of any of the body portion 110, the first cable holding portion 121, and the second cable holding portion 122 is not limited here.

Referring to fig. 2, in the first embodiment, the first cable holding portion 121 and the second cable holding portion 122 are each connected to the second end of the body portion 110 and extend away from the second end of the body portion 110. The inner spaces of the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 communicate with the inner space of the main body part 110. The first cable holding part 121, the second cable holding part 122 and the internal space of the main body part 110 are integrally communicated with each other as the internal space of the main body part 110.

For example, when the stress relief sleeve 100 is in an initial state without significant deformation, the central axis X of at least a portion of the body portion 110₀And a central axis X of at least a part of the first cable holding part 121₁And a central axis X of at least a part of the second cable holding part 122₂Are all straight lines and are substantially parallel to each other. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In one example, the central axis X of at least a portion of the first cable retention portion 121 is in an initial state without significant deformation of the stress relief sleeve 100₁And a central axis X of at least a part of the second cable holding part 122₂Are all straight lines and are substantially parallel to each other; and the central axis X of at least a part of the first cable holding part 121₁And a central axis X of at least a part of the second cable holding part 122₂A straight central axis X with at least a part of the body part 110₀Not parallel. In another example, the central axis X of at least a portion of the body portion 110 is in an initial state without significant deformation of the stress relief sleeve 100₀And a central axis X of at least a part of the first cable holding part 121₁And a firstCenter axis X of at least a part of two cable holders 122₂Are straight lines and are not parallel to each other two by two. In yet another example, the central axis X of at least a portion of the body portion 110 is in an initial state without significant deformation of the stress relief sleeve 100₀And a central axis X of at least a part of the first cable holding part 121₁And a center axis X of at least a part 122 of the second cable holding part₂Are all curves.

For example, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the cable insertion direction is the central axis X of at least a part of the body portion 110₀In the direction of the beam.

The first cable holding portion 121 is elastically flexible with respect to the body portion 110. That is, at least a portion of the first cable holding part 121, which is located between two reference planes that are perpendicular to the cable insertion direction and are spaced apart from each other, as a whole, is deformed by an external force to have a deformed shape that is bent to a different degree from the original shape, and is able to spontaneously return from the deformed shape to the original shape when the external force is removed.

The second cable holding portion 122 is elastically flexible with respect to the body portion 110. That is, at least a portion of the second cable holding part 122, which is located between two reference planes that are perpendicular to the cable insertion direction and are spaced apart from each other, as a whole, is deformed by an external force to have a deformed shape that is bent to a different degree from the original shape, and the at least a portion is able to spontaneously return from the deformed shape to the original shape when the external force is removed.

Here, the reference plane is a virtual plane.

For example, the initial shape of the at least one portion of the first and second

cable holding parts

121 and 122 is a straight tube shape, and the deformed shape of the at least one portion of the first and second

cable holding parts

121 and 122 is a bent tube shape. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In another example, the initial shape of the at least one portion of the first and second

cable holding parts

121 and 122 is a bent pipe shape, and the deformed shape of the at least one portion of the first and second

cable holding parts

121 and 122 is a straight pipe shape.

With continued reference to fig. 2 and 3, for example, in the present embodiment, the first cable holding part 121 is entirely subjected to deviation from its central axis X₁The central axis X is deformed by external force in the direction₁Can change from a linear initial shape to an arc deformed shape, and when the external force disappears, the central axis X thereof₁The arc-shaped deformed shape can be correspondingly changed back to the linear initial shape.

For example, similarly, the second cable holding portion 122 is subjected to deviation from the central axis X thereof as a whole₂Can generate deformation when external force in the direction of the central axis X₂Can change from a linear initial shape to an arc deformed shape, and when the external force disappears, the central axis X thereof₂The arc-shaped deformed shape can be correspondingly changed back to the linear initial shape.

Here, the center axis X is not limited₁And a central axis X₂The initial shape and the deformed shape. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the central axis is not a solid structure, but is merely a virtual axis used to describe the relevant shape.

For example, the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 each have a circular tube shape. However, the specific shapes of the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 are not limited by the embodiments of the present invention.

Although shown in the stress relief sleeve 100 of fig. 1-3, at least a portion of the body portion 110 has a central axis X₀At least a part of the first cable holding part 121 has a central axis X₁And at least a part of the second cable holding part 122 has a central axis X₂However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In another example, any portion of any one of the body portion 110, the first cable holding portion 121, and the second cable holding portion 122 may have an asymmetric shape such that none of the body portion 110, the first cable holding portion 121, and the second cable holding portion 122 has a central axis.

Referring to fig. 3, the first embodiment of the present invention also provides a thermocouple sensor connection assembly 10 including: a cable connector 200, first 310 and second 320 cables, and a strain relief sleeve 100. The stress relief sleeve 100 may be joined to the cable connector 200 by the body portion 110, and the first and

second cables

310 and 320 are connected to the cable connector 200 through the first and second

cable holding portions

121 and 122 of the stress relief sleeve, respectively.

For example, the first cable 310 and the second cable 320 each include opposing insertion and free ends. A portion of the insertion ends of the first and

second cables

310, 320 extend in the cable insertion direction within the cable connector 200, and another portion of the insertion ends of the first and

second cables

310, 320 are outside the cable connector 200 and are located in the inner space of the stress relief sleeve 100. In addition, the free ends (not shown) of the first and

second cables

310 and 320 may be pulled in any direction.

In fig. 3, a portion of the insertion ends of the first cable 310 and the second cable 320 extend in the same cable insertion direction (e.g., vertical direction) within the cable connector 200. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. In another example, a portion of the insertion end of the first cable 310 extends in a first direction within the cable connector 200 and a portion of the insertion end of the second cable 320 extends in a second direction within the cable connector 200 that is different from the first direction. The first direction and the second direction are both linear directions. In this case, the first direction is a cable insertion direction of the first cable 310, and the second direction is a cable insertion direction of the second cable 320.

In the present embodiment, the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 are capable of independent elastic deflection with respect to each other. In this way, the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 can be prevented from interfering with each other during flexing.

For example, in fig. 3, the cable insertion direction is a vertical direction, the first cable 310 is drawn toward a horizontal left direction, and the second cable 320 is drawn toward a horizontal right direction. At this time, the first cable 310 drives the first cable holding portion 121 to bend and deform in the horizontal left direction, and the second cable 320 drives the second cable holding portion 122 to bend and deform in the horizontal right direction.

During the bending deformation, the inside of the first cable holding part 121 may generate stress to resist the leftward bending deformation. Since the first cable holding portion 121 is capable of elastically flexing with respect to the body portion 110, the stress generated inside the first cable holding portion 121 is sufficient to reduce the degree to which the insertion end of the first cable 310 is bent to some extent so as to at least partially relieve the tensile stress in the insertion end of the first cable 310, thereby protecting the insertion end of the first cable 310 from being damaged during the process in which the first cable 310 is pulled and dragged in the horizontal leftward direction. Further, referring to fig. 3, for the portion of the first cable 310 exposed from below the first cable holding portion 121 of the stress relief sleeve 100 and abutting the first cable holding portion 121, since the first cable holding portion 121 is deformed in a bending manner conforming to the first cable 310, excessive stress is not generated in the portion due to excessive bending, thereby preventing damage.

Similarly, during bending deformation, the inside of the second cable holding part 122 may generate stress to resist bending deformation to the right. Since the second cable holding portion 122 is capable of elastically flexing with respect to the body portion 110, the stress generated inside the second cable holding portion 122 is sufficient to reduce the degree to which the insertion end of the second cable 320 is bent to some extent so as to at least partially relieve the tensile stress in the insertion end of the first cable 320, thereby protecting the insertion end of the second cable 320 from being damaged during the pulling and dragging of the second cable 320 in the horizontal rightward direction. Referring to fig. 3, for the portion of the second cable 320 exposed from under the second cable holding portion 122 of the stress relief sleeve 100 and abutting the second cable holding portion 122, due to the conformal bending deformation of the second cable holding portion 122 with the second cable 320, excessive stress is not generated in the portion due to excessive bending, thereby avoiding damage.

On the other hand, when the above-described pulling and dragging of the first cable 310 and the second cable 320 is stopped, since both the first cable holding portion 121 and the second cable holding portion 122 can be elastically flexed with respect to the body portion 110, the stress generated inside the first cable holding portion 121 and the second cable holding portion 122 can further return the first cable 310 and the second cable 320 toward their respective initial positions, respectively. In this way, when the towing and pulling of the first cable 310 and the second cable 320 are stopped, the insertion ends of the first cable 310 and the second cable 320 can be quickly restored to the original positions with less stress and are not easily damaged.

For example, referring to fig. 1 to 3, an end of each of the first cable holding part 121 and the second cable holding part 122 near the body part 110 is a horn-shaped end which is gradually enlarged. In this way, it is possible to provide a larger accommodation space for the insertion ends of the first and

second cables

310 and 320 to avoid the ends of the first and second

cable holding parts

121 and 122 from adversely interfering with the ends of the first and

second cables

310 and 320 near the second end of the body part 110.

For example, the horn-shaped end portion of the first cable holding portion 121 and the horn-shaped end portion of the second cable holding portion 122 are integrally connected on the side close to each other.

Although the strain relief sleeve 100 includes two cable retention portions, i.e., the first cable retention portion 121 and the second cable retention portion 122 in the above embodiment, it is understood that the embodiment of the present invention does not limit the number of cable retention portions included in the strain relief sleeve 100. In another example, one of the first and second

cable retention portions

121, 122 may be omitted such that the strain relief sleeve 100 includes only the other of the first and second

cable retention portions

121, 122. In yet another example, the strain relief sleeve 100 may include a third cable holding part (not shown) in addition to the first and second

cable holding parts

121 and 122, and the first, second, and third

cable holding parts

121, 122 may be arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction.

The stress relief sleeve 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention is a housing having a predetermined thickness. The predetermined thickness is in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm.

For example, referring to fig. 2 and 3, a first shell thickness of the strain relief sleeve 100 at the first and second

cable retention portions

121 and 122 is a wall thickness of each of the first and second

cable retention portions

121 and 122; the second shell thickness of the stress relief sleeve 100 at the body portion 110 is the wall thickness of the body portion 110. For example, the first shell thickness is less than the second shell thickness.

For example, the materials of the first and second

cable holding portions

121, 122 and the body portion 110 of the strain relief sleeve 100 are all elastomeric materials. Specifically, the material of the first cable holding part 121, the second cable holding part 122, and the body part 110 of the stress relief sleeve 100 is, for example, at least one of silicone rubber, polyurethane, and fluororubber. These materials provide the desired resiliency and support to stress relief sleeve 100 on the one hand, and provide the advantages of high temperature, oil, vibration, and friction resistance to stress relief sleeve 100 on the other hand.

For example, when the material of the first cable holding part 121, the second cable holding part 122, and the body part 110 of the stress relief sleeve 100 is silicone rubber, it can maintain stable performance at an ambient temperature of 150 ℃ to 260 ℃. The ambient temperature around the engine is high and there are many corrosive gases and liquids. The stress relief sleeve 100 made of silicone rubber is suitable for use as a stress relief sleeve for cables around engines due to its excellent temperature resistance, oil resistance, vibration resistance, and friction resistance.

For example, the shore a hardness values of the first cable retention portion 121, the second cable retention portion 122, and the body portion 110 of the strain relief sleeve 100 are in the range of 60 to 80. In this way, the strain relief sleeve 100 can provide excellent support protection for the inserted ends of the first and

second cables

310, 320.

For example, the elongation at break of the first cable holding part 121, the second cable holding part 122, and the body part 110 of the stress relief sleeve 100 is in the range of 110% to 340%. Thus, the stress relief sleeve 100 itself is not easily damaged.

For example, the first cable holding part 121, the second cable holding part 122 and the body part 110 of the stress relief sleeve 100 are integrally molded by an injection molding process. Thus, the stress relief sleeve 100 can be manufactured by a simple process and can be easily mass-produced.

For example, a silicone rubber compound may be used as the raw rubber, and the raw rubber may be molded by heating and vulcanization after adding a vulcanizing agent (the vulcanizing agent may be selected according to the process requirements). For example, 2, 5-dimethyl-2, 5-di-t-butylperoxy hexane added to the raw rubber is vulcanized at 170 ℃ for 10 minutes and then at 200 ℃ for 4 hours, thereby producing the integrally molded stress relief sleeve 100.

In one example, the stress relief sleeve 100 integrally molded by vulcanization at 250 ℃ using commercially available bluesil HCR 60THT as raw rubber has the first cable holding part 121, the second cable holding part 122, and the main body part 110 with respect to the physical parameter data on the days after molding as shown in the following table.

With continued reference to fig. 2 and 3, the body portion 110 includes a snap structure 111 at the opening P for engaging with the cable connector 200. When the stress relief sleeve 100 is joined to the cable connector 200 through the body portion 110, the end of the cable connector 200 is located in the inner space of the body portion 110. The end of the cable connector 200 is provided with a bead 201 projecting toward the body portion 110 of the stress relief sleeve 100. The snap features 111 and the ribs 201 are sized and shaped to be complementary to each other such that the snap features 111 and the ribs 201 can snap into each other to snap the strain relief sleeve 100 onto the end of the cable connector 200.

For example, the body portion 110 of the stress relief sleeve 100 is made of an elastomeric material. Thus, the installation of the cable connector 200 and the stress relief sleeve 100 can be completed by only appropriately expanding the body 110 over the rib 201 on the end of the cable connector 200 and then releasing the body 110 to naturally clamp the clamping structure 111 and the rib 201 together.

In one example, the stiffener 201 has only a half turn (i.e., the stiffener 201 may have a C-shaped profile). In this way, the problem that the cable connector 200 cannot be pulled due to the whole circle of reinforcing ribs can be avoided.

Correspondingly, the latching structure 111 is an at least partially annularly extending recess on the inner wall of the body portion 110. In one example, the snap structure 111 is a partially annularly extending C-shaped recess on the inner wall of the body portion 110. In this case, care should be taken during the process of installing the strain relief sleeve 100 to the cable connector 200 to align the snap features 111 and the ribs 201 to avoid the snap features 111 and ribs 201 being misaligned from each other and becoming unable to snap together. In another example, the snap structure 111 is a complete annular recess extending a full circle annularly on the inner wall of the body portion 110. In this case, the snap features 111 and the ribs 201 can be snapped into each other without purposely aligning the snap features 111 and the ribs 201 during installation of the strain relief sleeve 100 in the cable connector 200.

Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the first cable 310 includes two electric wires 311 and an insulating sheath 312 that covers outer surfaces of the two electric wires 311. Each wire 311 itself has an insulated outer surface. Likewise, the second cable 320 includes two electric wires 321 and an insulating sheath 322 covering outer surfaces of the two electric wires 321. Each wire 321 itself has an insulated outer surface. It is understood that embodiments of the present invention do not limit the number of electrical wires included in each of the first and

second cables

310 and 320. The end of each wire is engaged in the cable connector 200, for example, in a stationary positional relationship.

For example, in the first embodiment, the minimum inner diameter of the first cable holding part 121 is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the first cable 310; the minimum inner diameter of the second cable holding part 122 is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the second cable 320. In this way, the first cable 310 may not contact the inner wall (i.e., inner surface) of the first cable holding part 121, and the second cable 320 may not contact the inner wall of the second cable holding part 122. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. In another example, the minimum inner diameter of the first cable holding part 121 may be substantially equal to the maximum outer diameter of the first cable 310; the minimum inner diameter of the second cable holding part 122 may be substantially equal to the maximum outer diameter of the second cable 310. Thus, the first cable 310 contacts the inner wall of the first cable holding portion 121, and the second cable 320 contacts the inner wall of the second cable holding portion 122; in yet another example, the minimum inner diameter of the first cable holding part 121 may be substantially equal to the maximum outer diameter of the first cable 310; the minimum inner diameter of the second cable holding part 122 may be larger than the maximum outer diameter of the second cable 310. Thus, the first cable 310 contacts the inner wall of the first cable holding portion 121, and the second cable 320 contacts the inner wall of the second cable holding portion 122.

Fig. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a stress relief sleeve for a cable connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a thermocouple sensor connection assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a stress relief sleeve 100 'for a cable connector and a thermocouple sensor connection assembly 10' according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 4A to 5.

The stress relief sleeve 100' is substantially the same in construction and material as the stress relief sleeve 100. In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar parts, so that the duplicate description is omitted herein and only the differences are explained. The primary difference between the stress relief sleeve 100' and the stress relief sleeve 100 is that: the snap-fit structure of the body portion 110 ' of the stress relief sleeve 100 ' at the opening P is a plurality of recesses 112 discretely distributed on the inner wall of the body portion 110 '. Further, the profile of the stress relief sleeve 100 'at the junction of its body portion 110' with the two cable retention portions 121 'and 122' is different from the profile of the stress relief sleeve 100 at the corresponding location.

The thermocouple sensor connection assembly 10 'is provided with a plurality of projections 202 distributed discretely on the end of the cable connector 200'. The plurality of projections 202 and the plurality of recesses 112 correspond one-to-one. For example, the projections 202 and recesses 112 that correspond to each other are sized and shaped identically so that the projections 202 can nest in the corresponding recesses 112 to snap the stress relief sleeve 100 'over the end of the cable connector 200'.

As best seen in fig. 4A and 4B, three recesses 112 are discretely distributed on the inner wall of the body portion 110 'of the stress relief sleeve 100'. Each depression 112 is a through-hole having a T-shaped profile, and each protrusion 202 also has a corresponding T-shaped profile. In this manner, the projections 202 can be more stably nested in the corresponding recesses 112 to more stably snap the strain relief sleeve 100 'onto the end of the cable connector 200'.

The inner wall of the body portion 110' is composed of a first sub inner wall, a second sub inner wall, a third sub inner wall, and a fourth sub inner wall. The first sub inner wall and the second sub inner wall face and are spaced apart from each other, the third sub inner wall and the fourth sub inner wall face and are spaced apart from each other, the first sub inner wall and the second sub inner wall each connect the third sub inner wall and the fourth sub inner wall, and the third sub inner wall and the fourth sub inner wall each connect the first sub inner wall and the second sub inner wall. The three through holes 112 are respectively located on the first sub-inner wall, the third sub-inner wall and the fourth sub-inner wall, and no concave structure is arranged on the second sub-inner wall. Three protrusions 202 are provided on the end of the cable connector 200 'in one-to-one correspondence with the three through holes 112, so that the problem that the cable connector 200' cannot be pulled is avoided.

It is understood that in other examples, each of the recesses 112 may not extend through the body portion 110'. The profile of each recess 112 may be the same or different. The number of the recesses 112 is also not limited to three. The plurality of recesses 112 may be distributed only on the first sub inner wall, the third sub inner wall, and the fourth sub inner wall.

Referring to fig. 3, the stress relief sleeve 100 has a radially outwardly convex profile where the body portion 110 meets the two

cable retention portions

121 and 122. Here, the radial direction means a neutral axis X with respect to the body portion₀Perpendicular to the direction of intersection. Referring to fig. 5, the profile of the strain relief sleeve 100 'at the junction of its body portion 110' with the two cable retention portions 121 'and 122' does not have the convex shape of the strain relief sleeve 100 at the corresponding location. In fact, the outer surface of the strain relief sleeve 100 'at the junction of its body portion 110' and the two cable retention portions 121 'and 122' may be part of a cylindrical surface.

For example, embodiments of the present invention provide strain relief sleeves 100 and 100' that can be used with a multi-wire cable connector of VALEO TG1100 (digital thermocouple sensor). The sensor is an Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGTS) employing thermocouple technology with a digital output. The sensor is designed to measure the maximum gas temperature in the exhaust system of various internal combustion engines.

The above description is intended to be illustrative of the present invention and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appended hereto. Without conflict, embodiments of the present invention and features of the embodiments may be combined with each other to arrive at new embodiments.

Claims

1. A strain relief sleeve for a cable connector, comprising:

a body portion having first and second ends opposite in a cable insertion direction, the first end having an open opening; and

at least one cable retention portion connected to and extending away from the second end of the body portion, an interior space of the at least one cable retention portion being in communication with the interior space of the body portion;

wherein the at least one cable retention portion is resiliently flexible relative to the body portion.

2. The strain relief sleeve of claim 1, wherein the strain relief sleeve comprises a plurality of cable retention portions that are independently elastically deflectable relative to each other.

3. The stress relief sleeve of claim 1 wherein said stress relief sleeve is a shell having a predetermined thickness.

4. The stress relief sleeve of claim 1, wherein said predetermined thickness is in the range of 1 millimeter to 2 millimeters.

5. The stress relief sleeve of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the material of said at least one cable retention portion and said body portion is at least one of silicone rubber, polyurethane, viton.

6. The strain relief sleeve of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the Shore A hardness values of the at least one cable retention portion and the body portion are in a range of 60 to 80.

7. The stress relief sleeve of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said at least one cable retention portion and said body portion have an elongation at break in the range of 110% to 340%.

8. The stress relief sleeve of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said body portion and said at least one cable retention portion are integrally formed by an injection molding process.

9. The strain relief sleeve of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the body portion includes a snap-fit structure at the opening to engage the cable connector.

10. The strain relief sleeve of claim 9, wherein the snap fit feature is an at least partially annularly extending recess on an inner wall of the body portion.

11. The strain relief sleeve of claim 9, wherein the snap features are a plurality of recesses discretely distributed on an inner wall of the body portion.

12. The stress relief sleeve of claim 11, wherein said plurality of depressions are through holes.

13. The stress relief sleeve of claim 12, wherein said plurality of indentations each have a T-shaped profile.

14. A thermocouple sensor connection assembly comprising:

a cable connector;

at least one cable; and

the strain relief sleeve of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the strain relief sleeve is joined to the cable connector by the body portion, the at least one cable being connected to the cable connector through the respective cable retention portion of the strain relief sleeve.