DE102023002960B3 - Cable connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable connector (10) for connecting a data transmission cable (11) with a connector core (20) and a shield housing (80), which are at least partially surrounded by a cable grommet (140), wherein the connector core (20) has an insulating housing (19) through which a plurality of contact elements (60, 70) pass, which consists of a contact housing (21) and a wire receiving part (40) with wire receiving channels (48, 49), wherein each contact element (60, 70) has at its end regions a contact region (61, 71) for the mating connector and a connection element (62, 72) for connecting a wire (12) of the data transmission cable (11), wherein the shield housing (80) surrounding the connector core (20) in the circumferential direction has a connection element (88) for the mating connector and a cable shield connection region (110) for connection to the cable shield (16) of the data transmission cable (11), wherein the material in the cable shield connection area (110) of the shield housing (80) is folded to form a double material thickness. To ensure effective cable strain relief, it is proposed to arrange an additional cable shield support (130) with a retaining section (132) on the shield housing (80), the blocking surfaces (133, 134) of which counteract deformation of the deformed contact wings (114, 115) when the end surface (122) of the cable connection area (110) is in contact.

Description

The invention relates to a cable connector for connecting a data transmission cable with a connector core and a shield housing, which are at least partially surrounded by a cable grommet, wherein the connector core has an insulating housing through which a plurality of contact elements pass, which consists of a contact receiving housing and a wire receiving part with wire receiving channels, wherein each contact element has at its end regions a contact region for the mating connector and a connection element for connecting a wire of the data transmission cable, wherein the shield housing surrounding the connector core in the circumferential direction has a connection element for the mating connector and a cable shield connection region for electrical connection to the cable shield of the data transmission cable.

Cable connectors of this type are used, for example, in single-pair Ethernet connectors (SPE) as two-pin high-frequency connectors to create an electrical connection between a two-wire data transmission cable and a mating connector. Alternatively, such connectors enable an electrical connection between two data transmission cables. In contrast to known eight-wire Ethernet connections, single-pair Ethernet connections (SPE) enable the transmission of signals via the Ethernet protocol using only one twisted pair of wires with transmission rates of 10 Mb/s to 1 Gbit/s. This leads to material savings, which are particularly beneficial for industrial use. At the same time, SPE enables energy transmission with power of up to 50 watts at a temperature-dependent current load of 2 to 3.5 A or 4 to 7 A simultaneously with signal and data transmission.

The data transmission cable to be connected to a cable connector according to the invention has two wires. Each wire consists of an electrical conductor which is covered by a wire insulation, whereby the wires are twisted together and form a wire pair. The electrical conductor can be designed as a stranded conductor made of, for example, seven or nineteen stranded individual wires or as a solid conductor. Data transmission cables with stranded conductors are often used for short transmission distances of up to around 20 m. They are characterized by high mechanical flexibility. Solid conductors are preferred for longer transmission distances, since their compact conductor cross-section means that they have less attenuation than stranded stranded conductors.

To protect the wire pair against crosstalk of signals from and to wire pairs of neighboring data transmission cables, the wire pair can be surrounded by a pair shield, whereby this pair shield can be designed, for example, as a conductive foil strip that is wound around the wire pair. Alternatively or additionally, the wire pair can be surrounded by a braided shield.

The wires of the data transmission cable are surrounded by a cable sheath made of an insulating material. A cable shield in the form of a conductive braided shield is often arranged between the wire sheath and the wire pair, which is optionally surrounded by a pair shield. This cable shield protects the signal current flowing through the wires of the data transmission cable from disruptive radiation that can affect the data transmission cable from the outside. Sources of such external interference include, for example, radiation from cell phones, cell phone masts or neighboring incompletely shielded or unshielded data transmission arrangements in the form of connectors.

The connector core of a cable connector according to the invention contains a plurality of contact elements that enable an electrical connection between the wires of the data transmission cable and the contacts of a complementary mating connector. The wires are connected to the contact elements by means of connection elements. From the prior art, connection elements in the form of insulation displacement contacts (IDC) and piercing contacts (IPC) are known to the person skilled in the art. Examples of these are found in the EP 2 359 441 B1 Connection elements as IPC and in the EN 10 2012 210 113 A1 Connection elements as IDC.

For use in harsh industrial environments, generic cable connectors and the data transmission cables to be connected to them have suitable shielding elements known to those skilled in the art in order to effectively shield the transmission path against external interference signals and to ensure optimal data transmission.

To ensure interference-free high-frequency data transmission, it is necessary to effectively and safely shield the entire connector arrangement, consisting of the data transmission cable with the connectors assembled on it in conjunction with the mating connectors, against external interference signals. Within a data transmission path, there are several interconnected shields that surround the connector arrangement in the circumferential direction. Shielding elements made of an electrically conductive material are used. The housings of the connectors are made of a conductive metal, for example, and are electrically connected to the cable shield of the data transmission cable using conductive shielding elements. Alternatively, insulating housings penetrated by contact elements are surrounded in the circumferential direction by an additional shielding housing, for example a stamped and bent part made of a conductive material. Reliable contacting of these shielding elements under static and dynamic loads is the prerequisite for a high-quality and interference-free data transmission path in harsh industrial environments.

A cable strain relief device is usually provided to protect the cable connector against unwanted mechanical loads via the connected data transmission cable. Such devices absorb external forces and moments that can act on the connected cable by means of a cable clamp and thus protect in particular the connection elements of the contact elements of the cable connector with their mechanical and electrical connection to the wire of the data transmission cable from inadmissible loads and damage. Cable strain relief devices that contain the cable shield contact are known from the prior art, both separate and integrated in the shield housing of the cable connector.

With very small connectors, especially with regard to single pair Ethernet connectors, the challenge is to provide a secure contact between the cable shield and the shield housing and an effective cable strain relief within a limited installation space with minimal material thicknesses of the shield housing. In particular, material thicknesses of the shield housing of less than 0.4 mm prevent the implementation of standard-compliant cable strain relief devices that can absorb tensile forces greater than 50 N in order to effectively protect the cable connector from unwanted tensile loads.

From the US 2010 / 0 184 338 A1 A generic cable connector for connecting a data transmission cable is known, which can usually also be surrounded by an insulating cable grommet, for example for contact protection or sealing. The connector core surrounded by a two-part shield housing 5 comprises a three-part insulating housing made up of items 1, 3, 4, through which a plurality of contact elements pass. The stability of the contact wings, which are arranged on the end area of the shield cover 51 facing the data transmission cable to be connected, is determined solely by the material thickness of the shield cover. Very thin material thicknesses of the shield cover 51, depending on the application, limit the load capacity and contact reliability of the contact wings to the cable shield and the cable.

The JP 2004 055 331 A discloses a cable connector for connecting a coaxial cable 50 with an insulating housing 80, through which a contact 70 for connecting the coaxial cable inner conductor 51 passes in the longitudinal direction. A shield housing 2, on the end area of which facing the coaxial cable to be connected, two contact wings for contacting the coaxial cable shield 53 are arranged, surrounds the insulating housing 80 in the circumferential direction. The material in the area of the contact wings is advantageously folded by 180°, so that the material thickness is doubled and the stability of the contact wings is increased. Depending on the material thickness used for the shield housing and the external loads on the coaxial cable connected to the connector, further measures / components are necessary to ensure stable cable strain relief.

From the US 2020 / 0 212 604 A1 Another generic connector 10 for connecting a data transmission cable 11 is known, which has an insulating housing 22 in which a total of six contact elements 21 are arranged for connecting the wires of the data transmission cable 11. In the circumferential direction, the insulating housing 22 is surrounded by a two-part shield housing 26, 42, wherein the end region of the shield cover 26 facing the data transmission cable 11 to be connected has contact wings 33, 38 for contacting. The end regions of the aforementioned contact wings 33, 38 are folded by 180° and thus increase stability. In addition, a contact tongue 46 is provided on the lower part 42 of the shield housing, which enables additional contact points to the cable shield. Here too, depending on the material thickness and the external loads on the connected data transmission cable 11, further measures are necessary to ensure stable cable strain relief.

The Indian US 10 700 455 B1 The generic cable connector shown discloses a multi-part insulating housing in which a plurality of contacts are arranged for connecting the wires of a data transmission cable. The shield housing 4 surrounding the insulating housing in the circumferential direction is equipped with deformable contact wings and a contact tongue at its end region facing the data transmission cable to be connected, which has a plurality of contact points in the circumferential direction to the cable shield Depending on the external loads, additional measures for stable cable strain relief are also necessary here.

Another generic cable connector is used in the EN 10 2020 134 894 A1 for connecting a two-wire data transmission cable. In the insulating housing of the plug unit 18, a total of two insulation displacement contacts (IDC) are arranged for connecting the wires 88 of the data transmission cable 84 positioned in a wiring block 82. In the circumferential direction, the plug unit 18 is surrounded by a shield housing 94, which has two deformable contact tabs 102, 104 on its end area facing the data transmission cable 84 to be connected, which, after being deformed, enclose the opposite contact tongue and contact the cable shield. To improve the contact with the cable shield, engagement elements in the form of notched spring elements, which are known to the person skilled in the art, are arranged within the contact tabs 102, 104 and in the opposite contact tongue. The lack of further measures to increase the stability of the cable strain relief is also disadvantageous here.

The EP3 127 189 B1 discloses a shielded telecommunications connector 10 which has an insulating housing 12, a wire receptacle 14 and a shield housing 102 which surrounds the insulating housing 12 in the circumferential direction, wherein eight contact elements 20 are arranged in the insulating housing 12 for contacting a mating connector and for connecting the wires of a data transmission cable. In order to achieve a long-term, secure contact between the shield housing and the cable shield, it is proposed to design the contact section of the shield housing 102 to the cable shield as a sleeve 110 with corrugated side walls 318 which overlap in the radial direction when the shield is in a pre-crimped state. The proposed contact of the shield housing 102 to the cable shield enables both a secure shield contact by means of numerous contact points via the corrugated sleeve structure and an effective strain relief of the connected data transmission cable against unwanted loads on the cable connector 10. The circumferentially closed structure of the sleeve 110 has a disadvantage with regard to the assembly of the cable connector, since the data transmission cable to be connected must be guided through the sleeve 110, whereby the opening of the sleeve also determines the maximum cable diameter of a data transmission cable to be connected. In thin-walled versions of the shield housing, the required values for absorbing cable tensile forces cannot be achieved even with the sleeve corrugations acting as beads.

From the US 6 059 607 A A shielded connector for connecting a data transmission cable 12 is known, which has an insulating housing 24 through which a plurality of contact elements 28 pass, which are connected to the wires 30 of the data transmission cable 12. The insulating housing 24 is surrounded in the circumferential direction by a shield housing 38, which is formed from a front shell 40 and two identical end shells 48. The end shells 48 have a V-shaped crimp geometry at their end region facing the data transmission cable to be connected, which, by forming, creates a contact with the cable shield known to those skilled in the art and at the same time acts as cable strain relief, the arrangement of the identical end shells enabling the crimp fingers to advantageously engage in the free spaces provided for this purpose to form an almost closed 360° shield. The crimp fingers also have beads for stable contact and cable strain relief. However, the plurality of end shells 48 also results in an increase in the number of parts as well as additional contact resistance between the end shells 48 and the front shell 40. In thin-walled versions of the shield housing 38, the required values for absorbing cable tensile forces cannot be achieved even with the beads provided in the crimp fingers.

JPH 102 70 123 A shows another cable connector with a shield housing 10 for connection to a data transmission cable 1. The cable shield connection area to the cable shield has a V-shaped crimp geometry 10a to 10d known to those skilled in the art, on the end area of which facing the data transmission cable to be connected three engagement elements 10e are arranged. A deformation of the crimp geometry 10a to 10d causes the shield housing to be electrically contacted with the cable shield and at the same time a cable strain relief, the effect of which is reinforced by the engagement of the engagement elements 10e in a radial direction inwards into the cable sheath. In thin-walled versions of the shield housing, the required values for absorbing cable tensile forces cannot be achieved even with the additional engagement elements provided.

The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a generic cable connector in such a way that the design of the shield housing enables a space-saving construction of the cable connector with minimal use of material and avoidance of additional contact transition resistances within the shield housing as well as a secure electrical contact to the cable shield while ensuring effective cable strain relief of the data transmission cable to be connected.

This object is achieved in a generic cable connector according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the folding surfaces facing each other after folding are electrically and mechanically connected to one another in a way that cannot be separated. This enables stable and secure electrical connections within the cable shield connection area.

The connection of the folding surfaces facing each other in the cable shield connection area after folding can be carried out by means of a method known to those skilled in the art, for example by means of a clinch connection. Examples of clinch connections are given in the EN 10 2016 100 081 B4 disclosed.

In alternative embodiments, the connection of the folding surfaces facing each other in the cable shield connection area after folding can be carried out by other methods familiar to the person skilled in the art, for example by riveting or welding.

In an advantageous embodiment, the shield housing is constructed in one piece. This avoids the occurrence of undesirable contact resistance between a number of components.

It is particularly advantageous if additional engagement elements are arranged in the cable shield connection area, which, after the crimp geometry has been reshaped, can penetrate into the cable sheath of the data transmission cable to be connected or clamp it. This increases the effect of the cable strain relief.

For example, the engagement elements can be designed as knobs or notches.

It is particularly advantageous if the shield housing has an additional cable shield support. This creates additional contact points between the shield housing and the cable shield, improving the shielding effect.

The arrangement of the additional cable shield support opposite the folded cable shield connection area leads to an even distribution of the contact points of the shield housing to the cable shield.

It proves to be particularly advantageous if the end regions of the folded cable shield connection region extending transversely to the direction X form deformable contact wings which, after they have been deformed, surround the cable shield in the circumferential direction. This enables secure contact between the shield housing and the cable shield in the circumferential direction of the data transmission cable.

In an advantageous embodiment, the contact wings are pre-bent before forming to form an opening area for receiving the data transmission cable surrounded by a cable shield. This simplifies the design of a suitable crimping tool, with the V-shaped opening area advantageously acting as an insertion funnel to allow the data transmission cable to be connected with different outer diameters to be inserted into the cable shield connection area of the shield housing.

After the contact wings have been formed using a suitable crimping tool to contact the cable shield, it is particularly advantageous if the additional cable shield support is enclosed in the circumferential direction by the deformed contact wings and electrically contacted. This advantageously leads to additional contact points between the cable shield and the shield housing, which improve the shielding effect.

In a preferred embodiment, the cable shield support has a contact section and a wider retaining section, with blocking surfaces of the retaining section aligned perpendicular to the direction X counteracting a deformation of the deformed contact wings in the direction of the external tensile load when the end surface of the cable shield connection area is in contact. This additionally improves the cable strain relief function.

To protect against moisture and dust, it is advantageous if a cable grommet surrounds the shield housing with the connected data transmission cable at least partially in the circumferential direction.

To facilitate operation, it is very advantageous if the cable grommet has an actuating element for operating the connecting element, for example in the form of an integrated locking lever.

The cable grommet, which at least partially surrounds the shield housing and the connected data cable in the circumferential direction, can be used as a separate rates component or alternatively as an overmold.

• - Einführen des Endbereichs der vom Kabelmantel und Paarschirmung freigelegten Adern in die Aderaufnahmekanäle des Aderaufnahmeteils
• - Kontaktierung der Adern des Datenübertragungskabels zu den Anschlusselementen der Kontaktelemente des Verbinderkerns
• - Montage des Schirmgehäuses über den Verbinderkern
• - Einlegen des um den Kabelmantel zurückgeschlagenen Kabelschirms in den Kabelschirmanschlussbereich des Schirmgehäuses
• - Verformung der Kontaktflügel zur Herstellung einer elektrischen und mechanischen Verbindung des Kabelschirmanschlussbereichs des Schirmgehäuses zum Kabelschirm des anzuschließenden Datenübertragungskabels bei gleichzeitiger Ausbildung einer Kabelzugentlastung
• - Montage der Kabeltülle

Preferably, the method for connecting the data transmission cable to a cable connector according to the invention comprises the following assembly steps:

• - Insert the end section of the wires exposed from the cable sheath and pair shielding into the wire receiving channels of the wire receiving part
• - Contacting of the wires of the data transmission cable to the connection elements of the contact elements of the connector core
• - Mounting the shield housing over the connector core
• - Insert the cable shield folded back around the cable sheath into the cable shield connection area of the shield housing
• - Deformation of the contact wings to create an electrical and mechanical connection between the cable shield connection area of the shield housing and the cable shield of the data transmission cable to be connected, while simultaneously creating a cable strain relief
• - Installation of the cable grommet

The following description of advantageous embodiments of the invention serves to explain in more detail in conjunction with the drawing.

• 1: eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Kabelsteckverbinders in einer ersten vorteilhaften Ausführung;
• 2: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Kabelsteckverbinders aus 1 nach der Art einer Explosionszeichnung;
• 3: eine vergrößerte perspektivische Ansicht des Datenübertragungskabels aus 2;
• 4: eine perspektivische Ansicht der Verbinderkerns aus 2;
• 5: eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht der Verbinderkerns aus 4 nach der Art einer Explosionszeichnung;
• 6: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Schirmgehäuses aus 2 mit entfaltetem Kabelschirmanschlussbereich;
• 7: eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht des Schirmgehäuses aus 6;
• 8: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Schirmgehäuses aus 2 mit gefaltetem Kabelschirmanschlussbereich;
• 9: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail T aus 8;
• 10: eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht des Schirmgehäuses aus 8;
• 11: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Schirmgehäuses aus 8 mit vorverformten Kontaktflügeln;
• 12: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail X aus 11;
• 13: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail Y aus 11;
• 14: eine Rückansicht des Schirmgehäuses aus 11;
• 15: eine perspektivische Ansicht der Kabeltülle aus 1;
• 16: eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht der Kabeltülle aus 15;
• 17: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns mit anzuschließendem Datenübertragungskabel aus 2 nach der Art einer Explosionszeichnung;
• 18: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns aus 17 mit eingelegten Adern im Aderaufnahmeteil, wobei das Aderaufnahmeteil auf dem Kontaktaufnahmegehäuse in einer Vormontagestellung aufgesetzt ist;
• 19: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns aus 18 mit angeschlossenem Datenübertragungskabel;
• 20: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns aus 19 bei Bereitstellung des Schirmgehäuses mit vorgebogenen Kontaktflügeln;
• 21: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns aus 20 mit montiertem Schirmgehäuse;
• 22: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail R aus 21;
• 23: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail T aus 21;
• 24: eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns aus 21 mit montiertem Schirmgehäuse und verformten Kontaktflügeln;
• 25: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail S aus 24;
• 26: eine teilweise aufgeschnittene perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns mit dem Schirmgehäuse und montierter Kabeltülle aus 1;
• 27: eine weitere teilweise aufgebrochene perspektivische Ansicht des Verbinderkerns mit Schirmgehäuse und Kabeltülle aus 26;
• 28: eine vergrößerte Ansicht von Detail Z aus 27;

Show it:

• 1 : a perspective view of a cable connector according to the invention in a first advantageous embodiment;
• 2 : a perspective view of the cable connector from 1 in the manner of an exploded view;
• 3 : an enlarged perspective view of the data transmission cable from 2 ;
• 4 : a perspective view of the connector core from 2 ;
• 5 : another perspective view of the connector core from 4 in the manner of an exploded view;
• 6 : a perspective view of the shield housing from 2 with unfolded cable shield connection area;
• 7 : another perspective view of the shield housing from 6 ;
• 8th : a perspective view of the shield housing from 2 with folded cable shield connection area;
• 9 : an enlarged view of detail T from 8th ;
• 10 : another perspective view of the shield housing from 8th ;
• 11 : a perspective view of the shield housing from 8th with pre-formed contact wings;
• 12 : an enlarged view of detail X from 11 ;
• 13 : an enlarged view of detail Y from 11 ;
• 14 : a rear view of the shield housing from 11 ;
• 15 : a perspective view of the cable grommet from 1 ;
• 16 : another perspective view of the cable grommet from 15 ;
• 17 : a perspective view of the connector core with data transmission cable to be connected from 2 in the manner of an exploded view;
• 18 : a perspective view of the connector core from 17 with wires inserted in the wire receiving part, whereby the wire receiving part is placed on the contact housing in a pre-assembly position;
• 19 : a perspective view of the connector core from 18 with data transfer cable connected;
• 20 : a perspective view of the connector core from 19 when providing the shield housing with pre-bent contact wings;
• 21 : a perspective view of the connector core from 20 with mounted shield housing;
• 22 : an enlarged view of detail R from 21 ;
• 23 : an enlarged view of detail T from 21 ;
• 24 : a perspective view of the connector core from 21 with mounted shield housing and deformed contact wings;
• 25 : an enlarged view of detail S from 24 ;
• 26 : a partially cutaway perspective view of the connector core with the Shield housing and mounted cable grommet made of 1 ;
• 27 : another partially broken perspective view of the connector core with shield housing and cable grommet made of 26 ;
• 28 : an enlarged view of detail Z from 27 ;

In the 1 to 28 a first advantageous embodiment of a cable connector according to the invention is shown schematically and is designated overall by the reference numeral 10. According to the 1 and 2 The cable connector 10 for connecting a data transmission cable 11 includes a connector core 20 which is surrounded by a shield housing 80 in the circumferential direction. A cable grommet 140 for protecting the cable connector 10 against moisture, dust and mechanical influences at least partially encloses the shield housing 80 surrounding the connector core 20 and the connected data transmission cable 11 in the circumferential direction.

According to the 3 the data transmission cable 11 to be connected to the connector core 20 has two wires 12. Each wire 12 consists of an electrical conductor 14 which is covered by a wire insulation 13, whereby the wires 12 are twisted together and form a wire pair. The electrical conductor 14 is designed as a solid conductor, for example. Alternatively, stranded conductors made of, for example, seven or nineteen individual wires twisted together can be used. The wire pair formed from the wires 12 is surrounded by a pair shielding film 15 and the cable sheath 17. Between the cable sheath 17 and the pair shielding film 15 there is also a shielding braid 16 which in the exemplary embodiment has been folded back over the cable sheath 17.

The 4 and 5 disclose the connector core 20 from the insulating housing 19 and from the contact elements 60, 70. The insulating housing 19 consists of the contact receiving housing 21 for receiving the contact elements 60, 70 and the wire receiving part 40, which can be detachably connected to one another.

The contact housing 21 has a U-shaped housing section 22 which is open at its end area facing the data transmission cable 11 to be connected. A cuboid-like housing area 31 which is closed in the circumferential direction is arranged at its end area facing the mating connector and through which two contact receiving openings 32, 33 for the positive reception of the contact areas 61, 71 of the contact elements 60, 70 pass. The side walls 23, 25 have lateral openings 24, 26 with the contact surfaces 27, 28, on which the complementary contact surfaces 45 and 46 are arranged to form a locking connection with the wire receiving part 40. The lateral slot openings 29, 30 serve to positively accommodate the complementary ribs 47 to form a mechanical guide of the wire receiving part 40 to the contact receiving housing 21. The wire receiving part 40 extends with a rectangular cross-section between the frontal boundaries 41 and 42, with two wire receiving channels 48, 49 for receiving the wires 12 of the data transmission cable 11 to be connected reaching through the wire receiving part 40 over its entire length. Two locking geometries with the contact surfaces 45, 46 are arranged on the side walls 43, 44 of the wire receiving part 40, which serve to lock it to the contact receiving housing 21 as described above. The wire receiving channels 48, 49 are provided with openings in the direction of the contact elements 60, 70 arranged in the contact receiving housing 21, into which the connection elements 62, 72 dip when the wire receiving part 40 is assembled with the contact receiving housing 21 and then penetrate into the conductor 14 by piercing into and through the wire insulation 13 and in this way establish an electrical contact between the wire 12 and the contact elements 60, 70.

A recess 51 is arranged on the cover surface 50 of the wire receiving part 40, which is limited in the longitudinal direction by a stop surface 52 and, in conjunction with the fixing recess 97 of the shield housing 80, enables the position of the connector core 20 to be secured relative to the shield housing 80. This is particularly evident from the 21 and 22 visible.

The contact housing 21 and the wire receiving part 40 can be designed as injection-molded parts made of a polycarbonate.

Each contact element 60, 70 has a contact region 61, 71 on its end region facing the mating connector, which is formed, for example, from two opposing spring tongues. A connection element 62, 72 is arranged on its end region facing the wire to be connected, which is designed, for example, as a piercing contact. The contact region 61, 71 and the connection element 62, 72 of each contact element 60, 70 are connected in one piece by means of a connection region 63, 73. The notches 64, 74 arranged in the connection region 63, 73 serve to secure the position of the contact elements 60, 70 in the contact housing 21 by clamping, as is known to those skilled in the art.

The contact elements 60, 70 can, for example, be manufactured as stamped and bent parts from a brass material and have an electroplating in the contact area 61, 71, for example a local gold plating for optimal contact transition resistance to complementary contact elements of a mating connector.

The 6 to 14 show the shield housing 80 of a cable connector 10 according to the invention. The shield housing 80 extends in the longitudinal direction X between a rectangular shield contact area 81 closed in the circumferential direction to the mating connector and a cable shield connection area 110, which is in the 6 and 7 is shown in the unfolded state. Spring-elastic shield contact elements 83, 85 are arranged within the side walls 82, 84 of the shield contact area 81, which produce a force-fitting electrical contact by bending in cooperation with the shield housing of the mating connector.

The shield contact area 81 extends in the direction of the cable shield connection area 110 via the lateral extension tabs 86, 87 into a rectangular transition area 90 which is enlarged to the shield contact area 81 and which is delimited by the side surfaces 91, 92 and the cover surfaces 93, 94 and whose inner contour enables a positive reception of the connector core 20. A locking geometry 95 rises from the cover surface 94 for fixing a cable grommet 140 which surrounds the shield housing 80 in the circumferential direction. The implementation of the aforementioned fixing can be seen in particular from the 26 , 27 and 28 .

As part of the cover surface 93, a spring-elastic connecting element 88 extends over a bend into the cover surface of the shield contact area 81, which ends in a locking element 89. Such connecting elements are known to the expert, for example, from EN 10 2020 108 288 A1 known.

The transition area 90 ends at the front in the direction of the shield contact area 81 in a cover flap 96, the inner contour of which serves as a stop in the X direction for the connector core 20 to be covered. In the direction of the cable shield connection area 110, the stop surface 100 closes off the transition area 90 at the front, against which the complementary projections 152 of the cable grommet 140 come into contact and, in conjunction with the locking geometry 95, enable the position of the cable grommet 140 to be secured in the X direction. For this purpose, the 26 , 27 , 28 referred to.

The side surface 91 has a fixing recess 97 which extends into the interior of the transition area 90 and serves to secure the position of the shield housing 80 to the connector core 20 in the direction X. This is evident from the 21 , 22 visible.

Transition tabs 98, 99, which begin at the cover surfaces 93, 94, are connected to the transition area 90 and lead into the cable shield connection area 110 and the cable shield support 130. The cable shield connection area 110 extends in its material thickness between the folding surfaces 111, 111' separated by the fold line 113 and the material surface 112 and in the longitudinal direction X between the end surfaces 121 and 122. Perpendicular to the direction X, the contact wings 115', 115" and 114', 114", which are still flat when the cable shield connection area 110 is unfolded, protrude beyond the boundaries 118, 119, 120.

Starting from the separated folding surface 111', two engagement elements 116, 117 protrude through the material surface 112 and beyond, which can be realized, for example, by means of notches.

Opposite the cable shield connection area 110, the cable shield support 130 with a narrow contact section 131 and a wider retaining section 132 adjoins the transition tab 98 in the direction X. The wider retaining section 132 has the function of protecting the deformed contact wing 114 against undesirable deformation when the connected data transmission cable 11 is subjected to a tensile force in the direction X and thus reinforcing the effect of the cable strain relief. This is evident from the 24 , 25 especially clear.

The 8 to 10 disclose the shield housing 80 with a folded cable shield connection area 110 along the 6 shown fold line 113. Folding the mutually planar folding surfaces 111 and 111' at an angle of 180° causes the folding surfaces 111, 111' facing each other after folding to form the folded contact wings 114, 115 from the unfolded contact wings 114', 114" and 115', 115" with the effect of double the material thickness compared to the material thickness of the shield housing 80 in the shield contact area 81 and in the transition area 90.

In order to prevent the opening of the folding surfaces 111, 111' facing each other due to a spring-back effect during folding, three connecting elements 123 are provided in the exemplary embodiment, which are designed as a clinch connection and provide a secure mechanical and electrical connection between the folding surfaces 111, 111'.

According to the 11 to 14 the folded contact wings 114, 115 are pre-bent using a suitable bending tool to form an opening angle A between the contact wings 114, 115 and an arcuate connection 124. The dimension of the arcuate connection 124 and the opening angle A between the pre-bent contact wings 114, 115 depends on the diameter of the cable sheath 17 of the data transmission cable 11 to be connected. In a preferred embodiment, the opening angle A can have a value of 50° to 75°.

The shield housing 80 can be provided as a stamped and bent part made of brass.

The 15 and 16 The cable grommet 140 shown can be mounted as a separate component on the connector core 20 with the data transmission cable 11 connected and provides protection against moisture, dust and mechanical influences. In addition, its exemplary design allows convenient actuation of the locking element 88 by means of an integrated actuation lever 160.

The cable grommet 140 extends as a sleeve-shaped component between the front-side boundary surfaces 142, 143 with a base body 141, which, starting from the boundary surface 142, has a receiving section 144 as a rectangular hollow profile, wherein the interior space 147 open at the front is designed for the positive reception of the connector core 20 with the connected data transmission cable 11. In the direction of the data transmission cable 11 to be connected, the rectangular receiving section 144 is followed by a transition section 145, which opens into a circular contour at the front end 143 with the cable feedthrough opening 146.

On the underside 150 of the cable grommet 140, a contact opening 148 with the contact surface 149 is provided, whereby the contact surface 149, in conjunction with the locking geometry 95 of the shield housing 80, secures the position of the cable grommet 140 to the connector core 20 with the shield housing 80. This is shown in the 26 shown particularly clearly.

An actuating lever 160 is arranged on the top side 151 of the cable grommet and is integrally connected to the cable grommet 140. The actuating lever 161 extends above the top side 151, starting at the front end 143, over the entire length of the cable grommet 140 and ends in a front end region 163 on which an actuating section 162 is located. At the front end 162, an actuating element 164 extends in the direction of the top side 151 up to its limit 165, the actuating element 164 being dimensioned such that it can penetrate into the free space 145 provided for this purpose when the actuating lever 160 is actuated and can reach through it.

The cable grommet 140 can be made of polycarbonate and designed as an injection-molded part.

The 17 to 28 describe the individual assembly steps for connecting the data transmission cable 11 to the cable connector 10. In the present embodiment with a cable grommet 140 as a separate one-piece injection-molded part, it is necessary to first lead the free end region of the data transmission cable 11 to be connected through the cable feedthrough opening 146, into the interior 147 and out again from the front end 142.

In the first assembly step, the free end of the data transmission cable 11 is connected to the connector core 20 according to the 17 to 19 . For this purpose, the free end areas of the wires 12 exposed from the cable sheath 17 and pair shielding 15 are introduced into the wire receiving channels 48, 49 of the wire receiving part 40 provided for this purpose, whereby at this point the wire receiving part 40 is already partially inserted in a pre-locking position in the insulating housing 21, which allows free access of the wires 12 to the wire receiving channels 48, 49. In this state, the contact surfaces 45 rest against the complementary contact surfaces 27, 28 of the contact receiving housing 21, while the contact surfaces 46 are still outside the contact receiving housing 21. To ensure reliable guidance of the wire receiving part 40 in the contact receiving housing 21, the guide ribs 47 are already partially inserted into the complementary slot openings 29, 30. This is evident from the 18 visible.

The complete insertion of the wire receiving part 40 into the contact housing 21 causes the electrical contact of the conductors 14 of the wires 12 to the connection elements 62, 72, which first penetrate the wire insulation 13 and then into the conductors 14. The position of the wire receiving part 40 in the contact housing 21 is secured by the contact surfaces 46 being placed on the complementary contact surfaces 27, 28.

The 20 to 24 describe the assembly of the shield housing 80 onto the connector core 20 and the establishment of the mechanical and electrical contact of the shield housing 80 to the cable shield 16, thereby forming the function of a cable Strain relief to protect the data transmission cable 11 to be connected against external tensile loads.

For assembly, the shield housing 80 is positioned correctly according to 20 to the connector core 20 and first the cuboid-like housing area 31 is introduced into the free space between the cable shield support 130 and the pre-bent contact wings 114, 115 of the cable shield connection area 110. For further introduction of the connector core 20 into the interior of the rectangular transition area 90 of the shield housing 80, a temporary widening of the free space between the cable shield connection area 110 and the cable shield support 130 via the transition tabs 98, 99 is necessary. In its final position, the contact surface 34 of the contact housing 21 rests on the inner surface of the cover tab 96. The connector core 20 is prevented from being pulled out of the shield housing 80 by the fixing recess 97 resting on the complementary stop surface 52 of the recess 51 of the wire receiving part 40. This is shown in the 21 to 23 particularly clearly visible.

The electrical and mechanical connection of the shield housing 80 to the cable shield 16 of the data transmission cable 11 is made by deforming the two pre-bent contact wings 114, 115 around the cable shield 16 folded back over the cable sheath 17 in such a way that the deformed contact wings 114, 115 press with a defined pre-tension on the cable shield 16 inwards in the circumferential direction and at the same time clamp the cable sheath 17. Additional support against undesirable deformation of the deformed contact wings 114, 115 due to an external tensile force on the data transmission cable 11 is achieved by the design of the cable shield support 130. Under a tensile load on the data transmission cable 11 in the X direction, the blocking surfaces 133, 134 of the retaining section 132 counteract deformation when the end surface 122 is in contact. This is the 24 , 25 removable.

Finally, the cable grommet 140 pushed over the free end area of the data transmission cable 11 in the first assembly step can be pushed over the shield housing 80 surrounding the connector core 20 in the circumferential direction and secured thereto, whereby the locking geometry 95 comes to rest on the complementary contact surface 149 of the contact opening 148 and the stop surface 100 comes to rest on the complementary projection 152 of the interior 147. This is shown in the 26 to 28 shown.

Claims (8)

Cable plug connector for connecting a data transmission cable (11) with a connector core (20) and a shield housing (80), which are at least partially surrounded by a cable grommet (140), wherein the connector core (20) has an insulating housing (19) through which a plurality of contact elements (60, 70) pass, which consists of a contact housing (21) and a wire receiving part (40) with wire receiving channels (48, 49), wherein each contact element (60, 70) has at its end regions a contact region (61, 71) for the mating connector and a connection element (62, 72) for connecting a wire (12) of the data transmission cable (11), wherein the shield housing (80) surrounding the connector core (20) in the circumferential direction has a connection element (88) for the mating connector and a cable shield connection region (110) with an end surface (122) and with Contact wings (114, 115) for electrical connection to the cable shield (16) of the data transmission cable (11), wherein the material in the cable shield connection area (110) of the shield housing (80) is folded to form a double material thickness, and wherein the shield housing (80) has an additional cable shield support (130), characterized in that the cable shield support (130) has a contact section (131) and a wider retaining section (132) with blocking surfaces (133, 134), wherein the blocking surfaces (133, 134) of the retaining section (132) counteract a deformation of the deformed contact wings (114, 115) when the end surface (122) of the cable shield connection area (110) is in contact. Cable connectors according to Claim 1 , characterized in that in the cable shield connection area (110) the folding surfaces (111, 111') facing each other after folding are electrically and mechanically non-detachably connected to each other. Cable connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield housing (80) is constructed in one piece. Cable connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that additional engagement elements (116, 117) are arranged in the cable shield connection area (110). Cable connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional cable shield support (130) is arranged opposite the cable shield connection area (110). Cable connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact wings (114, 115) arranged in the cable shield connection area (110) surround the cable shield (16) in the circumferential direction after their deformation and make electrical contact with it. Cable connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact wings (114, 115) after the deformation for contacting the cable shield (16) enclose the additional cable shield support (130) in the circumferential direction and make electrical contact with it. Method for connecting a data transmission cable (11) to a cable connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises the following assembly steps: - Inserting the end region of the wires (12) exposed from the cable sheath (17) and pair shielding (15) into the wire receiving channels (48, 49) of the wire receiving part (40) - Contacting the wires (12) of the data transmission cable (11) to the connection elements (62, 72) of the contact elements (60, 70) to form the insulating housing (19) of the connector core (20) - Mounting the shield housing (80) over the connector core (20) - Inserting the cable shield (16) folded back around the cable sheath (17) into the cable shield connection region (110) of the shield housing (80) - Deforming the contact wings (114, 115) to produce an electrical and mechanical connection of the cable shield connection area (110) of the shield housing (80) to the cable shield (16) of the data transmission cable (11) to be connected while simultaneously forming a cable strain relief, wherein the deformed contact wings (114, 115) enclose the additional cable shield support (130) in the circumferential direction, and wherein the blocking surfaces (133, 134) of the retaining section (132) counteract a deformation of the deformed contact wings (114, 115) when a closing surface (122) of the cable shield connection area (110) is in contact. - Assembly of the cable grommet (140)

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