EP2837062B1 - Connection holder for connecting a shielding of at least one coaxial line - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connection holder for connecting a shield of at least one coaxial line, in particular for use in a motor vehicle, having the features of the preamble of claim 1. Such a connection holder is known from EP 1 571 732 A1 refer to.

Coaxial cables generally have a central conductor which is surrounded by a dielectric as intermediate insulation and subsequently by an outer conductor designed as a shielding. The shield is in this case formed as a wound around the dielectric film, braid or the like and in turn surrounded by an insulation of the coaxial line. The shield is regularly connected to a ground potential when installed. The connection switch therefore serves as a ground connection.

The coaxial cables serve as data lines and, for example, for connecting antennas. In modern motor vehicles are now a variety of antennas, for example, up to 15 antennas installed, which are each connected via a separate coaxial with associated control units.

For contacting the shield with ground potential, a metallic clamp is usually used for each coaxial, which is clamped after stripping on the shield and attached, for example, to a metallic support which is connected to the ground potential.

In such a ground connection, however, the problem has shown that the shield is cut through the edges of the clamps and thus an insufficient ground connection is formed so that it is a Functional failure can occur. This problem is exacerbated in particular by the vibrations occurring in the operation of a motor vehicle, so that a not inconsiderable part of the antennas connected to the coaxial lines becomes inoperative with increasing operating time.

Due to these problems, the highest care is required during assembly, which ultimately leads to a high cost.

From the EP 1 571 732 A1 a connection holder is to be taken from the common ground connection of several cables. The terminal holder has two housing halves with a plurality of juxtaposed bushings for each a single cable. Between the two housing parts, a common ground contact strip is inserted, via which the respective cables are contacted.

From the US 6,297,447 B1 is another connection holder refer to, in turn, two coaxial cables between two housing halves are clamped. The one half of the housing has spring tongues, via which the ground conductor is contacted to the respective coaxial lines in a stripped part region.

From the US 5,713,748 A is to be taken from a ground contact block, in which a coaxial line is clamped between two shell halves for ground contact. Between the two shell halves contact sleeves are inserted, which have cutting contacts that penetrate the insulation of the cable and contact the ground or outer conductor of the coaxial cable.

Other connection holders in which a coaxial cable or other cable are clamped between two shell halves, for example, in the US 3,568,128 A or the US 5,122,068 A described.

Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to ensure a permanently reliable grounding of the shielding of a coaxial conductor in particular in a motor vehicle with simple installation.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a connection holder with the features of claim 1. Preferred developments are laid down in the dependent claims.

The connection holder is used for ground connection of at least one coaxial line, so for contacting the shield of the coaxial line and conductive connection of the shield to a ground potential. The connection holder in this case comprises an (insulating) housing, in particular made of plastic for receiving the at least one coaxial line, wherein in the housing a preferably formed as a metallic plate or metallic sheet metal strip ground contact strip is arranged, against which the stripped in a contact area coaxial line is placed clamped in the assembled state ,

In contrast to the previous ground connection systems with clamps therefore the stripped contact area and thus the shield is pressed only against the ground contact strip, so that an electrical contact takes place. The arrangement of the preferably flat plate of the ground contact strip therefore there is no risk of cutting and severing the shield. During assembly, it is preferable to simply proceed in such a way that the coaxial conductor with the stripped contact region is inserted into the opened housing and placed on the ground contact strip. Subsequently, the housing is closed, whereby the coaxial conductor is clamped. As a result, the assembly is simplified.

For contacting with a ground potential, the ground contact strip is generally connected to the ground potential via an electrical contact connection.

For a simple assembly, it is provided that the ground contact of the ground contact strip with the ground potential does not take place via a separate ground line, but rather is formed directly on the attachment of the terminal holder to such a (carrier) component.

For this purpose, it is provided according to a first embodiment variant that an electrically conductive fastening element is passed through the housing and thereby contacts the ground contact strip and at the same time establishes electrical contact with the support component with its foot region.

Conveniently, the fastening part is in this case designed as a screw, which is passed through a passage opening in the lid, so that it rests with its screw head directly on the ground contact strip, wherein the shaft portion of the screw passed through a through hole of the ground contact strip and further through a through hole of the lower shell and is screwed into the carrier component. In this embodiment, the force exerted by the housing on the coaxial line clamping force is therefore preferably exerted exclusively by the connection of the two housing parts, in particular exclusively via the latching connections.

Alternatively, the ground contact strip on its underside on a contact lug, which is passed through the lower shell, such that the contact shoulder rests directly on the carrier. As a result, the ground contact with the carrier is formed via the ground contact strip and not or not only via the fastening element. In this embodiment, it is possible and provided that the fastening means is supported on the cover and not necessarily on the ground contact strip and thereby exerts an additional or the only clamping force for clamping attachment of the coaxial cables.

In both variants, damping elements are preferably provided for vibration decoupling between the vehicle carrier component (shell component) and the housing. These are, for example, in particular elastic washers.

Preferably, the at least one coaxial line is passed through the housing, this therefore has both an inlet and an outlet opening for a respective coaxial line. Therefore, in particular no contacting of the inner conductor takes place in the connection switch itself. This one is from the Intermediate insulation surrounded without interruption and in particular passed straight through the housing.

The connection holder is expediently designed for receiving a plurality of coaxial lines, so that a plurality of individual coaxial lines can be contacted in parallel.

The ground contact strip is preferably formed only as a simple, in particular plate-shaped insert. Its directed to the coaxial lines upper surface is either flat or provided with a textured surface, such as a corrugated structure. Also, the surface may be provided with grooves for individually inserting the coaxial conductor.

To guide the coaxial lines are expediently provided on the housing in particular cup-like guides for the individual way of each coaxial line. The coaxial cables can be easily inserted into the guides.

The housing itself is preferably formed from two housing parts and has a lower shell and a lid, between which the coaxial cables are clamped. Conveniently, each of the housing parts on half-shell-shaped guides, which complement each other complementary to a guide. To exert the clamping force, the two housing parts are fastened together. For this purpose, suitable fasteners, such as screws, are provided. Preferably, however, locking elements are arranged in particular on the opposite end faces.

The ground contact strip is preferably in the lower shell substantially loose and extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing. Transverse to the longitudinal direction, the coaxial cables are transversal. The ground contact strip preferably extends almost over the entire length of the housing and has a width in the transverse direction of, for example, 1 to 3 cm and has a thickness, for example, of about 1 to 2 mm. The ground contact strip is laterally bounded in each case by an edge web formed on the lower shell, wherein in each case the half-shell-like guides are preferably formed in these edge webs.

For clamping attachment of the stripped contacting area, clamping elements for pressing the stripped contacting area are formed in the lid of a respective coaxial line. These are preferably formed as formed on the cover terminal strips extending in the transverse direction and preferably have a matched to the width of the ground contact strip length.

For further fixing of the respective coaxial line fixing pins are further arranged in one of the two housing parts, preferably in the lid, in particular in the half-shell-like guides, which exert an increased local clamping force. In particular, they are tapered or tapered so that they at least partially penetrate into the insulation of the coaxial line and thus also produce a positive connection.

For attachment, the ground contact strip generally has the passage opening for the fastening element, in particular the screw. Preferably, the guides for the coaxial lines are formed symmetrically on both sides of the passage opening.

For fixing and for centering a ring land is formed in a preferred development on the housing, in particular formed on the lower shell, which engages accurately in the passage opening of the ground contact strip.

For simple assembly, the housing also has, in particular on its underside, additional fixing elements for fixing to the carrier at a defined position. These are for example formed as molded webs.

Conveniently, the connection holder is already equipped with the desired number of coaxial lines before the actual assembly and thus forms a Pre-assembled unit, which is provided as such, for example, on a production line in the manufacture of a motor vehicle. The assembly unit is in this case prefabricated at a remote production facility, for example a supplier. In the assembled end position, the connection holder is fastened to a carrier component, in particular in a motor vehicle, and the ground contact strip is connected to the ground connection in an electrically conductive manner. Preferably, a plurality of coaxial lines are in the terminal holder and are from a first end, which is connected for example to an antenna, to a second end, which is connected to a control unit out.

Fig. 1

einen Anschlusshalter in perspektivischer Darstellung mit zwei Gehäusehälften in geöffneter Stellung mit im Ausführungsbeispiel insgesamt sechs eingelegten Koaxialleitern,

Fig. 2

den Anschlusshalter gemäß Fig. 1 in einer anderen perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 3

den Anschlusshalter gemäß Fig. 1 mit geschlossenem Gehäuse in einer ersten perspektivischen Ansicht auf den Deckel,

Fig. 4

den Anschlusshalter gemäß Fig. 1 mit geschlossenem Gehäuse in einer perspektivischen weiteren Ansicht auf die Unterschale sowie

Fig. 5

eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung einer alternativen Ausführungsvariante in einer montierten Position an einen Träger.

Embodiment variants of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. These show:

Fig. 1

a connection holder in a perspective view with two housing halves in the open position with in the exemplary embodiment a total of six inserted coaxial conductors,

Fig. 2

the connection holder according to Fig. 1 in another perspective view,

Fig. 3

the connection holder according to Fig. 1 with closed housing in a first perspective view of the lid,

Fig. 4

the connection holder according to Fig. 1 with closed housing in a perspective further view of the lower shell as well

Fig. 5

a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment in an assembled position to a carrier.

The connection holder shown in the figures has an insulating housing 2 consisting of a lower shell 2A and an upper shell or cover 2B. Through the housing 2, a plurality of coaxial cables 4 are performed, which have approximately in the middle of the housing a stripped contact area 6, in which serving as a shield 7 outer conductor of the respective coaxial line 4 is exposed.

On both sides of the stripped contacting area 6, the coaxial line 4 is continued intact, thus has the usual outer insulation 8 there at the entrance and exit from the housing.

Within the housing 2 a trained in particular as a sheet metal strip ground contact strip 10 is inserted, on which the individual coaxial cables 4 are placed with their stripped contact area 6. They are pressed or clamped with their contacting area 6 against the ground contact strip 10 as soon as the housing 2 is closed. For this purpose, the housing has a latching tab 12 and a latching lug 14, via which a certain contact force is exerted. For individual guidance of the coaxial cables 4, half-shell-like guides 16A, 16B are formed in the two housing parts 2A, 2B, which complement each other with the housing 2 closed to form a guide with a circular cross-section. In the lower shell 2A edge webs 18 are formed on the edge side to the ground contact strip, in which the ground contact strip 10 is guided and held. In this edge web 18, the half-shell guides 16A are incorporated.

In order to exert a sufficiently high clamping force, clamping elements 20 are formed as integrally molded strips in the cover 2B in the middle region of the half-shelled guides 16B. These press the contacting region 6 of the coaxial lines 4 against the ground contact strip 10. Between two adjacent half-shell-like guides 16B in the cover 2B in each case separating webs 22 are formed.

In the half-shell-like guides 16 B in particular in the lid, but possibly also in the lower shell 2 A fixing pins 24 are formed, which press into the insulation 8. To carry out the coaxial lines 4 through the housing 2, this has in the closed state inlet and outlet openings 26 A, 26 B on opposite transverse sides (side walls) of the housing 2. The coaxial cables 4 therefore extend through the housing 2 in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction defined by the ground contact strip 10.

For centering the ground contact strip 10, an annular web 32 is formed on the lower shell 2A, which penetrates into the through hole 30 of the ground contact strip 10, but without over the ground contact strip 10.

The two housing shells 2A, 2B are captively connected to one another via hinge elements 34 formed in the manner of film hinges. Furthermore, on the underside of the lower shell 2 A fixing or holding element 36 integrally formed in the manner of webs, which serve for mounting fixation and positioning of the housing 2 to the aforementioned carrier. For this purpose, for example corresponding images are shown on this carrier.

The attachment of the connection holder via a preferably as a screw 38 (see. Fig. 5 ) trained fastener such that the ground contact strip 10 is electrically conductive with a support member 40 (FIG. Fig. 5 ) is connected as a ground terminal, in particular a body component. The fixing screw is guided from above through the entire housing 2 and through the ground contact strip 10 therethrough. For this purpose, a first passage opening 28A is formed in the lower shell 2A and a second passage opening 28B is formed in the cover 2B.

The first through-opening 28A has an enlarged diameter compared to the second through-opening 28B, in particular according to a first embodiment variant, so that the screw head 42 can be guided through the second through-opening 28B in the cover 2B. A passage opening 30 likewise formed in the ground contact strip 10, by contrast, has a reduced diameter. This situation is particular in the Fig. 3 shown. By this measure, therefore, the fastening screw 38 comes with its screw head 42 to rest on the ground contact strip 10 and therefore contacted this electrically. About the attachment to the support member 40 then finally the electrical contact connection (ground connection) via the fastening screw 38th

According to an alternative, in Fig. 5 illustrated embodiment, the electrical contact between the ground contact strip 10 and the support member 40 via a contact projection 44, which is electrically conductively connected on one side to the ground contact strip 10 and in particular a one-piece, molded part of the same. On the other hand, the contact projection 44 rests on the carrier component 40 and contacts it electrically.

The attachment of the housing 2 is again via the screw 38. Unlike the previously described embodiment, this contacted with their screw head 42 is not the ground contact strip 10, but rather lies in a recess of the cover 2A a. As a result, therefore, a clamping and pressing force is exerted on the cover 2A via the screw 38. The contact projection 44 is preferably formed as a bent web, in particular annular web, through which the screw 38 is guided centrally.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

casing

2A

subshell

2 B

cover

4

coaxial

6

contacting

7

shielding

8th

insulation

10

Ground contact strips

12

snap tab

14

locking lug

16A, B

Half-shelled leadership

18

edge web

20

clamping element

22

divider

24

fixing pins

26A, B

Inlet and outlet

28A

first passage opening

28B

second passage opening

30

Through opening

32

ring land

34

hinge elements

36

fixing

38

screw

40

support component

42

screw head

44

Contact approach

Claims (15)

1. Connection holder for connecting a shield (7) of at least one coaxial line, comprising a housing (2) for receiving the at least one coaxial line (4), wherein an earth contact strip (10) is arranged in the housing (2), to which the at least one coaxial line (4) having a shield (7) that is exposed in a stripped contacting region (6) is able to be applied for a clamped fastening,
   characterised in that,
   the connection holder is formed in such a way that earth contacting of the earth contact strip (10) takes place with an earth potential directly during the fastening of the connection holder to a carrier component (40), wherein, for this,
   the housing (2) has an opening for a fastening element (38) for the connection of the earth contact strip (10) with an earth potential and the opening is formed as a continuous screw opening having passage openings (28A, B) located opposite, and the earth contact strip (10) also has a passage opening (30), wherein

   - the fastening element (38) is, in the assembled state, guided through the housing (2) and thereby contacts the earth contact strip (10) and, at the same time, produces the electrical contact with the carrier component (40) with its base region, or

   - the earth contact strip (10) has a contact edge (44) on its underside which pushes through the housing (2) and serves for direct earth contacting during the fastening to the carrier component (40).
2. Connection holder according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element (38) is formed as a screw and is supported on the earth contact strip (10) with a screw head (42).
3. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, which is formed for receiving a plurality of coaxial lines (4) which are able to be applied to the mutual earth contact strips (10) in parallel one alongside the other.
4. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the earth contact strip (10) is formed as an insert.
5. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein shell-like guides (16A, B) are formed for the individual guiding of each coaxial line (4).
6. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) has two housing parts (2A, B), namely a lower shell (2A) and a cover (2B), and the at least one coaxial line (4) is able to be fastened in a clamped manner between the two housing parts (2A, B).
7. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the earth contact strip (10) extends in a longitudinal direction of the housing (2) and the at least one coaxial line (4) is able to be inserted in the transverse direction relative to this, wherein the earth contact strip (10) is held laterally by opposite edge webs (18) of the housing (2).
8. Connection holder according to claim 7 and according to claim 5, wherein, in the opposite edge webs (18), the guides (16A, B) are formed for the clamped fixing of one respective coaxial line (4).
9. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) has, for one respective coaxial line (4), a clamping element (20) for pressing the stripped contacting region (6) against the earth contact strip (10).
10. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) has fixing pins (24) for one respective coaxial line (4).
11. Connection holder according to claim 10, wherein the fixing pins (24) are formed to penetrate into an insulation (8) of the coaxial line (4).
12. Connection holder according to claim 11, wherein the housing (2) is formed on both sides of the passage opening (30) in order to receive several coaxial lines (4).
13. Connection holder according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the housing (2) has an annular web (32) which engages with the passage opening (30) in order to centre and fix the earth contact strip (10).
14. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) has fixing elements (36) on its outer side for assembled fixing on a carrier component (40).
15. Connection holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein several coaxial lines (4) are guided through the housing (2), said coaxial lines only being stripped in a central contacting region (6), such that a shield (7) is exposed which is pressed in a contacting manner against the earth contact strip (10) by means of the housing (2), wherein the respective coaxial line (4) is held in a clamped manner in the housing (2) on both sides of the contacting region (6).

Images