FR2654558A1 - POWERED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a shielded electrical connector element of the type comprising an insulating connector block comprising several cells in which electrical contact elements are received and which extends from its front face towards the rear of the connector element to. inside a shielding box consisting of two metallic shielding shells, respectively upper (10) and lower (12) of complementary shapes to surround the insulating block and whose free front edges (22, 40) have tabs d 'hooking (24, 48) in notches formed in the contour of a rear metal shell which surrounds and cooperates with an outwardly projecting edge of the front portion of the insulating block, the upper shield shells (10) and lower (12) each having a side wall (26, 42) which are parallel and turned towards each other. According to the invention, the two side walls (26, 42 - 50, 54) are nested one inside the other.

Description

The present invention relates to a shielded electrical connector element

  of the type comprising a connector insulative block having a plurality of cells in which electrical contact elements are received and which extends from its front face towards the rear of the connector element inside a shielding housing constituted by two upper and lower shielding metal shells of complementary shape to surround the insulating block and whose free front edges comprise hooking tabs in notches formed in the contour of a rear connector metal shell which surrounds and cooperates with an edge protruding outwardly from the front part of the insulating block, the

  upper and lower armor shells

  each of them a side wall that are parallel and

moon turns to 1 / other.

  Electrical connectors of this type are for example described and represented in the documents

  US-A-4,585,292, US-A-4,582,384 and EP-A-0 180,594.

  In the connectors described in these documents, it is found that the rear metal shell of the connector which surrounds the front face of the insulating block and which is provided to allow attachment

  for example on a mounting plate and the connection

  To a complementary connector element, has been modified, and in particular has an increased thickness, to allow attachment of the brackets Due to this modification, the rear shells are no longer of standardized dimensions which allow a standard mounting in panel openings, by

  example of a "rack" with normal openings

  intended to receive connectors of the corresponding series. It is further noted that the two side walls of the upper and lower shells do not have good electrical continuity in their junction zone and thus the function of

  shielding is not properly ensured.

  There is -as continuity of the metal in the junction areas and the shielding effect against

  stray fields is not enough.

  The pressure for bringing the two shells into contact with the shell contour is ensured by a spacer effect of the insulating block between the shells.

  shells, which deforms the insulating block.

  In addition, this type of connector is designed to receive a plastic overmoulded layer to make it impermeable to moisture. During overmoulding, a very strong pressure is applied to the upper and lower shells, which has the effect of causing partial crushing of the insulating block If vents are provided to prevent the crushing phenomenon, the hot overmolding material penetrates inside the connector and can cause the fusion of the insulating sheaths of the electrical wires connected to the electrical contact elements and flows

  of insulating material can deform the walls.

  To resist overmolding pressures, it has also been proposed to provide reinforcing bosses parallel to the free edges before the shells that project towards the inside of the casing. These bosses bear on the insulating block in the zone of the electrical contact elements. inserted into the cells of the block to which they transmit the forces on a small surface and are very close to these contact elements This results in a risk of electrical breakdown

and short-ciruit-

  Without the supermoulagelle shielding case has only a very low mechanical strength both lateral and vertical. The present invention aims to propose an electrical connector element whose various

  characteristics make it possible to remedy the

  For this purpose, and in accordance with the invention, the two sidewalls of the lower and upper shells are nested one inside the other; the side wall of the lower shielding shell comprises a peripheral recess directed towards the inside of the housing which delimits a bearing edge of the peripheral free edge of the lateral wall of the upper shell; the side wall of the shielding shell

  lower range extends beyond said parallel step

  to itself in the direction of the bottom plane of the upper shielding shell and the peripheral free edge of this sidewall bears against the flat bottom of the upper shielding shell, each of the two shielding shells has a plane background which bears against a corresponding face of the insulating block delimited by the edges of the partitions delimiting said cells which receive the electrical contact elements, and each flat bottom

  has a protruding boss protruding outwardly

  the shield housing and parallel to the front free edge of the shell; each of the attachment lugs has in section an L-shaped profile whose first branch is parallel to the plane bottom of the shell and extends from the free edge before the latter and whose second branch is outwardly oriented the housing, each tab being received in a recess of complementary shape arranged in the rearwardly facing face of the projecting edge of the front portion of the insulating block; the first leg of the L-shaped lug has a thickness less than that of the sheet in which the shell is formed to delimit a retaining lug turned towards the outside of the housing in which the end edge delimiting the liner is received. corresponding notch formed in the contour of the rear metal shell; the notch of reduced thickness is achieved by crushing the sheet in the corresponding area during the stamping operation of the shell so as to cause hardening of the metal in this area; and the fastening tabs of each of the shielding shells are in equal number and they are arranged in pairs facing each other to allow indifferent mounting of the upper and lower shielding shells on the shell

back of the connector.

  Other features and benefits of

  the invention will appear on reading the description

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a large-scale exploded perspective view of the shielding shells.

  upper and lower part and their closing ferrule

re;

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the

  of the upper armor shell;

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the

  the lower armor shell; Figure 4 is a half-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 of the upper and lower shielding shells in position nested one inside the other; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 on which is partially shown the insulating block of the connector element and its rear metal shell; Figure 6 is a plan view of the rear metal shell of the connector member according to the invention; Figure 7 is a simplified view along arrow F 7 of Figure 5 of the insulating block of the connector element; Figure 8 is a top view of the insulating block of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a partial sectional view along the line 9-9 of Figure 7; and FIG. 10 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the insulating block and the rear metal shell of the connector element with representation of one of the electrical contact elements in its corresponding cell. FIGS. an upper shielding shell 10 and a lower shielding shell 12 intended to be associated to form a

  shielding casing of an electrical connector element

  that comprising in particular an insulating block 14 designed to receive electrical contact elements 16 arranged

  in cells 18 of the insulating block (see Figure 10).

  The upper shell 10 consists essentially of a substantially rectangular-shaped flat bottom 20 whose front free edge 22 is provided with five attachment tabs 24 The other edges of the flat bottom 20 extend at right angles, downwards considering Figure 1 by a side wall

device 26.

  At its rear part, the upper shielding shell 10 comprises a semi-cylindrical portion 2 v intended to receive the electrical wires 30 connected to the electrical contact elements 16 and the shielding braid to the outside. reinforcement 32 protruding outwards from the shielding shell, which is substantially rectangular in shape and whose length is parallel to the front free edge 22. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the boss 32 is arranged (see FIG. ) in the zone of the insulating block 14 which receives the highest portions of the electrical contact elements 16 so as to provide a large space between the inner face 34 of the reinforcement boss 32 and the electrical contact elements 16 to avoid any phenomenon electrical breakdown. The two rearwardly facing portions of the sidewall 26 each have an opening 36 provided to receive a locking pin of the housing.

shielding.

  In a symmetrical manner is found on the lower half-shell 12 a flat bottom 38 delimited by its front edge 40, its side wall 42, its rear semi-cylindrical portion 44, and having a protruding boss protruding outwardly 46 It has

  also five brackets 48.

  The side wall 42 of the lower shielding shell 12 has a first portion 50 substantially symmetrical with the sidewall 26 which is delimited by a peripheral recess 52 beyond which it is extended by a second sidewall portion 54 which is parallel to the first part 50 but inwardly shifted so as to allow it to fit inside the side wall 26 The second part 54 has in its two rear portions locking lugs 56 intended to be

received in openings 36-

  The two semi-cylindrical portions 28 and 44 receive, after assembly of the connector, a closure ferrule 58 before the final crimping operation. Each of the two shielding shells is

  made by stamping a sheet.

  Thanks to the reinforcing bosses 32 and 46, they are rigid enough to transmit the forces that will be applied to them during the final overmolding operation of a plastic sealing material

at the side walls.

  According to the invention and as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the free end edge 60 of the second portion 54 of the side wall 42 of the lower shielding shell 12 abuts against the inner face of the bottom plan 20 of the shell of

upper shield 10-

  Similarly, the peripheral end edge 62 of the side wall 26 bears against the recess 52 of the side wall 42 of the shielding shell

lower 12.

  This double support effect makes it possible to cash the forces transmitted to the side walls during overmolding and to ensure perfect electrical continuity and

optimal shielding.

  The arrangement in the nested position of the two shielding shells 10 and 12 thus ensures, on the one hand, a very good electrical shielding of the parasitic fields due to the superposition of the lateral wall 26 with the second lateral wall portion 54 and, d 'somewhere else,

  a very good electrical contact by the edges in support.

  The inner faces of the planar bottoms 20 and 38 envelop the insulating block 14, as can be seen at

  Figure 5, but without applying any effort.

  According to another aspect of the invention, and as shown in particular in FIG. 5, each hooking tab 24 or 48 has a particular profile. This profile will be described with reference to the lower hooking tab 48 shown in FIG. Figure - The tab 38 has an L-shaped profile. A first branch 66 extends horizontally from the front free edge 40 of the lower shell 12 and extends outwardly of the housing by a second right-angled branch 68, The first branch 66 is of reduced thickness compared to that of the shell constituting plate, as is the second branch 68 of which

  the thickness is equal to that of the first branch.

  This reduction in thickness is obtained during the cutting operation stamping the shell by crushing the sheet which causes a phenomenon

  of work hardening which significantly increases the characteristics

  resistance of the sheet in the area of the fastening tabs. The first branch 66 in cooperation with the second branch 68, and because of its reduced thickness, constitutes a U-shaped notch which is provided for

  receive the edge 70 vis-à-vis a corresponding notch

  72 formed in the contour 74 of the standardized rear metal shell 76 of the element

connector (see Figure 6).

  The free edge of the second branch 68 cooperates with a curved area of the sheet of the rear shell 76 which provides a wedging effect and retaining the edge 70 in the notch U. The cooperation of the notch 72 with the notch the hanging tab ensures a very good performance

mechanics of the whole.

  The assembled case itself forms a very rigid and homogeneous shell as soon as it is assembled

  regardless of the presence of overmolding.

  In order not to increase the overall thickness of the electrical connector element each of the latching lugs is received in a recess 80 formed in the face 82 facing the rear of the front portion 84 of the insulating block 14 and in away from the front face 17 of the latter The insulating block 14 of course has on either side of its longitudinal median plane a

  number of recesses 80 equal to those of the legs 24 and 48-

  In addition to the fact that they avoid increasing the thickness of the connector element, the recesses 80 facilitate the insertion of the latching lugs during the assembly of the lower and upper shielding shells on the subassembly shown. in the figure, this assembly is done in a conventional manner by introduction of the hooking tabs in the holes 82 defined by the recesses 80 and the notches 72 and

  by pivoting the shells around the hooks of

  to bring them to the position shown

Figures 4 and 5.

  It then remains to complete the closure by fitting the closing ferrule 58 in position on the semi-cylindrical portions 28 and 44,

then crimp the ferrule.

  Because of the geometric arrangement of the latching lugs, recesses 80 and notches 72 there is no leverage effect with crushing of the insulating block 14 during the introduction and pivoting of the

shielding shells 10 and 12-

  When 1 / connector element has been assembled, as partially shown in the lower part of FIG. 5, it is then possible to perform without danger the operation of hot overmolding by injection of a sealing material on the connector element The overmolding operation does not cause any inadvertent deformation and there is no penetration of material inside the

shield case.

  Due to their symmetrical design, the hooking tabs being symmetrically arranged in pairs in one and the other, the two shielding shells 10 and 12 can possibly be made in the Jaide of the same starting tool on which it is sufficient to add a punch to eliminate the sheet portion corresponding to the second portion 54 of the side wall 50 and two hole punch punches

36.

  The symmetrical design of the shells 10 and 12 allows the assembly indifferent instead of

  J-one of the other, the lower and higher terminology

  Only used for the convenience of writing

tion.

  This indifferent assembly is particularly advantageous in the case where the shells have rear cable outlets bent in relation to their direction

  insertion, because the same set of two shells

  allows for a left elbow or a

right elbow.

  The shell formed by the shielding shells and the rear shell is very homogeneous and resistant, both laterally because of the cooperation of the side walls, and vertically because of the bearing edges.

  against the funds and the setback, and that longitudinal

  because of the notches received in the U-shaped notches

hanging tabs.

he

Claims (7)

  A shielded electrical connector element of the type comprising an insulating connector block (14) having a plurality of cells (18) in which electrical contact elements (16) are received and which extends from its front face (17) towards the rear of the connector element inside a shielding housing consisting of two metal shielding shells, respectively upper (10) and lower (12) complementary shapes to surround the insulating block (14) and whose edges free ends (22, 40) have hooking tabs (24, 48) in notches (72) formed in the contour (74) of a rear metal shell (76) which surrounds and co-operates with an edge (84) in protruding outwardly from the front portion (84) of the insulating block (14), the upper (10) and lower (12) shielding shells each having a side wall (26, 42) which are parallel and rotated 1 Vune to the other, characterized by that the two side walls (26, 42 50, 54) are nested one inside the other.   2 connector element according to the claim   1, characterized in that the side wall (42) of the lower shielding shell (12) has a peripheral recess (52) directed towards the interior of the housing which delimits a bearing edge of the peripheral free edge (62) of the side wall (26) of the   upper shield shell (10).   3 connector element according to the claim   2, characterized in that the side wall (42)   the lower shielding shell (12) extends beyond   beyond said recess (52) parallel to itself in the direction of the plane bottom (20) of the upper shielding shell (10), and in that the peripheral free edge (60) of this sidewall (42, 54) is   resting against said flat bottom (20 ')   4 connector element according to any one   than claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   each of the two shielding shells (10, 12) comprises a bottom An) (20, 38) which bears against a corresponding face of the insulating block (14) delimited by the edges (15) of the partitions delimiting said cells (18). ), and in that each plane bottom has a reinforcing boss (32, 46) protruding outwardly from the shield housing and parallel to the front free edge (22, 40) of the shell (10, 12).   Connector element according to any one   than the preceding claims, characterized in that   each of said attachment lugs (24, 48) has in section an L-shaped profile whose first branch (66) is parallel to the plane bottom of the shell and extends from the front free edge thereof and of which the second limb (68) is oriented towards the outside of the shield casing, and in that each latching tab is received in a recess (80) of complementary shape arranged in the face (82) facing towards the rear of the casing the front part (84) of the block insulation (14).   6 connector element according to the claim   5, characterized in that said first leg (66) has a thickness less than that of the sheet in which the shielding shell is formed to delimit a retaining catch facing outwardly of the housing in which the edge is received. end (70)   delimiting said corresponding notch (72).   7 Connector element according to the claim   6, characterized in that said notch of reduced thickness is achieved by crushing the sheet in the corresponding area during the drawing operation of the shell so as to cause strain hardening of the metal in this area-   8 Connector element according to one guelcon-   than the preceding claims, characterized in that   that the hooking tabs (24, 48) of each of the shielding shells (10 12 'are in equal number, and in that they are arranged in pairs facing each other to allow mounting indifferent shielding shells on the rear shell (76) of the connector element.