GB2234403A

GB2234403A - Electrical connector with electromagnetic interference protection

Info

Publication number: GB2234403A
Application number: GB9013021A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans-Joachim Buscher
Original assignee: Souriau Electric GmbH
Current assignee: Souriau Electric GmbH
Priority date: 1989-06-13
Filing date: 1990-06-11
Publication date: 1991-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-11
Also published as: FR2648280B1; GB9013021D0; GB2234403B; DE3919219C1; IT9020618A1; BE1005568A3; FR2648280A1; NL9001323A; IT9020618A0; IT1248951B; ES2023049A6

Abstract

A plug (10) includes a shell (12) and an insulator (18) which carries contact strips (24) and electrical connections (16a). A metal plate (22) passing through the insulator (18) is located between the contact strips (24) and the connections (16a). When the plug is disconnected (lower half of figure 1), a contact (36) mounted in a spring biassed insulating sleeve (42) shorts each contact strip (24), the metal plate (22) and the shell (12). Similarly, further contact (44) can short all or selected connections. When the plug is connected (upper half of figure 1), the contact (36) connects each contact strip (24) to its corresponding connection (16a), without connection to the shell, and the contact (46) is disconnected from the connections (16a). A socket (fig 2) may be configured similarly to the plug (10). <IMAGE>

Description

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C F R1 C P l -U G-!N1 C ON' The invention relates to an electric plug-in connector consisting of plug and socket, the electric connection being established by introducing the plug or its contacts, respectively, into the opening of the corresponding socket, plug and socket being provided with corresponding electric connections.

Such a plug-in connector is known, for example, from DE-A-35 12 026.

In the known plug-in connector, the main intention is to seal in an airtight manner the space in which the contact is made. A special geometric design of the contact pins of the plug is provided for this purpose.

From DE-A-37 28 739, a further plug-in connectoris known which exhibits a so-called EMP protection (EMP = electromagnetic pulse) or NEMP protection (nuclear electromagnetic pulse) for plug and socket. Due to the protective device which essentially consists of a connection of the contact pins to one another and to the shell member, external electromagnetic fields are eliminated which occasionally may lead to faulty switching operations within the electronics connected to the plug- in device which, for example in the case of a plug-in connector for a weapons system, can lead to firing errors.

Plug and socket of the known connector exhibit a plurality of contact pins which are arranged in parallel with one another and which are connected to one another in the plugged condition.

Apart from ouch plug-in connectors, there is also a type of plug-in device in which the contacts are not formed by contact pins but by contact strips on the circumferential surface of the corresponding parts.

Accordingly, the invention has the basic objective of providing an electric plug-in device of the type mentioned above, by means of which an RF screening, that is to say an EMP protection is rendered possible - as in the plug-in device according to DE-A-37 28 739. In this connection, the device should be constructed in such a manner that it can be easily and reliably plugged and detached even during plug-in processes which follow one 1 another within short periods.

In this connection. protecting the parts of the plug-in connector against electromagnetic interference radiation by constructing the plug or the socket, respec- tively, in such a manner that in each case they f orm a type of Faraday cage with the components connected represents an essential feature of the invention. In this manner, the space within the cage (of the plug, of the socket) can be shielded against external electromagnetic interference radiation.

This is primarily achieved by a device within the shell of plug and socket. by means of which an electric connection from the shell transversely through the remaining components is created in the unplugged state.

In this connection, the plug in its most general embodiment is characterized by the following features:

- a cylindrical metallic shell,, one end of which is opened towards the corresponding socket.

- an insulator which is arranged therein and essentially extends coaxially with respect to the shell and which - exhibits at its one end (towards the socket) several contact strips on the surface and - is provided at its other end (towards the bottom of the plug) with electric connectionst - a metallic plate which passes through the insulator between the contact pins and the electric connections.

and - an axially displaceable sleeve which is arranged between insulator and shell and which is constructed in such a manner that it - creates in the unplugged condition a continuous electric connection between an earth connection of the shell and the metallic plate.

The associated socket is characterized by the following features:

- a cylindrical metallic shell, one end of which is opened towards the corresponding plug.

- an insulator which is arranged longitudinally displaceably therein and essentially extends coaxially with 1 1 1 1 i respect to the shell and which - exhibits at its one end (towards the plug) several contact strips on the surface, - a metal- plate which passes through the insulator between the contact strips, and - a sleeve which is arranged between insulator and shell and in the bottom end of which contacts of electric connections are arranged on the inside and which, for the rest, is constructed in such a manner that it - creates a continuous electric connection between an earth connection of the shell and the contact points of the metallic plate in the unplugged condition.

In this manner, an electric connection is created in both parts (plug,, socket) between shell and the specially constructed metallic plate arranged in each case in the insulator, and thus a type of electrically conductive cup (Faraday cup) which offers reliable protection against electromagnetic interference radiation in the unplugged condition of the parts.

Both the object forming the basis of the invention and the design similar to a Faraday cup described have the result that the electric connection extends in the area adjacent to the shell opening as will be described in still greater detail in the text following.

Before describing advantageous embodiments of the parts according to the invention, it is pointed out, for the sake of completeness, that the plug exhibits at its part penetrating into the socket (the sleeve) an inside diameter which is equal to or slightly greater than the outside diameter of the corresponding insulator in the socket and is equal to or slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the socket shell. Furthermore,, the moving parts of plug and socket in each case exhibit stops which limit the axial displacement distance, particularly in the unplugged condition, or, respectively, determine the optimum plug-in depth of the parts with respect to one another and thus also the contacting between plug and socket which will be described in still greater detail in the text following.

l- As f ar as is required, plug and socket can be fixed to one another in the plugged condition via known screw connections or the like.

Both plug and socket are electrically connected via appropriate feed lines - preferably at the bottom parts in each case.

Whilst the contact strips are arranged to be stationary on the insulators, the displaceability of the sleeve in the plug or of the insulator in the socket ensures that when plug and socket are pushed into one another. the respective contact strips are put into such a position that an electric connection is created between corresponding contact strips in plug and socket via associated connecting elements in the sleeve which will be described in greater detail in the text which follows.

Conversely, the parts are arranged in such a manner that the contact strips of plug and socket are in each case insulated from one another in the unplugged condition and there is no electric connection to the associated shells.

In this connection, the invention provides with respect to the arrangement of the bottom-end electric connections in an advantageous embodiment for these to be short-circuited to one another in arbitrary preselectable groups in order to remove any charges remaining in the associated capacitors which - similar to external electromagnetic influences - can lead to faulty pulses in the electronics and thus, for example. to a firing error.

For a more detailed explanation, reference is made, in particular. to the attached illustrative embodiment.

The continuous electric connection for construct- ing the Faraday cage can be achieved in various manners. According to an advantageous embodiment,, it is provided that a number of contact elements corresponding to the number of contact strips or electric connections. respec- tively,, rest in the sleeve of the plug, in such a manner that in each case at least one section rests against the shell and a further section rests against the metallic i i 1 i 1 i i i 1 i 1 1 1 1 J1-, plate in the unplugged condition. In this arrangement, the contact elements are constructed in such a manner that subsequently in each case at least one section is In contact with the associated contact strip and a further section is in contact with the corresponding electric connection in the plugged condition.

It is particularly advantageous in this connection if the contact elements are designed as triple-leaf springs, with two contact leaves in the direction of the insulator for making contact with the metal plate in the unplugged condition or for making contact with the associated contact strip and electric connection in the plugged conditionr whilst the third contact leaf points in the direction of the shell f or making contact with the shell in the unplugged condition. In this manner, dif f erent functions can be achieved by means of a single component, depending on the plugged condition. This simplifies constructional expenditure.

The contact leaves are preferably pretensioned so that they always reliably rest against the associated contact faces. At the same time, for example, the shell is constructed in such a manner that the associated contact leaf no longer has any contact area with respect to the shell in the plugged condition in order to prevent any short circuit in the functional position.

By arranging an insulating ring between the inner contact leaves on the inside of the sleeve of the plugr it Is achieved that the metal plate no longer has any electric connection with respect to the contact elements in the plugged condition. In the plugged condition, the current path should only be established between the corresponding contact strips of socket and plug or to the corresponding electric connectionsi respectively.

The electric connections In the plug can have almost any shape. An embodiment is preferred in which the electric connections are constructed as contact pins which rest in the insulator of the plug at a distance from one another and exhibit a metallic foot extending to the surface of the Insulator in the contact area the C.

i i 1 1 1 i 1 contact elements, whilst they project over thebottom of the plug at the opposite end, for connection to electric f eed lines to an associated open- and/or closed-loop control unit.

On the basis of the geometry of the plug described above, the electric connections in the socket are arranged outside the local insulator, preferably in the sleeve arranged to be stationary.

For this purpose,, the invention provides as a possible embodiment for the electric connections to be constructed at the bottom in the form of contact pins which extend through the bottom and continue as metal strips in the sleeve and are constructed at their opposite free end with corresponding contact areas which, in turn, can be designed as leaf springs.

In order to render possible here, too, a short circuit between the electric connections in the unplugged condition - as in the plug - and thus to achieve a discharging in connected capacitors, the insulator of the socket in accordance with a preferred embodiment exhibits at its bottom end a circumferential metal ring which makes contact with and thus short-circuits to one another the leaf springs in the unplugged condition.

The metal plate is preferably connected to the shell by the f act that a contact ring rests in the sleeve of the socket from which individual contacts stand of f towards the inside (in the direction of the insulator) and which is constructed towards the outside (in the direction of the shell) with a circumferential contact band. The individual contacts are arranged in such a manner that they are opposite the corresponding faces of the metal plate in the unplugged condition in order to then render possible an electric connection from an earth connection of the shell via the shell, the contact band and the individual contacts to the metal plate, and thus an EMP or NEMP protection. In the plugged condition, in contrast, there is no electric connection between the individual contacts and the contact strips on the surface of the insulator because the individual contacts (and, 1 1 kl- 1 correspondingly, the contact f aces of the metal plate) are located precisely between the contact strips (seen in the circumferential direction of the insulator).

Finally, it is provided for the contact elements for the electric connection of the contact strips of socket and plug to be provided in the area of the socket opening in corresponding recesses on the inside face of the sleeve which are again preferably constructed as leaf contacts. Similarly, however, a different shape of the contact elements could also be selected. In this arrangement, the contact elements of the socket are arranged electrically insulated with respect to the contact ring.

Whilst the insulator is stationary in the plug and the sleeve rests displaceably between shell and insulator, it is exactly the opposite in the case of the socket,, that is to say the inner insulator Is there preferably spring-supported with respect to the bottom whilst the sleeve rests stationary between insulator and shell. During the plugging process, the fixed insulator of the plug then pushes the displaceable insulator of the socket towards the rear (in the direction of the bottom) whilst the sleeve of the plug is displaced against the resistance of the firmly seated sleeve of the socket in the direction of the bottom of the plug until the final plugged position is reached.

In this position, there is a continuous electric connection between the electric connections of the socket via the contact strips of the socket, the contact elements of the socket. the contact strips of the plug and the contact elements of the plug to the electric connections of the plug. Here, tooi reference is made to the attached illustrative embodiment in detail.

In order also to render plug and socket dust- and moisture-proof. at the same time, corresponding seals are preferably constructed in the area of the opening of plug and socket.

The seals can be constructed as sealing strips or sealing rings. They preferably rest in the corresponding _k, 1 sleeves and exhibit inward pointing lip-like projections which are deformable and can be reliably rested against the corresponding insulators.

In - many respects,, the parts of the plug-in connector according to the invention offer an advance and an improvement compared with the prior art resulting from DE-A-35 12 026 and,, respectively, render possible the advantages which are achieved in a different plug type according to DE-A37 28 739. In particular, they create an independent protection against electromagnetic interference radiation and, at the same time,, particular contact elements can be short-circuited in order to remove charges in the capacitors of the electronics and, at the same time, this also provides a simulation for checking the functional capability of the individual contacts. In this connection, both plug and socket are operationally reliable at any time (in the plugged or unplugged condition) and can be checked at any time with respect to their functional capability. The parts can be plugged into one another quickly and reliably and, at the same time, can be constructed to be moisture- and dust-proof.

Further features of the invention are found in the characterizing clauses of the remaining patent claims and the other documents of the application.

In the text which follows, the invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to an illustrative embodiment. For this purpose, the drawing shows in a diagrammatic representation in Figure 1 a longitudinal section through a plug, in the unplugged condition in the lower half and in the plugged condition in the upper half, and Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through an associated socket of the plug-in device, in the unplugged condition in the lower part and in the plugged condition in the upper part.

The plug represented in Figure 1 exhibits an essentially hollowcylindrical shell 12 in which a bottom 14 of electrically insulating material rests on one side i 1 1 1 . C) (on the left in Figure 1) and which is open on the opposite side (on the right in Figure 1). A plurality of electric connections 16 which are constructed as contact pins protrude through the bottom 14. The electric connections 16 project over the bottom 14 on the left and extend through the bottom 14 towards the right in a cylindrical insulator 18 which extends up to the area of the shell opening 20.

Approximately in the centre (viewed in the axial direction), the insulator 18 is subdivided into two sections by a metal plate 22.

The electric connections (contact pins) 16 extend at a parallel distance from one another in the axial direction (x) until just before the metal plate 22 and there exhibit in each case a foot part 16a which radially extends through the insulator 18 up to its surface. in consequence, the surface of each foot part 16a is constructed curved in the same manner as the surface of the insulator 18.

In the front part (towards the shell opening 2 0) several contact strips 24 rest in the insulator 18 which in each case exhibit a similar shape to the f oot parts 16a of the electric connections 16. In this arrangement, one contact strip 24 is in each case located in axial extension of an associated contact pin 16.

The insulator 18 with inserted metal plate 22 is firmly connected to the bottom 14.

A sleeve 26 extends between insulator 18 and shell 12. Like the insulator 18. the sleeve 26 consists of an electrically insulating material. It exhibits a circumferential protrusion 28 which rests against a corresponding recess 30 in the shell 12 in the unplugged condition. In this arrangement,, the protrusion 28 is pressed against the recess 30 by a spiral spring 32. The spiral spring 32, in turn, is supported against the bottom 14 of the plug 10.

In the front part (towards the shell opening 20), the sleeve 26 exhibits on the inside a number of openings 34 corresponding to the number of contact strips, in 1 i which openings in each case a contact element 36 is inserted. The openings 34 in this arrangement are in each case constructed directly opposite an associated contact strip 24 (in the unplugged condition).

As can be seen from Figure 1. the contact elements 36 are designed as triple-leaf springs and provided with two contact leaves 36a. 36b at both ends whilst a further contact leaf 36c protrudes from the intermediate connection strip 38 (in the direction of the shell 12) through a further opening 40 in the sleeve 26.

As can also be seen in Figure 1, the space between the contact leaves 36a, , 36b is filled by an insulating strip 42. Independently of this, however, the electrical connection of the individual contact leaves to one another remains in existence due to the connecting strip 38.

At the bottom-end of the sleeve 26, a further annular recess 44 is provided on the inside in which, in the illustrative embodiment shown, a circumferential leaf ring 46 is arranged which is supported on the outside at the bottom of the recess 44 and is constructed on the inside with a spring arm 46a, which rests against the surface of the insulator 18 or the corresponding surfaces of the foot parts 16a. respectively. In this manner, an electric connection of the contact pins 18 in the unplugged condition, and thus a short circuit, is rendered possible in order to remoye charges in the capacitors of the electronics. Similarly. however. it is also possible to subdivide the recess 44 into various sections which are separate from one another and in which in each case a leaf contact 46 then rests. In this manner, various contacts can be connected to one another - as required which, in particular,, makes it possible to simulate various contact positions for checking the functional capability of the contact pins 16.

At the front free end (in the area of the shell opening 20), a circumferential lip seal 48 is arranged in the sleeve 26. the elastic lip of which rests against the surface of the insulator 18 or the contact strips 24.

1 i respectively, which protrude into this area. The plug is rendered dust- and moisture-proof in this manner.

The associated socket is shown in Figure 2. A hollow cylindrical shell 50 can again be seen which is open towards the plug 10 in the connecting area (shell opening 52) and is closed by a bottom 54 at the opposite end. On the inside of the bottom 54, an annular groove 56 is constructed in which a spiral spring 58 rests which loads an insulator 60 which exhibits at its bottom end a circumferential projection 62 which, in the unplugged condition. rests against a corresponding recess 64 of a sleeve 66 which is arranged between the insulator 60 and the shell 50.

Immediately behind the projection 62 (in the direction of the shell opening 52),, a circumferential metal ring 68 rests in the insulator 60, the surface of which is flush with the surface of the insulator 60.

In the direction of the shell opening 52, a metal plate 70 is arranged in the insulator 60, which, however', does not extend over the full cross section of the insulator as in the plug 10 but is here constructed with projections and recesses on the circumferential surface, similar to the profile of a toothed wheel. The result is that the metal plate 70 projects only with individual sections into the area of the surface of the insulator 60. Whilst in the lower part of Figure 2 (unplugged condition), a position of the metal plate 70 is shown in which the latter projects up to the surface of the insulator 60, the upper part of Figure 2 (plugged condition) shows an Intermediate position in which the metal plate 70 exhibits a distance from the surface of the insulator 60. This representation is obtained due to an odd number of corresponding projections of the metal plate 70. The number of projections in this arrangement is dependent on the number of corresponding contact strips 72 in the socket 100. As can be seen from looking at the bottom and top part of Figure 2 together,, the contact strips 72 in this arrangement (seen in the circumferential direction of the insulator 60) In each case rest in those area sections of the insulator 60 in which the metal plate 70 does not extend into the area of the surface of the insulator 60. For the rest,, the arrangement and construction of the contact strips 72 in the socket 100 is analogous to that in the plug 10 and the contact strips 72 are here arranged behind the metal plate 70 (seen in the direction of the shell opening 52).

The sleeve 66 is also constructed to be different from the sleeve 26 of the plug 10.

As can be seen from the upper part of Figure 2. the sleeve 66 exhibits in the front part (adjacent to the shell opening 52) on the inside several openings 74 in which a contact element 76 rests in each case. In this arrangement, an opening 74 is in each case opposite a contact strip 72 with a contact element 76 (in the unplugged condition). The contact elements 76 are constructed as leaf contacts and exhibit at their ends corresponding leaf contacts 76a. b. In between. an insulating strip 42 is arranged as in the contact element 36 of the plug 10. The leaf contacts 76a. b are connected to one another via a connecting strip 78. Separated from the contact elements 76 by an intermediate piece 79, a further opening 80 in the sleeve 66 Is formed in the sleeve 66 offset in the direction of the bottom 541 which opening consists of several chambers, namely an outer annular chamber 80a and a plurality of inner chambers 80b, corresponding chamber sections being connected to one another by a connecting channel in which one leg of a contact ring 82 rests which is designed as follows: The contact ring 82 consists of an outer contact band 82a which rests in the annular chamber 80a and of several individual contacts 82b which are arranged in the corresponding chambers 80b. Both the contact band 82 and the individual contacts 82bi in turn. are designed as leaf contacts which rest with their spring arms against the corresponding area sections of the shell 50 or of the metal plate 70,, respectively (in the unplugged condition). A connection of the corresponding sleeve section 66a to the sleeve section 66b behind it is achieved in i 1 i i 1 the area between the individual contacts -82b. The connecting web of the contact ring 82 also creates a connection to a metal ring 84 which extends from the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve 66 into the latter and which additionally creates a covering function for the EMP protection.

Behind it (in the direction of the bottom 54), further contacts are in each case arranged in the sleeve 66 in axial extension of the contact elements 76, which contacts are a component of electric connections 86. The electric connections are designed in this area as leaf springs which rest in corresponding recesses 88 on the inside of the sleeve 66. The contact surfaces in this arrangement are aligned in such a manner that they are positioned directly opposite the metal ring 68 in the unplugged condition. From there, the electric connections 86 extend in the form of metal strips 86a in the axial direction through the sleeve 66 into the bottom 54 and are there connected to associated contact pins 86b which project past the bottom 54 to the outside.

Finally, seals 90 are also arranged in the area of the shell opening 52 in the socket 100, which seals are constructed in the same manner as the seals 48 of the plug 10.

In the unplugged condition, the plug 10 has the following functions: Starting with an earth connection 49 at the shell 12, an electric connection to the metal plate 22 is created via the shell 12, the contact leaf 36c, the connecting strip 38 and the contact leaf 36a. Due to the distribution, described above, of the contact elements 36, a connection is thus achieved between the contact elements 36 and to the metal plate 22, and thus an EMP or NEMP protection, respectively.

Furthermore, the electric connections (contact pins) 16 can be shortcircuited via the leaf ring 46 for the reasons mentioned.

When the socket is in the position of the unplugged condition, the following is obtained: Starting with an earth connection 91 at the shell 50, a connection 1 k to the metal plate 70 is created via the shell 50, the contact band 82a and the individual contacts 82b and the metal plate 84 and, as a result. a Faraday cup is formed in the same manner as in the plug 10.

The electric connections 86 can be short-circuited via the metal ring 68 in the same manner as in the plug 10.

If plug and socket are now connected to one another, the insulator 18 which is arranged to be stationary, of the plug 10 presses the elastically supported insulator 60 of the socket 100 in the direction of the bottom 54 whilst at the same time the sleeve 66. which is arranged to be stationary, of the socket 100 displaces the elastically supported sleeve 26 of the plug 10 in the direction of its bottom 14. In this manner. a position of the individual components with respect to one another is obtained which is in each case shown in the top part of Figures 1, 2. In this condition, an electric connection is created from each contact pin 86b via the electric connection 86 to the contact strip 72 and from there on via the contact 76b. the connecting strip 78 and the contact 76a to the contact strip 24 of the plug 10, from where the path continues via the contact leaf 36b, the connecting strip 38 and the contact leaf 36a via the foot part 16a into the associated electric connection 16 of the plug. In this arrangement. the metal plates 70 and 22 are in each case bridged at the same time because their contact surfaces are either outside the aforementioned contacts (in the socket) or are insulated by the insulating strips 42 (in the plug 10).

Unlocking is carried out in the reverse manner as described above. In this process. the Individual components are again. at the same time, associated as described above with reference to the unplugged condition.

1 1 k_ claims 1. Plug for an electric plug-in connector, comprising- 1.1 acylindrical metallic shell (12), one end of which Is opened towards the corresponding socket (100),' 1.2 an insulator (18) which is arranged therein and essentially extends coaxially with respect to the shell (12) and which 1.3 exhibits at its one end (towards the socket) several contact strips (24) on the surface and 1.4 is provided at its-other end (towards the bottom of the plug) with electric connections (16), 1.5 a metal plate (22) which passes through the insulator (18) between the contact strips (24) and the electric connections (16) and 1.6 an axially displaceable sleeve (26) which is arranged between insulator (18) and shell (12) and which is constructed in such a manner that it 1.7 creates in the unplugged condition a continuous electric connection from an earth connection (49) of the shell (12) to the metal plate (22).

Claims

2. Plug according to Claim l# In which the sleeve (26) is spring-supported

with respect to the plug bottom (14) and is constructed with a stop (28) for axially limiting its displacement travel with respect to the shell (12).

3. Plug according to Claim 1 or 2, In which a number of contact elements (36) corresponding to the number of contact strips (24) or electric connections (16). respec tively. rest in the sleeve (12). in such a manner that in the unplugged condition,, In each case at least one section (36c) rests against the shell (12) and a further section (36a) rests against the metal plate (22) and in the plugged condition In each case at least one section (36b) is in contact with the associated contact strip (24) and a further section (36a) is in contact with the corresponding electric connection (16).

4. Plug according to Claim 3, in which the contact elements (36) are designed as triple-leaf springs, with two contact leaves (36a,, b) in the direction of the insulator (18) for making contact with the metal plate (22) in the unplugged condition or for making contact with the associated contact strip (24) and electric connection (16) in the plugged condition and with a contact leaf (36c) in direction of the shell (12) for making contact with the shell (12) in the unplugged condition.

Plug according to Claim 3 or 4, in which between the contact areas of the inner contact leaves (36a, b) an insulating strip (42) is seated on the inside in the sleeve (12), which strip insulates the metal plate (22) with respect to the contact elements (36) in the plugged condition.

6. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the electric connections (16) are constructed as contact pins which rest in the insulator (18) at a distance from one another and exhibit a metallic foot (16a) extending to the surface of the insulator (18) in the contact area for the contact elements (36) and project over the bottom (14) of the plug (10) at the opposite end.

7. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the area of the bottom end of the sleeve, a contact ring (46) is arranged for connecting the electric connections (16) with one another in the unplugged condition.

8. Plug according to one of Claims 1 to 7 having at least one seal (48) in the area between insulator (18) and sleeve (26) and/or sleeve (26) and shell (12).

9. Socket for an electric plug-in connector, particularly for accommodating a plug (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, having the following features:

9.1 a cylindrical metallic shell (50), one end of which is opened towards the corresponding plug (10) 1 9.2 an insulator (60) which is arranged 1 i i i 1 (--1 10.

longitudinally displaceably therein and essentially extends coaxially with respect to the shell (50) and which 9.3 exhibits at its one end (towards the plug (10)) several contact strips (72) on the surface, 9.4 a metal plate (70) which passes through the insulator (60) between the contact strips (72), and 9.5 a sleeve (66), which is arranged between insulator (60) and shell (50) and in which electric connections (86) are arranged and whichr for the rest. is constructed in such a manner that it 9.6 creates in the unplugged condition a continuous electric connection between an earth connection (91) of the shell (50) and the contact points of the metal plate (70).

Socket according to Claim 9. in which the insulator (60) is springsupported with respect to the bottom (54) of the socket and is constructed with a stop (62 for axially limiting its displacement travel with respect to the sleeve (66).

11. Socket according to Claim 9 or 10, in which a contact ring (82) rests in the sleeve (66) with individual contacts (82b). pointing inward (in the direction of the insulator (60)), for resting against the corresponding faces of the metal plate (70). and a contact band (82a) pointing outward (in the direction of the shell (12)) for contacting the shell (50) in each case in the unplugged condition, the individual contacts (82b) being connected to the contact band (82a).

12. Socket according to Claim 11, in which the contact ring (82) or its contact sections, respectively, is (are) constructed as spring leaves.

13. Socket according to one of Claims 9 to 12. in which a number of contact elements (76) corresponding to the number of contact strips (72) or electric connections (86). respectively. rest in the sleeve (66) in such a manner that an electric connection is created between the corresponding contact strips (72, 24) of socket (100) and plug (10) in the plugged condition.

14. Socket according to Claim 13, in which the contact elements (76) are constructed as double-leaf springs, the leaves being constructed at both ends of the contact element and an insulating strip (42) resting between them in the sleeve (66).

15. Socket according to one of Claims 9 to 14, in which the electric connections (86) in each case exhibit a connecting part projecting past the bottom (54) of the socket, from which they extend through the bottom (54) and the sleeve (66) and are constructed at their opposite free end in each case with a contact area for contacting the contact strips (72) of the socket in the plugged condition.

16. Socket according to Claim 15,, in which the contact areas are constructed as leaf springs.

17. Socket according to one of Claims 9 to 16. in which a metal ring (68) is arranged in the surface of the insulator (60) for connecting the electric connections (86) in the unplugged condition.

18. Socket according to one of Claims 9 to 17. which is constructed with at least one seal (90) in the area of the shell opening (52) in the contact area between shell (50) and insulator (60).

Published 1991 at ne Patent Office. State House. 66/71 High Holborn. London WCIR4TP. Further copies inay be obtained from Sales Branch, Unit 6, Nine Mile Point. Cwmfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray. Kent.

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