JPH036627B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1: One end of a shielded cable consisting of at least one insulated conductor covered with a shielded conductor is received within an insulated housing, and within the insulated housing, the insulated conductor and the shielded conductor are connected to a corresponding one of a mating connector to be fitted. In a shielded electrical connector that connects to an elastic contact connected to a conductor and a shield member, the insulating housing has a bottom surface and a plurality of walls that stand up substantially perpendicularly from the bottom surface, and the shield member has a The housing has a bottom surface that is inserted substantially closely into the inner surface of the housing, and a wall surface that stands up and continues from the bottom surface, and the wall surface has a substantially parallel vertical notch that receives one end of the shielded cable, and an engaging part that extends along the notch. the shielded cable has a mating flange, and further has four spaced apart curved protrusions that protrude in opposite directions from the opposing notches, and the shielded cable has an inserter member at one end of the shielded cable. , the inserter member has an engagement groove that engages with the engagement flange of the insulating housing, and when the inserter member is inserted along the notch, the inserter member closes the gap between the notches approximately. A shielded electrical connector characterized in that the shield coating of the shield cable is tightly fitted between the curved protrusions of the shield member in a constant state.

Specification The present invention relates to shielded electrical connectors.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,778 discloses a shielded electrical connector assembly of the type having a front mating section and a rear cable connection section and including a terminal housing, both top and bottom ground shields, and both top and bottom insulating cover parts. ing. The lower ground shield has a base panel from which a pair of side walls and a rear wall rise and have a front contact portion extending away from the rear wall. The lower cover component also has a base panel, and a pair of side walls and a rear wall rise from the base panel, and when the connector is assembled, the panel, side walls, and rear wall of the lower shield are connected to the panel of the lower cover. , fit into both side walls and rear wall. The front contact portion fits into the housing, and the housing has a terminal support floor and a pair of side walls rising on both sides thereof are bridged by a hood near the front end thereof. The top shield has forward contact portions that fit into the hood and face the terminal support floor. When the connector mates with a similar connector, the front contact portion of the upper shield engages the front contact portion of the lower shield. The lower ground shield and lower cover parts of this known connector both have rising wall panels with each rising wall having a cable receiving opening that opens away from the respective panel; When assembled inside the lower cover part, they align with each other to allow reception of the shield.

This known connector, however, does not have a continuous shield configuration along both sides when mated with another connector. The ground current for cable shields connected to one connector flows only through the front contact portions of both the upper and lower shields. The proximity of the shields in mated complementary connectors alone will not
Effective electromagnetic interference shielding is not available, especially when high signal frequencies (of the order of 400 MHz) are involved.

Therefore, the present invention provides the shielded electrical connector as described above, in which the insulating housing has a bottom surface and a plurality of walls that stand up substantially perpendicularly from the bottom surface,
The shielding member has a bottom surface that is inserted substantially closely into the inner surface of the housing, and a continuous wall surface that stands up from the bottom surface, and the wall surface has a substantially parallel vertical notch that receives one end of the shielded cable and an engaging part along the notch. the shielded cable has a mating flange, and further has four spaced apart curved protrusions protruding toward each other from the opposing notches, the shielded cable has an inserter member at one end of the shielded cable, and the insert member has a mating flange. It has an engagement groove that engages with the engagement flange of the insulating flange, and when inserting the insert member along the notch, the insert member maintains a substantially constant spacing between the notches and the shield of the shielded cable. The coating is characterized in that it is an interference fit between the curved protrusions of the insert member. In this way, the shielding configuration is electrically continuous around the joint during connector mating and leaves no "holes" that could cause electromagnetic interference.

The connector of the present invention is also aimed at manufacturing economy, with core removal of the molded part being carried out in two orthogonal directions, allowing for multi-cavity molding.

The connector also offers ease of assembly. The lower shield is advanced into the rear of the housing and placed into position, and then the lower cover part is moved rearwardly as well until it latches into the housing and holds the lower shield in place. be placed in place.

Further, the cable receiving opening in the rising wall of the lower shield is defined on either side by a pair of integrally molded flanges that fit generally closely into the cable receiving opening in the rising wall of the lower cover component. The lower cover part has a pair of parallel flanges defining opposite sides of the opening on the outer surface of its upstanding wall, the flanges together forming a dovetail shape. The assembly further includes an inserter member having a through hole opening into a dovetail slot in the mating surface of the inserter member, the dovetail slot being perpendicular to the plane of the panel of the lower cover part. It has a shape that engages a dovetail flange on the outer wall of the lower cover part by the movement of the lower cover part. The assembly also includes a metal contact ferrule configured to fit between the individual conductors of the cable and the shield. Assemble the lower earth shield with the lower cover part, insert the cable into the inserter member, peel off the outer insulation from the cable end protruding from the joint surface to expose the cable, and then insert the cable between the individual conductor and the exposed cable shield. When the ferrule is inserted and the dovetail slot of the inserter is mated to the dovetail flange of the lower cover component, the exposed cable shield can be pushed between the flanges of the lower shield.

The connector of the present invention has the advantage that the integrity of the contact between the lower shield and the cable shield is guaranteed, and ground continuity is guaranteed between the shields of each cable when mated with a complementary connector.

These and other advantages will be readily understood from the following description and drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the housing, terminal, lower shield, and shunt assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower cover disassembled from the housing and lower shield assembly.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper cover, upper housing, lower shield, and lower cover.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the shunt assembly and a cross-sectional portion of the housing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled connector.

FIG. 6A is an assembled top view of the cable, inserter, and tensile stress relief ferrule prior to assembly of the contact ferrule and clamp.

FIG. 6B is a top view of the contact ferrule and clamp assembled to the cable.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the assembled connector.

FIG. 7B is a side view of the assembled connector.

FIG. 7C is a joined end view of the assembled connector excluding the top cover.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another inserter assembled to the cable and lower cover.

Figures 9A-9D are views of alternate inserter halves.

FIG. 1 shows the terminal housing 10 from which the assembly sequence begins. The housing 10 has a front end 11
It has a terminal support floor 13 extending from the terminal to the rear end 12 for receiving the terminal(s) 2. Each terminal 2 has a wire barrel 4, a mating tongue 6 and an intervening base portion 7, which base portion 7 is received in a respective groove 17 in the floor 13. floor 13
has side walls 18 rising on both sides thereof, and each side wall has a rearwardly facing step 19 on its inner surface and a shield groove 21 extending forward from the step 19.
A partition 2 is provided in front of the stepped portion 19 on the inner surface of both side walls 18.
4 defines a slot 25 below the groove 21. At this end, a hood 28 bridges the side walls 18. The shunt assembly 30 has a stepped portion 1
9 and a post 23 rising from the floor 13 between the two central grooves 17.

The lower shield 40 includes a base panel 41;
Extending from the panel is an integrally molded front contact portion 42 and upstanding side walls 43. The rear wall portions 44 are connected to each side wall 4.
3 to define a cable receiving opening 55 along and between the base panel 41. Each rear wall portion 44 is formed with a flange 45 along an opening 55, and each flange 45 is formed with detent(s) 46. A spring tongue piece 47 is attached from the panel 41.
extends into the opening 55. A forward wing 48 is formed in each side wall 43 from a first bend 49 defining a rearwardly facing step on each outer surface. These wings 48 also have a second bend, step 50.
are formed, each defining a forward facing step on its outer surface. Extending forward from each step 50 is a mating flange 51 and a spring tongue 53, the flange 51 also having an outwardly curved lip 52 to mate with the tongue of the connector.

FIG. 2 shows the lower shield 40 assembled to the housing 10. The forward wing 48 abuts the inner surface of the side wall 18 of the housing and is connected to the forward facing step 5 of the shield.
0 is in contact with the rearward step 19 of the housing. The tongue piece 53 is located within the slot 25, and the flange 51 is unevenly distributed above it. Groove 21 (1st
Figure) allows passage of the lip piece 52 during assembly. Shunt assembly 30 is latched into place after assembly of shield 40 to housing 10.

The lower cover 60 includes a base panel 61, and has raised side walls 63 and a rear wall 68 that are integrally molded with the base panel 61. A latch 62 rising from the center of the base 61 serves to hold the cover 60 connected to the housing 10 (FIG. 7B). The side walls 63 have horizontal joining ribs 64 (FIG. 7C) extending forward to join with the housing 10, and vertical joining ribs 64 to be received between the rear surface 12 of the housing 10 and the step 49 of the lower shield 40. It has ribs 65.
The rear wall 68 defines a cable opening 69 therebetween;
Each has a flange 71 extending from the outer surface 70 along the opening 69. The combined profile of both flanges 71 has a dovetail shape 7 interrupted by an opening 69.
2. The notches 74 formed at the corners of each side wall and rear wall each have a step 75 for holding the top cover 110 (FIG. 3). A T-shaped member 79 for mating with a complementary connector is molded on the latch arm 78.

Figure 3 shows the lower shield 40 and housing 10.
The lower cover 60 assembled to is shown. Flange 4
5 fits flatly into the flange 71 of the rear wall 68. The inserter assembly is shown in Figures 6A and 6B.
As shown in detail in the figures, it includes a cable 80, an inserter member 87 and a stud 97. The inserter member 87 includes a rear gripping portion 88 and a joining flange 89, and the joining flange 89 is connected to the lower cover 6.
It is shaped to define a dovetail slot 90 for receiving a zero dovetail corner 72. Individual insulated conductor 8
A contact ferrule 94 is inserted between the flange 45 and the braided shield 82.
Ensure good ground contact between the two. Detent 46 serves to retain ferrule 94.

The top shield 100 includes a base panel 101, front contact tongues 102 and springy side members 103, both of which are received on the inner surfaces of the side walls 43 of the bottom shield 40. . The spring tongue 104, like the lower tongue 47, serves to contact the braided shield 82. The upper cover 110 includes a panel portion 112 and a lock arm 11.
4, and a latch arm 117 having a T-slot 118 for mating with a complementary connector. Alignment post(s) 116 are received in the grooves 66 and the rounded surfaces of the posts 116 serve to move the cover 110 forward into a tight fit with the hood 28. Top shield 100 is assembled to top cover 110 by planting plastic studs through through holes 105;
The inserter 87 and the stud 97 are in the housing 1.
0, the lower cover 60 is attached by locking the arm 114 to the stepped portion 75 of the notch 74.
and assembled into the housing 10.

FIG. 4 shows the shunt assembly 30 disassembled into parts.
1. It includes selective terminal bridging shunt members 36, 38 and a dielectric spacer 35 interposed therebetween. The carrier 31 has pegs 32 for fixing parts 36, 38 thereto and shunt contact pieces 37, 39.
It has a groove 33 that allows it to flex. Latches 34 cooperate with holes 20 in side walls 18 of housing 10 to position and hold assembly 30 (FIG. 1) between step 19 and post 23. A slot 16 in floor 13 receives a forward contact portion 42 (FIG. 1) of lower shield 40.

The assembled connector is shown in FIG. 5 and is a hermaphroditic connector similar to the connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. Join. The connector of the present invention is also adapted to mate with a connector of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,778 and includes spring tongues.
53 does not preclude mating with prior art connectors which similarly mate with respective flanges 51 of the connector.

FIG. 6A shows the inserter member with cable 80 fed through axial bore 92 and extending from mating flange 89. FIG. The insulator 82 is peeled off to expose the braid 82, and the tensile stress relieving ferrule 84 is removed.
is crimped to the insulator 83 near the exposed braid 82. The flange 85 of the ferrule 84 is shaped to tightly fit into the countersunk hole 93 of the joining flange 89, as shown in FIG. 6B, to terminate the conductor when an axial force is applied to the cable 80. prevent tensile stress on the parts. Returning to FIG. 6A, the contact ferrule 94, which is loosely fitted to the exposed conductor 81, is then fitted concentrically into the braid 82, and as shown in FIG. 6B, a clamp 96 is applied to the braid. is trimmed.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the assembled connector with the top cover removed. The stuffer 97 is used to force the individual insulated conductor 81 into the wire barrel 4 of the terminal 2 in the usual manner. Dovetail slot 91 in mating flange 89 of inserter member 87 engages dovetail flange 72 to provide the primary advantage of the connector of the present invention, namely, compressive force is maintained on contact ferrule 94 within braid 82. This ensures that electrical contact between the braid 82 and the lower ground shield 40 is maintained. In contrast, known prior art configurations tend to have loose contact forces.

FIG. 7B is a partially sectional side view of the assembled connector. This figure shows the housing 10 and the lower shield 40.
and the cooperative state of the lower cover part 60 are shown in detail.
The housing 10 has a terminal support floor 13 with a forward extension 15 and an opposite bottom recess 14. A shield slot 16 extends through the housing 10 for advancing the forward contact portion 42 of the lower shield 40 under the receiving extension 15. The contact portion 42 thus placed is connected to the top shield 100 of the complementary connector.
provides a joint surface with the contact tongue piece 102. The lower cover component 60 is the base panel 41 of the lower shield 40.
and maintains its position through the cooperation of recess 14 and latch 62.

FIG. 7C is an end view showing a situation in which the ribs 64 of the lower cover 60 and the grooves 22 of the housing 10 cooperate to hold both parts in a joined state. The front wings 48 of the lower shield 40 are fitted along the side wall 18 to hold the tongues 53 in their respective slots 25 and extend beyond them (FIG. 2) to join the flanges 51 of the similar shield of the complementary connector. That's what I do. The lip piece 52 is formed so as to face outward so as not to interfere with joining.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative inserter 120 that terminates the cable 80 at a 45 degree angle to the lower cover component 60. The inserter 120 has a threaded portion 124 that receives an internally threaded compression cap 134 and a dovetail slot 126 that mates with the flange 72 as previously described.
and a joint portion 125 having a. By flipping the inserter 120, the cable 80 can be placed in a different 45 degree orientation relative to the lower cover part.
can be terminated. Stress relief of the termination of the conductor 81 is obtained by mounting a compression nut on the cable clamping screw portion 124.

9A-9D, the alternative inserter 120 is conveniently molded into two halves 121 connected by a hinge 122. In FIGS. Each half 121
One has a cable receiving bore portion 128 that cooperates with the other bore portion to form a passage through the assembled inserter 120. Each bore part has a nut 134
Flanges 130, 131, ridges 132 and spikes 1 which successively support the outer jacket of cable 80 as (FIG. 8) is screwed into place.
33 have been constructed. This configuration eliminates the need for the tensile stress relieving ferrule 84 as described above.