JPS6369168A - Electrical connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coaxial and tricycle cables are used in a variety of electronic applications that require electromagnetic shielding to transmit noise-free signals carried by the cable's central conductor. For example, triaxial cables containing a central conductor for carrying signals carrying information and two outer conductors for providing shielding are often used in high voltage applications where it is desired to minimize the level of noise.

Tricycle cables are often terminated with triaxial electrical connectors. Triaxial connectors generally include a number of parts,
Assembling connectors to triaxial cables is a relatively difficult and time consuming task.

In particular, it is common practice in known triaxial connectors during assembly operations to take reasonable care to properly position the various connector parts relative to each other and, once positioned, to maintain that position during assembly into the cable. It is important to keep

The outer conductor of a coaxial cable often includes a braid of small conductors that lack axial stiffness and stretch and compress under load.

A particular difficulty in assembling known triaxial connectors has been to eliminate relative axial movement of the connector parts, especially the electrical contacts, when attaching the connector to the cable. 1
Axial misalignment of one or more electrical contacts within a connector often results in the connector not mating properly with its mating connector.

Additionally, in many conventional assembly techniques, the ferrules used to crimp the cable's outer conductor to the connector are in the correct position during the crimp operation, making it difficult to properly attach the connector to the cable both electrically and mechanically. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an electrical connector for terminating an electrical cable having a center conductor and a plurality of outer conductors.

According to the invention, electrical connectors for example for triaxial cables and other such cables consisting of coaxial conductors can be easily assembled and the mooring devices provided on the subassembly prevent movement during assembly. It can be made as three sub-assemblies that can be matched together. The mooring device, in this preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a resilient portion that flexes when the subassembly is assembled to the cable and engages a mating subassembly when the subassembly is in correct alignment. have

The electrical connector of the present invention has a center contact device having a conductive center contact adapted to be electrically coupled to a center conductor of a cable; and a center contact device adapted to be electrically coupled to a first outer conductor of said cable. an inner shell device having a conductive inner shell; an outer shell device having a conductive side shell adapted to be electrically coupled to a second outer conductor of the cable; and an outer shell device having a conductive side shell adapted to be electrically coupled to a second outer conductor of the cable; a first mooring device for automatically positioning a contact device and an inner shell device relative to each other; and a second mooring device for automatically positioning the inner shell device and the outer shell device relative to each other when assembling the connector to the cable. Includes mooring equipment.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said connector includes a triaxial connector for terminating a tricycle cable; and said outer shell, inner shell and center contact device are made as separate complete assemblies and require no assembly operation. It includes a subassembly that is connected to the cable as a single unit for great simplicity.

As the subassemblies are positioned relative to each other during the connector assembly operation, the anchoring devices automatically secure the subassemblies in proper axial alignment with each other and attach the subassemblies to the cable. When maintaining correct alignment.

In this preferred embodiment, the first and second mooring devices have first and second split retaining rings on the center contact subassembly and the inner shell subassembly, respectively, and connect said subassemblies to the cable. surfaces of the inner and outer shell subassemblies that engage the first and second split retaining rings, respectively, to axially align the subassemblies during installation. Correct axial alignment of the subassembly body and the electrical contacts therein is therefore ensured when the connector is fully assembled and attached to a cable.

The connector of the present invention also has first and second ferrules for crimping the first outer conductor to the inner shell and for crimping the second outer conductor to the outer shell. In particular, the second ferrule is positioned within the outer shell during the crimping operation, and the second ferrule is provided with a positioning device for ensuring proper positioning of the second ferrule within the outer shell during the crimping operation. The positioning device includes a plurality of recesses on the ferrule for sinking into the dielectric layer of the cable to prevent the second ferrule from shifting during assembly.

In this way, the present invention provides a connector that can be quickly and accurately assembled and attached to a cable. The connector has a built-in structure that maintains the connector components in the correct position during assembly and attachment to the cable for reliable operation.

Other features and details of the invention will be described in connection with the detailed description of the embodiments.

Embodiments FIGS. 1 to 3 show preferred electrical connectors of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view showing the separate assembly of the connector. Figures 2A-2C are exploded views of the outer shell, inner shell, and center contact assembly, respectively, and Figure 2D shows the inner ferrule and intermediate ferrule of the connector. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 1 in an assembled state.

The connector of FIGS. 1-3 is designated generally by the reference numeral IO and includes a triaxial plug connector for terminating a triaxial cable 12. The connector of FIGS. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, triaxial cable 12 has a center conductor 13, an intermediate conductor 14, and an outer conductor 16. As is known to those skilled in the art, the central conductor 13 typically comprises a conductive wire, and the intermediate conductor 14 and outer conductor 16 include annular braided conductors disposed around and shielding the central conductor 13. have

The conductors are electrically insulated from each other by insulating layers 17, 18 and the outer conductor is covered by a jacket 19.

As shown in FIG.
a center contact subassembly 21 adapted to be electrically connected to the center conductor 13 of the intermediate conductor 1;
4, and an outer shell subassembly 23, which is electrically connected to the outer conductor 6. Each of the subassemblies 21, 22, 23 is made as a fully assembled unit and the subassemblies are assembled together to the cable 12 and connector 10 as a unit when installing the connector 10. The outer shell subassembly is shown in FIG. 2A, the inner shell subassembly is shown in FIG. 2B, and the center contact subassembly is shown in FIG. 2C.

Outer shell subassembly 23 includes a conductive outer shell 31, a resilient O-ring 32, an insulating member 33, a collar 34, a conductive bushing 36, and a washer 38, as shown in FIG. 2A. Outer shell 31 is generally annular and has an axial passageway 41 extending from a rear end 42 to a front end 43.

Outer shell 31 is configured to allow cable 12 to enter end 42 of passageway 41 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The outer shell 31 may be made of any electrically conductive material, such as copper or brass, that provides sufficient structural rigidity to the connector, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

It is disposed within an annular groove 44 in shell 31 (shown in FIG. 3) to provide a seal between shell 31 and outer jacket 19 of cable 12 when shell 31 is attached to the end of cable 12. A collar 34, which may be made of brass, is rotatably attached to the outer shell 31 by a washer 38. The washer 38 has matching grooves 45 and 46 provided in the shell 31 and the collar 34, respectively.
Figure 3). Inner side 1 of collar 34
The part has a thread 47, which allows the plug connector 10 to be connected to a mating jack connector, as will be explained later.

An insulating member 33 is located within the enlarged diameter portion 41a of the passageway 41 of the shell 31. Insulating member 33 comprises a tubular member made of a suitable dielectric material, such as polyvinylidene fluoride, and electrically isolates the conductive outer shell from the dielectric inner shell of inner shell subassembly 22.

An inwardly extending annular projection or rib 52 and a rearwardly facing annular shoulder 53 (see FIG. 3) are formed on the insulating member 33, the annular shoulder 53 forming a resilient portion of the inner shell subassembly 22. (e.g. split retaining ring 64).
A second anchoring device 60 is provided for securing the inner and outer shell subassemblies together during assembly of the connector.

A bushing 36 made of brass or other suitable conductive material is mounted within the leading edge of the insulating member 33 and is in electrical contact with the outer shell 31 to serve as the outer contact of the connector. As shown in FIG. 5, a gasket 37 is disposed in the subassembly to seal the gap between the plug connector 12 and the mating jack connector when the two connectors are connected. Gasket 37 is made of silicone rubber or other suitable sealing material.

Said parts 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, including the outer shell subassembly 23, are assembled together as a complete assembly as shown in FIG. Assembled into a shell and center contact subassembly.

Inner shell subassembly 22 as shown in exploded view in FIG. 2B.
includes a conductive inner shell 61 , an insulating member 62 , an intermediate contact 63 and a resilient portion or split retaining ring 64 . Inner shell 61 is adapted to be electrically connected to intermediate braided conductor 14 of cable 12 and includes a generally annular conductive member having an axial passageway 65 therein. An insulating member 62 made of polyvinylidene fluoride, for example, electrically isolates the inner shell 61 from the center contact 81 of the center contact subassembly 21. The insulating member 62 includes an internal undercut forming a forwardly facing annular shoulder 71 (see FIG. 3) that supports the resilient portion of the center contact subassembly 21 (e.g., split retaining ring 82). cooperates to form a first tether 50 of the connector for securing the inner sleeve subassembly and center contact assembly together during assembly. In order to more easily create the undercut for forming the shoulder, the insulating member 62 should be cut into two parts as much as possible, as shown in FIG.
It is made from individual parts 62a and 82b.

Inner shell subassembly 22 further includes a resilient split retaining ring 64 disposed within an annular groove 67 in the outer surface of inner sleeve 61. As best shown in FIG. 3, the retaining ring 64 has a front surface 68 and an outer surface 69 that slopes downwardly from the front surface 68 to a rear surface. The retaining ring 64 cooperates with the shoulder 53 of the insulating member 33 of the outer shell subassembly 23.
The inner and outer shell subassemblies are anchored and secured together and the ambidextrous assemblies are properly aligned during assembly of the connector.

The intermediate contact B3 is fixed to the inner shell 61 by engaging its annular projection 63b into its annular groove Blb. For example, the upper edge of the shell 61 has a groove [i
1b is caulked radially inward to the edge of the protrusion 63b. The contact 63 has a plurality of elastic fingers 63a extending outward from the inner one shell 61. The intermediate contact 63 is adapted to be electrically connected to the intermediate conductor 14 of the cable 12 through the inner shell 61.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the center contact subassembly 21 includes a center contact 81 and a resilient portion or split retaining ring 82. As shown in FIG. As known to those skilled in the art, the center contact 81 includes a socket portion 81a for receiving the exposed end of the center conductor 13 of the cable 12, and a pin portion 81b for engaging the socket center contact of a complementary jack connector. It is equipped with The retaining ring 82 is
It is supported in an annular groove 83 about a center contact 81 and has a rear surface 86 and an angled outer surface 87. Retaining ring 82
is the insulation member 6 of the inner shell subassembly 22 (see FIG. 3).
2 to secure the center contact subassembly and the inner shell subassembly together and to properly axially align the bidirectional assemblies during assembly of the connector 10.

Connector 10 also includes a pair of ferrules 91, 92, as shown in Figure 2D. As shown in Figure 3,
Ferrule 91 cooperates with outer shell 31 to clamp outer conductor 16 between ferrule 91 and the inner surface of outer shell 31. Ferrule 92 cooperates with inner shell 61 to clamp intermediate funductor 14 between ferrule 92 and knurled outer surface 81a of inner shell 61. The ferrule 91 has a plurality of indentations around its leading edge, e.g.
It has several dents.

The recess 93 forms a sharp edge 93a, and this edge 9
3a is formed to allow the ferrule 91 to slide over the intermediate insulating layer 18 of the cable 12 and not to be removed therefrom as will be described later.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention, cable 112.
The jack connector 100 is shown attached to the end of the. Jack connector 100 is capable of engaging plug connector 10 of FIGS. 1-3. Jack connector 100 is similar in construction to plug connector 10, but the main difference lies in the shape of several parts that interconnect to engage the jack and plug connectors, as shown in FIG. Ru.

For example, jack connector 100 includes a center contact 181 configured to receive center pin contact portion 81b of plug connector 10. Additionally, the outer shell 131 of the jack connector 100 has screws 14 on the outside.
7, and when the two connectors are engaged, the collar 3
It is designed to mesh with the female threaded surface 47 of No. 4. However, in all respects relevant to the present invention, jack connector 100 is similar to plug connector 10 and includes a center contact subassembly 121, an inner shell subassembly 1
22, outer shell subassembly 123, first mooring device 150
, a second mooring device 160, an inner ferrule 191, and an intermediate ferrule 192. Therefore, the description of the invention applies equally to the plug connector 10 and the jack connector 100, so that a detailed description of the jack connector is unnecessary.

FIG. 5 shows a plug connector 10 and a jack connector 100 interconnected to connect an electrical circuit, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

6-9 schematically illustrate the procedure for assembling the plug connector 10 and simultaneously attaching it to the tricycle cable 12. Jack connector 100 is assembled to cable 112 in the same manner and will not be further described. Each of the plurality of subassemblies includes one or more surfaces that engage one or more surfaces of another subassembly and are adapted to be assembled together by axial movement along the cable. There is.

Referring to FIG. 6, the outer shell subassembly 23 is slid and rotated over the cable 12 and the front end 4 of the outer shell is rotated.
3 faces the end of the cable to be terminated. A portion 201 of the cable's outer jacket 19 is removed to expose the outer braided conductor 16. The exposed outer conductor 16 is then flared outwardly at portion 201 relative to the base of the outer jacket to expose the underlying intermediate insulating layer 18, as shown in FIG. The second ferrule 91 and the first ferrule 92 are then slid over the exposed intermediate insulating layer 18 and under the expanded outer conductor as shown in the drawing. As will be explained later, in particular the second ferrule is slid as far as possible until it abuts the edge of the jacket 19 near the edge 19 and prevents it from moving further over the cable. . Thereafter, the ferrule 91 cannot be removed from the cable due to its recess 93 engaging the insulation layer 18. As best shown in FIG. 3, the indentation 93 allows the ferrule 91 to slide over the cable, but its sharp edge 93a digs into the intermediate insulation layer 18 and prevents the ferrule from being removed. In this way, the second ferrule 91 is fixed on the cable by the edge of the outer jacket 19, which limits its movement on the cable, and by the indentation 93, which prevents the ferrule from coming off the cable. . 1st ferrule 92
is large enough to loosely surround the cable and slide over it, as shown in FIG.

After assembling the ferrule to the cable, the intermediate insulation layer 18
is peeled off to expose the intermediate braided conductor 14. Further, the conductor 14 is expanded outward to expose the inner insulating layer 17, as shown in FIG. The end portion 203 of the inner insulating layer 17 is then peeled off to expose a portion of the central conductor 13.

Following the process shown in FIG. 6, the outer shell subassembly 23 is loosely placed on the outer jacket of the cable 12.

Each conductor of the cable is exposed and two ferrules 91,92 are slid over the intermediate insulation layer 18 of the cable. The second ferrule 91 is fixed to the insulating layer 18, and the first ferrule 92 is loosely attached to the insulating layer 18.
be placed on top.

The next step in the assembly process is to attach the center contact subassembly 21 to the center conductor 13, as shown in FIG. In particular, in FIG. 7, the center conductor 13 is inserted into the conductor receiving portion 81a of the center contact 81 and the center contact is crimped onto said conductor using a suitable crimping die 212, shown schematically.

Referring to FIG. 8, the installed center contact subassembly 21 is then placed behind the inner shell subassembly 22, with the inner shell subassembly 22 being inserted into the inner insulating layer 17.
is inserted until it touches the end 203 of. An inner shell subassembly 22 is placed below the flared intermediate conductor 14. When the center contact subassembly is inserted into the inner shell subassembly, the inner surface of the insulating member 62 of the inner shell subassembly presses against the sloped surface of the split resilient retaining ring 82 and causes the ring 82 to contract annularly. , center contact assembly 2
Continue inserting 1. However, when the retaining ring 82 comes off the shoulder 71 of the insulating member 62, the retaining ring 82
2 flare outwardly to engage shoulder 71, thus forming a mooring device 50 to prevent subsequent rearward exit of the center contact subassembly from the inner shell subassembly and to secure the center contact subassembly from the inner shell subassembly. The solid body and inner shell subassembly are properly axially aligned and secured to each other. The center contact subassembly and the inner shell subassembly are thus properly aligned and secured to each other by the edge 203 of the inner insulating layer 17 and the first anchoring device 50. When the subassembly is secured, the first ferrule 92 moves forward (eighth) over the expanded intermediate conductor 14.
(Fig. 3), and the ferrule collides with the rearward facing shoulder (213) of the inner shinir 61 (Fig. 3). In this position, ferrule 92 is positioned with braided intermediate conductor 14 between the outer surface of inner shell 81 and the inner surface of ferrule 92. The ferrule is then crimped to the inner shell using a crimping tool 214 shown schematically in FIG. 8 to secure the intermediate conductor therebetween. Tool 214
The width of ferrule 92 exceeds the axial length of ferrule 92 and a portion of the braid is shown.

The outer shell subassembly 23 is then slid forward over the inner shell subassembly 22. When the outer shell subassembly is slid over the inner shell subassembly, the elastic split retaining ring 64 of the inner shell subassembly causes the ribs of the outer shell subassembly to engage the sloped surfaces of the ring 64. 52 , and the retaining ring 64 is removed from the shoulder 53 of the guide member 33 . Next, retaining ring 6
4 flare outwardly to axially engage shoulder 53, thus forming a second mooring device 60 to prevent subsequent retraction of outer shell subassembly 23 relative to inner shell subassembly 22. To prevent. The outwardly projecting shoulder 220 of the inner shell 61 prevents further advancement of the outer shell subassembly. The inner and outer shell subassemblies are thus properly axially aligned and secured to each other by the shoulder 220 of the inner shell 61 and the second anchorage 60. In this state, the second ferrule 91 is automatically correctly positioned under the portion 31a of the outer shell 31 (see FIG. 3), and the outer conductor is crimped therebetween by the crimping tool 219 shown in FIG. .

The outer shell 31 is also crimped by the crimping tool 222 at the shell portion 31b (see FIG. 3) against the outer jacket 19 of the cable to relieve strain. In this way, during assembly, the double mooring device 5 (1,80) holds the parts of the connector axially aligned and in conjunction with said double mooring device provides a reliable electrical connection to the conductor of the cable. .

While what has been described above constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the invention may take many other forms. For example, although a three-ring connector is described herein, the present invention may also be implemented with a coaxial connector. The first and second mooring devices 50,60 may also take other forms.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a partially exploded view of the electrical plug connector of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the outer shell subassembly of FIG. 1; and FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the inner shell subassembly of FIG. 1. 2C is an exploded view of the center contact subassembly of FIG. 1, FIG. 2D is an exploded view of the ferrule of the connector of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an assembled cross-section of the connector of FIG. 1. Figure, 4th
The figure is a sectional view of a jack connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a combination of the plug connector of FIG. 3 and the jack connector of FIG. 4, and FIGS. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the process of assembling the connector to the end of the triaxial cable. 10... Connector 12... Triaxial cable 1
3... Center conductor 14... Intermediate conductor 1
6...Outer conductor 17.1111...Insulating layer 19...Jacket 21...Center contact subassembly 22...Inner shell subassembly 23...Outer shell subassembly 31... Outer shell 32...0 ring 34...
... Collar 38 ... Washer 41 ... Axial passage 42 ... Rear end 43 ... Front end
44...Annular groove 45.48...Groove 47.
... Screw 50 ... First mooring device 52 ... Rib 5
3...Shoulder part 60...Second mooring device 61
... Inner shell 62 ... Insulating layer 64 ... Retaining ring 67 ... Annular groove 68 ... Front surface
71... Shoulder part 81... Center contact 82
... Retaining ring 91 ... Ferrule 92 ...
- Ferrule 93...dent 100...jack connector 112...cable

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) a conductive inner shield (14) concentrically surrounded by an outer dielectric layer (18) concentrically surrounded by a conductive outer shield (16) concentrically surrounded by an insulating outer jacket (19); ) an electrical cable (12) having a central conductor (13) surrounded concentrically by
an electrical connector assembly (10) for connecting to said center conductor (13), comprising a center contact (81) connected to said center conductor (13) and an inner shell subassembly (22) connected to said inner shield (14); ) and an electrically conductive inner ferrule (91), an outer shell subassembly (23) coupled to said outer shield (16), and an electrically conductive intermediate ferrule (92); said inner shell subassembly (22) having a conductive inner shell (61) with a conductive intermediate contact (63);
Said conductive inner shell (61) connects said inner shield (1
4) an insulating member (62) extending concentrically below the front end of the insulating member (62) and extending concentrically over the center contact (81) and over the inner dielectric layer (17); the insulating member (62) of the inner shell subassembly (22) extends concentrically below the inner shell (61) and extends concentrically below the forward end of the inner shield (14); and wherein said intermediate ferrule (92) concentrically surrounds a front end of said inner shield (14). (2) an end of the inner ferrule (91) faces the front end of the outer dielectric layer (18);
) has an inner edge circumferentially surrounding said outer dielectric layer (18) and has a radially inward recess (93) in said outer dielectric layer (18), said inner ferrule having a radially inward recess (93) in said outer dielectric layer (18); (16) and said outer shell subassembly (23) extends concentrically beneath the forward end of said outer shield (16).
2. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a radially inwardly deformed portion (31a) which concentrically surrounds and compressively engages the front end of the electrical connector assembly. (3) said insulating member (62) of said inner shell subassembly (22) has an inner surface and an inwardly forward facing annular shoulder (71), and said center contact (81) has a retaining ring (81);
2), wherein the retaining ring is attached to the inner shell subassembly (
Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining ring (82) has an external inclined surface for slidably assembling the retaining ring (82) along the interior of the insulating member (62) of the claim 22). An electrical connector assembly (10) as described. (4) a conductive outer shell (31) in which said outer shell subassembly (23) concentrically surrounds a cylindrical insulating member (33);
and the insulating member (33) is connected to the inner shell (61
) and a radially inwardly projecting rib (52) in the space between the shoulder (220) of the inner shell (61) and the retaining ring (64) of the inner shell (61); Any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ring (64) has an outer inclined surface on which the rib (52) of the insulating member (33) slides. The electrical connector assembly (10) according to paragraph 1. (5) said inner shell subassembly (23) surrounding and attached to said inner shell (61) a retaining ring (6);
4), wherein said retaining ring (64) has a forward facing shoulder (68) axially spaced relative to the rear of the rearward facing shoulder (220) of said inner shell (61). An electrical connector assembly (10) according to any one of ranges 1 to 4. (6) the intermediate ferrule (92) concentrically surrounds and compressively engages the front end of the inner shield (14);
a front end of the inner shield (14) concentrically surrounds and compressively engages the front end of the intermediate ferrule (92);
The intermediate ferrule (92) and the inner shield (14)
) and the rear end of the intermediate ferrule (92) diverge radially inwardly from the insulating member (33) of the outer shell subassembly (23) such that the insulating member (33) of the outer shell subassembly (23) 6. An electrical connector assembly (10) according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that the rib (52) of the connector (33) is configured to be slidable.