WO2008012608A1

WO2008012608A1 - Connecting system and method for establishing a ground connection

Info

Publication number: WO2008012608A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/054097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harald Pankau; Thomas Bernhard Pabst
Original assignee: Fci
Priority date: 2006-07-24
Filing date: 2006-07-24
Publication date: 2008-01-31

Abstract

The invention regards Connecting System and a method for establishing a ground connection. The Connecting System is for Connecting a plurality of cables (12) to a common ground (2) and comprises a Connecting means (3, 3') with a housing (4, 4') for accommodating connectors (11) of said cables (12) and an electric conductor (5) for Connecting said cables (12) to said common ground (2). Said electric conductor (5) comprises a plurality of contact pins (6, 6'). Said connectors comprise a connector housing and a contact (13) for electrical connection of said cable (12) to one of said contact pins (6, 6'). the connector housing comprises a first securing means (15, 15') for cooperating with a second securing means (16, 16') of said housing (4, 40, 4', 40'). For establishing a ground connection at first a contact is secured to a cable. The contact (13) is then inserted into a channel of a connector housing. The Connecting means (3, 3') is mounted onto a common ground (2) an the connectors (11) are inserted into the respective chambers (10) of the Connecting means (3, 3').

Description

Connecting system and method for establishing a ground connection

The invention regards a connecting system and method for connecting a plurality of cables to a common ground, in particular in a vehicle.

In particular for automotive applications it is recessary to use a common ground for a number of different and maybe independent consumer loads. The bodywork of cars is in most cases made of steel. Thus, it is advantageous to use the steel body of a car as a common ground. Consequently the consumer loads have to be connected electrically to the steel body of said car. Besides the well known technique that each of the cables which connect the consumer loads to the common ground is equipped with a crimped ear that is connected to the steel body individually, it is known from DE 198 37 314 Al to connect a number of electrical components to the common ground by use of a common connecting means. The connecting means comprises a metallic conductor within a plastic housing and a number of contact pins. Connecting said electric components to the common ground is performed by using contacts connected to cables, said contacts being connected to contact pins of the connecting means. The electrical contact and the mechanical fixation are both performed by the clamping between the contact and the contact pin. This results in high forces necessary for attaching or disconnecting the contact to or from the contact pin. Furthermore a sealed connection is impossible.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connecting system and a method for ground connection in a vehicle, which is easy to manufacture and which can furthermore be attached and detached easily.

According to the present invention the problem is solved by a connecting system according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 16.

The connecting system comprises a connecting means with a housing for accommodating a plurality of connectors of cables that are to be connected to said common ground. Furthermore the connecting means comprises an electric conductor for connecting said cables to said common ground. Preferably the electric conductor is cut from a single metal part, comprises a plurality of contact pins and is accommodated inside said housing. The connectors comprise a connector housing and a contact that is connected to said cable and inserted into the connector housing. The connector housing comprises a first securing means cooperating with a second securing means of said housing when the connector is inserted into the connecting means. An advantage of the connecting system according to the present invention is that mechanical fixation of the grounding cables to the common ground is separated from the electrical contact function. Thus, it is easy to connect each single cable to tie connecting means, inclusive where space is scarce. This connecting means is further easy to mount on a surface of a vehicle body thereby bringing the contacting surface in contact with the common ground and to connect a number of cables thereafter. Mounting of the cable connectors on the ground cables or cable harnesses on one side, and mounting of the connecting means on the vehicle with subsequent connecting of the cable connectors on the other side, can therefore be easily performed at different locations. The housing itself can be of a slim shape nevertheless arranging a plurality of contact pins in a manner that a high number of connectors and cables can be connected to the electric conductor.

Preferred embodiments are claimed in the sub-claims.

It is especially advantageous that the connector housing accommodates a first sealing for sealing a gap between a channel wall of said connector housing in which a cable is inserted together with a contact that is attached to the cable. The first sealing, which seals the gap between the cable and the connector housing, prevents water from intruding into said channel and thereby corrosion at the contact.

The first sealing preferably comprises a sealing section and a fixing section. Thus, the functions of sealing the gap and fixing the sealing to the cable are separated from each other and the sealing function is not affected by the fixation of the first sealing to the cable.

The contact furthermore comprises preferably a pair of fixing elements whereby the fixing elements are made for crimping the fixing section of the first sealing to the cable.

The sealing section preferably provides the plurality of sealing lips, which improves the sealing effect.

According to another preferred embodiment of the connecting systems a second sealing is provided on the connecting means' side. The second sealing is arranged inside an accommodating chamber in such a way that a contact pin protrudes through the second sealing. The second sealing preferably lies on an end wall of the respective chamber. It is a further advantage that the electric conductor comprises the plurality of contact pins and the protruding ear as a stamped metal strip and said stamped metal strip is enclosed in the housing by injection molding said electric conductor as an insert. The advantage of injection molding the metal strip as an insert is that only two different elements have to be combined in order to achieve the connecting means. In a first step the metal strip is stamped and bent so that the contacting surface of the protruding ear is positioned in the correct height with respect to the contact pins. The electric conductor is thereafter enclosed inside the housing by injection molding. Because the contacting surface is arranged on a surface of said protruding ear it is possible to design the housing itself with respect to the connectors that are used for connecting the cables. Furthermore the arrangement of the protruding ear at a side surface of the connecting means allows different functional designs for fixing said connecting means to a surface of a steel car body.

It is a further advantage to provide the stamped metal strip with a number of contact pins that are arranged in at least two groups the two groups of contact pins extending to opposite sides of a support line of the stamped metal strip. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the connectors that are connected to the contact pins are extending to opposite sides of the connecting means. This results in an arrangement of a high number of connectors with very small space needed. Such a design is especially advantageous if the contact pins and the support line are being arranged in a common plane. The resulting overall height of the housing is therefore reduced to a minimum.

It is furthermore an advantage to arrange the protruding ear either in the same plane in which the contact pins are being arranged or in a plane parallel to said first plane. With the protruding ear arranged in a second plane parallel to the first plane it is easy to adjust the difference in level between the contacting surface of the protruding ear and the plane in which the contact pins are arranged and thereby adapt the connecting means with respect to the used connectors.

For accommodating the connectors a plurality of accommodating chambers is provided in the housing. The accommodating chambers are separated from each other by plastic walls guiding the connector when the contact is connected to the contacting pin. The connection between the cable and the electric conductor and thereby between the cable and the common ground can be made easily without the risk of an assembly error when inserting the connector. A high reliability of the achieved connection is the result thereof.

Each of the accommodating chambers comprises furthermore a securing means for cooperating with a securing means of an accommodated connector. Such a securing means of a connector is advantageously a clip which snaps into a recess of the housing but allowing to disconnect the connector again.

According to another preferred embodiment the housing comprises a first surface and a second surface parallel to each other. On the first surface there are arranged protruding elements corresponding to recessed portions provided in the second surface of the housing of said connecting means. As a consequence the connecting means are stackable so that in case that there is only a small area on which the connecting means can be mounted inside the car the number of contacting pins can be increased by stacking more than one connecting means on top of each other. Use of protruding elements together with recessed portions allows easy mounting to the car body. Because of the protruding element cooperating with recessed portions the stacked connecting means have precisely defined positions with respect to each other. Consequently both the protruding ears of each individual connecting means are arranged in a well defined position thereby allowing easy mounting. Furthermore both connecting means provide good accessibility.

It is furthermore an advantage to injection mold the protruding ear only in parts such that a first contacting surface and a second contacting surface are left uncovered. The first and second contacting surfaces are formed by opposing sides of the protruding ear. Thus it is possible to bring the first contacting surface into contact with the car body easily and use the second surface of the protruding ear to establish a connection to a first contacting surface of a second contacting means stacked upon the first contacting means by means of a bushing.

Another preferred embodiment comprises a snap fit for securing the connecting means to a common ground such as a steel car body. The snap fit is preferably part of the molded housing and is arranged at one side of the connecting means corresponding to the protruding ear. Another preferred embodiment further comprises a first coupling element and a second coupling element on a side opposed to the protruding ear for coupling two identical connecting means to a connecting unit.

In another preferred embodiment two such connecting means forming a connecting unit comprise a common support line. On both opposite ends of such a common support line a protruding ear is arranged. Such a connecting unit is preferably symmetric. Consequently a first housing and a second housing is provided in such a connecting unit both housings being connected to each other by an injection molded enclosure surrounding said common support line. The support line and the common enclosure can be cut thereby producing two separate connecting means. Preferred embodiments of the inventive connecting means and the connecting unit are shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective of a connecting system according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a second perspective drawing of a connecting means according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective drawing of a first surface of a connecting means; Fig. 4 is a perspective drawing of a second embodiment of a connecting unit; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the snap fit according to the connecting means of the second embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a perspective drawing of two connecting means according to the first embodiment stacked; Fig. 7 is a perspective drawing of two stacked connecting means according to the second embodiment; Fig. 8 is a perspective drawing of two connecting means according to the second embodiment connected in line; Fig. 9 is an assembly drawing of a connector and housing for use with the inventive connecting means; and

Fig. 10 is a second perspective drawing of the connector housing of fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a cross- sectional view of a part of a connecting means and a connector and Fig. 12 is a perspective drawing of a pre-assembled unit.

In fig. 1 there is illustrated a first embodiment of a connecting unit 1. For a better understanding of the inner composition of the connecting unit 1 a part of a housing thereof is cut out. The connecting unit 1 is arranged on a part of a vehicle body 2 which is used as a common ground for electric components used in the car. The connecting unit 1 comprises a first connecting means 3 and a second connecting means 3'. The first and second connecting means 3, 3' are built in the same way and may be used either together or alone.

The first connecting means 3 comprises a first housing 4 and a first electric conductor 5. The first electric conductor 5 comprises a plurality of contact pins 6, all of them connected to each other by a common support line 20. The support line 20 B arranged in the center of two groups of contact pins 6. Because of the cut out portion of the connecting means 3 a first group of contact pins 6 is visible. Other contact pins of a second group are arranged inside the first housing 4 and cannot be seen therefore. At one end of the common support line 20 an ear 7 is located. The ear 7 is of a flat shape and is fixed by a bolt and nut arrangement to the car body 2. The ear 7 protrudes from the first housing 4 at one side and is arranged in line with support line 20. The support line 20 is bent twice in such a way that the part of the support line 20 which supports the contact pins 6 is parallel to the car body 2 but spaced there from.

The first electric conductor 5 is injection molded in the first housing 4. The first connecting means 3 is secured to the car body 2 by means of a nut 9 which is threaded onto a bolt 8 that is welded to the car body 2.

The second connecting means 3' is identical to the first connecting means 3. A further description of identical elements of the second connecting means 3' which are designated with corresponding reference numerals indicated by an inverted comma is omitted.

The first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' each comprise a first end 21, 21' being arranged at opposite ends of the resulting connecting unit 1. Second ends 22, 22' of the first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' abut each other. According to the preferred embodiment as shown in fig. 1 the first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' are connected to each other by use of a common electric conductor 5. The support line 20 of the electric conductor connects the first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' by means of a bridging part 18 which is injection molded by an enclosure 19.

The connecting unit 1 as shown in fig. 1 can either be used for connecting up to 20 cables to the common ground. Or as an alternative the support line 20 and therefore the connecting means 3, 3' can be separated by cutting off the first connecting means 3 from the second connecting means 3'. As projecting ears 7, T are provided at a first end 21 of the first connecting means 3 and a first end 21' of the second connecting means 3' each of the first and second connecting means 3, 3' can be used individually.

For connecting cables 12 to the support line 20 and thus to the common ground a cable 12 is crimped to a contact 13 which builds the terminal end of said cable 12. The crimped contact 13 is inserted into a connector housing which builds together with the crimped contact a connector 11. The connector 11 comprises a securing means with an elastic clip 14 with securing hooks 15 projecting there from. The connector 11 is inserted into an accommodating chamber 10' in which one of the plurality of contact pins 6' protrudes from an end wall 17'. By inserting the connector 11 a conducting connection between the common ground 2 and the cable 12 is achieved via the contact pins 6, 6' and the respective contact 13. The connector 11 is inserted until a front surface of the connector 11 is prevented from further inserting by the end wall 17' of the accommodating chamber 10'. An upper wall of the accommodating chamber 10' provides a recess 16' as securing means that cooperates with the securing hooks 15 of the elastic clip 14 for securing the connector 11 inside the accommodating chamber 10'.

If a water proof connection is necessary a first sealing is arranged on the cable side and the contact pin 6 is surrounded by a sealing which is arranged between the end wall 17 and the front surface of connector 11. Such an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to figs. 11 and 12.

In fig. 2 there is shown a further perspective drawing of a connecting unit 1. As it can be seen easily in fig. 2 both the first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' comprise a plurality of accommodating chambers 10, 10'. The accommodating chambers 10 of the first connecting means 3 are divided into two groups that allow inserting connectors 11 from opposite sides of the connecting means 3. Each of the accommodating chambers 10 is provided with a recess 16 for securing the connector 11 in the corresponding accommodating chamber 10. According to the necessary cross sectional area of the contact pin the width of said contacting pins may be different. Consequently the width of the accommodating chambers 10 is adapted to the width of said contacting pins 6 inside the respective chambers 10. The contact pins may be for example blades with a width of 2,8 mm or 4,8 mm.

It is especially preferred to enclose the outer part of the protruding ear 7 in a plastic cover 23. The plastic cover 23 is produced in a single molding step together with the first housing 4. In the especially preferred embodiment as shown in fig. 2 the plastic cover 23, the first housing 4, the second housing 4' and the second plastic cover 23' are produced in a single injection molding step thereby injection molding a single metal strip that integrally forms the contact pins 6, 6', the support line 20 and the protruding ears 7, 7'.

The plastic covers 23 leave part of the protruding ear T uncovered. The uncovered part provides a mounting hole 24. An inner diameter D of the plastic cover 23 is wider than the diameter of the mounting hole 24. Thus, the protruding ear 7 comprises an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 27. Protruding ear T of the second connecting means 3' is built in the same way.

The lower surface 27 is shown in fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a perspective drawing of a first connecting means 3 from a first surface 28 which abuts the car body 2 in case that the connecting means 3 is mounted on a car body 2. The lower surface 27 of the protruding ear 7 projects a little bit above the first surface 28 of the first housing 4 of first connecting means 3. Near the second end 22 of the first connecting means 3 there are arranged protruding elements 29 which protrude from the first surface 28 to the same extent as the first surface 27 of the protruding ear 7. Therefore the first surface 28 of the housing 4 is mounted parallel to a car body but with a small distance. The protruding elements 29 together with the projecting first surface 27 of the protruding ear 7 ensures that the first surface 27 is in contact with the car body or the respective common ground used for the connecting means 3.

The housing 4 further comprises a second surface not shown in fig. 3 being arranged in parallel to the first surface 28. The recesses 16 for securing the connectors 11 into the connecting means 3 are arranged in this second surface.

It is thereby possible to release the connectors 11 by pushing down the elastic clips 14 even if the connecting means 3 is mounted in a vehicle. The elastic clips 14 are still accessible from the upper side of the connecting means 3. As the mechanical fixation is separated from the electric contact low forces are needed to connect and disconnect the connection.

The position of the protruding elements 29 correspond to the position of the recesses 25 on the second surface of the housing 4. Consequently when two connecting means 3, 3' are stacked upon each other the protruding elements 29 fit into the recesses 25 thereby aligning the mounting holes 24 of the protruding ears 7 of the respective stacked connecting means 3, 3'.

A further preferred embodiment of a connecting unit 1 using two connecting means 3, 3' aligned is shown in fig. 4. Same elements are designated with the same reference numerals. To avoid unnecessary repetition another detailed description thereof is omitted.

Contrary to the first embodiment the housing 40 comprises a snap fit which is accommodated in a lateral extension 30 of the housing 40. The lateral extension 30 thereby covers the upper surface 26 of the protruding ear 7. For securing the connecting means 3 or the entire connecting unit 1' consisting of a first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' the lateral extension 30 may be secured by use of a nut 9 being threaded on a bolt 8. A cross sectional view of a part of the connecting means 3 is shown in fig. 5.

It is shown that the lateral extension 30 comprises a through hole through which bolt 8 protrudes. At least at one side of the through hole there is provided an elastic element 31 in the lateral extension 30 tapering the cross section of said through hole. At the upper end of elastic element 31 there is provided a nose 32. Corresponding to nose 3 the bolt 8 comprises a groove which is not visible in the illustrated embodiment.

When the connecting means 3 is mounted the nose 32 and thereby the elastic element 31 is pushed aside by bolt 8. If the connecting means 3 is in contact with the car body

2 the nose 32 snaps into the corresponding groove of bolt 8 and the connecting means

3 is already mounted.

Fig. 6 shows another example of a connecting unit consisting of two identical connecting means 3, 3'. The connecting means 3, 3', which are designed according to the first embodiment as explained with respective figs. 1 to 3 are stacked upon each other. Thereby the protruding elements 29' arranged on a first surface 28' of the upper connecting element 3' is located in the corresponding recesses 25 of the lower connecting means 3. If the depth of the recesses 25 and the height of the protruding elements 29' are identical then the first surface 28 of the upper connecting means 3' is in contact with the second surface of the lower connecting means 3. Between the protruding ear 7 of the lower connecting means 3 and the protruding ear T of the upper connecting means 3' a bushing 33 is arranged. The outer diameter of the bushing 33 is smaller than the inner diameter D of the plastic cover 23. The bushing 33 has the shape of a hollow cylinder with a first front face being in contact with the upper surface 26 of the lower connecting means 3 and a second front face opposed to the first front face in contact with the lower surface 27' of the protruding ear T of the upper connecting means 3'. Both the lower and the upper connecting means 3, 3' are secured by means of a common nut 9 threaded onto the threaded bolt 8.

The support line 20, 20' of the upper connecting means 3' and the lower connecting means 3 are connected both to the car body 2. The support line 20 of the lower connecting means 3 is connected directly by a direct contact between the first surface 28 which is the lower surface 27 of the protruding ear 7. The upper connecting means 3' is connected indirectly by means of bushing 33 which is made of a conductive material such as steel for example.

Fig. 7 shows another example for stacking two connecting means 3, 3'. Instead of bushing 33 another bushing 33' is provided to allow a conductive connection between common ground and the first surface 27' of the protruding ear T of the upper connecting means 3'. As the snap fit which is built inside the lateral extension 30' needs a defined stop position bushing 33' comprises a radial extension 34. Bushing 33' is inserted into the through hole of the lower connecting means 3 preferably. Together with the first connecting means 3 the bushing 33' is set on bolt 8 with the lower front face of bushing 33' in contact with the upper surface 26 of the protruding ear 7 of the lower connecting means 3. Bushing 33' may either comprise a recess for allowing nose 32 to protrude through said recess into a groove of bolt 8 or it simply pushes the elastic element 31 aside. For securing both connecting means 3, 3' to a vehicle it is sufficient that nose 32' of elastic element 31' of the upper connecting means 3' snaps into a respective groove of bolt 8.

In fig. 8 there is shown a first connecting means 3 and a second connecting means 3' that are arranged in line. Both the connecting means 3, 3' are secured individually to respective bolts 8, 8'. At the second ends 22, 22' of the first connecting means 3 and the second connecting means 3' there are provided a first coupling means' 35 and a second coupling means' 36, 36'. In an especially preferred embodiment the first and second coupling means 35, 35' and 36, 36' are formed to build a tongue and groove joint. Thus, two identical connecting means 3 and 3' may be connected to each other to form a single connecting unit 1" which can be mounted into a vehicle more easily. As in such a case the two connecting means 3, 3' do not comprise a common support line 20 both ends have to be fixed individually thereby establishing a conductive contact between the lower surfaces 27, 27' of the respective protruding ears 7, T and the car body 2.

The coupling elements 35, 36 and 35', 36' are preferably arranged in a vertical direction with respect to the first and second surfaces 28 of the first connecting means and the second connecting means 3, 3' respectively.

Fig. 9 and 10 show an example for a connector 11 for use together with an inventive connecting means but without sealing. Connector 11 comprises a connector housing 39 in which a channel 41 of a rectangular shape is arranged. A contact 13 which is preferably crimped to a cable 12 is inserted into said channel 41. To avoid unintentional pulling out of the cable 12 a contact positioning means 42 is used.

The connector housing 39 is provided with a positioning means 43 which is hinged at a first end of the connector housing 39. When the contact 13 is inserted into said channel 41 the positioning means 43 is pivoted thereby positioning the contact 13 correctly inside the channel 41. The positioning means 43 is provided with a snap fit keeping it in its closed position after being pivoted inside the connector housing 39. The positioning means 43 is preferably located on an opposite side of the elastic clip 14.

In fig. 11 there is illustrated an embodiment for connecting a cable 12 to said common ground 2 with a contacting area between contact pins 6, 6' and contact 13, which is connected to the cable 12 being sealed. In order to achieve the sealed contacting area a first sealing 50 is pushed onto a cable 12 before a cable 12 is connected to contact 13. The first sealing 50 comprises a sealing section 52 and a fixing section 53 successively arranged in axial direction.

When contact 13 and thereby cable 12 is inserted into chamber 41' a gap between the cable 12 and a channel wall 51 of a circular chamber 41' is sealed by sealing section

52.

The first sealing 50 comprises the sealing section 52 and the fixing section which extends axially from the sealing section 52. In the preferred illustrated embodiment the sealing section 52 is made of three sealing lips extending in a radial direction from cable 12.

The first sealing 50 is fixed at cable 12 by crimping contact 13 t> cable 12. For crimping contact 13 to cable 12 contact 13 comprises two crimping sections 54, 55 with a pair of securing elements each. The first crimping section 54 is provided for establishing an electrical connection between contact 13 and the stranded wire of cable 12. The second crimping section 55 is provided for fixing contact 13 to the isolation of cable 12 and for absorbing mechanical forces.

When mounting the first sealing 50 on said cable 12 the first sealing 50 is positioned in that the fixing section 53 is near the end of the isolation of cable 12. Thus, the fixing section 53 of the first sealing 50 is fixed to cable 12 by means of the second crimping section 55 of contact 13.

It is not necessary that contact 13 provides a first crimping section 54 and a second crimping section 55. It is especially possible to provide only the second crimping section 55 for fixing the first sealing 50 to cable 12. The electrical connection between the stranded wire and contact 13 may also be established for example by soldering.

In order to provide good sealing characteristics the outer diameter of the sealing section 52 is larger than the inner diameter of channel 41'.

Contact 13 comprises contact positioning means 42 in a well-known manner to prevent cable 12 being pulled out the connector housing 39'. In the same way the connector 39' is secured to housing 4, 4' of connecting means 3, 3' by means of an elastic element 14' and especially hooks 15 projecting therefrom.

Connector housing 39' comprises a front surface 56 which is preferably of a flat shape and with a slit 57 therein. The slit 57 is provided for allowing a contact pin 6, 6' protruding through the front surface 56 thereby being inserted into contact 13 and establishing an electric connection between common ground 2 and cable 12.

Between the front surface 56 and end wall 17 of chamber 16 there is arranged a second sealing 58 that is shown in dotted lines in fig. 11. The second sealing 58 is mounted inside chamber 16, 16' and surrounds contact 6, 6' which protrudes through the second sealing 58. When connector 11 is inserted into chamber 16, 16' after the connecting means 3, 3' in fixed to a vehicle body the protruding contact pin 6, 6' is inserted into contact 13 and front surface 56 is brought into contact with a second sealing 58. The second sealing 58 is compressed a little bit until protruding hooks 15 engage with another securing element which is provided on the housing side of connecting means 3, 3'. In the illustrated embodiment of fig. 11 the securing element is provided by a nose 59 on the open end side of chamber 10.

The length of connector housing 39' and the position of hooks 15 respectively is adjusted in such a way with the thickness of the second sealing 58 that a small compressing force is executed onto the second sealing 58. As the contact pins 6, 6' protruding from the housing 4, 4', 40, 40' of the connecting means 3, 3' and the housing 4, 4', 40, 40' is sealed against the connector housing 39' by means of the second sealing 58 and on the other side the first sealing 50 prevents water from intruding from the cable side a sealed connection between cable 12 and common ground 2 is provided.

In fig. 12 there is shown a pre-assembled unit 60, 60' comprising cable 12 and connector 13 which is fastened by crimping to cable 12 and at the same time fixing the first sealing 50 on said cable 12. The pre-assembled unit 59 which is shown into slightly different embodiments is then inserted into connector housing 39'.

In order to achieve a ground connection of cable 12, 12' to common ground 2 there is first assembled the pre-assembled unit as shown in fig. 12. After inserting the pre- assembled unit 60, 60' the ground connection can be established when a vehicle is assembled. A pre-assembled wiring harness is delivered by a supplier and the connection is established on the car manufacturer side. Therefore a connecting unit or a connecting means 3, 3' is mounted onto a car body. Afterwards the different connectors 11 of different cables 12 of one or more wiring harnesses are inserted into the corresponding chambers 10, 10' thereby establishing a ground connection to common ground 2. As it is evident from the afore standing description a combination with the illustrated embodiments single features of the preferred embodiments may be combined in another than the illustrated way.

Claims

Claim

1. Connecting system for connecting a plurality of cables (12) to a common ground (2), the connecting system comprising a connecting means (3, 3') having an electric conductor (5) for connecting said cables to said common ground (2) said electric conductor (5) comprising a plurality of contact pins (6,

6'), characterized in that said connecting means (3, 3') comprises a housing (4, 40, 4', 40') for accommodating connectors (11) of said cables (12) and that said connectors comprise a connector housing (39, 39') and a contact (13) for electrical connection of said cable (12) to one of said contact pins (6, 6'), the connector housing (39, 39') comprising a first securing means (15, 15') for cooperating with a second securing means (16, 16') of said housing (4, 40, 4', 40').

2. Connecting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the connector housing (39, 39') accommodates a first sealing (50, 50') for sealing a gap between a channel wall (51) and said cable (12) which is introduced in a channel (41).

3. Connecting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second sealing (58) is provided in said housing (4, 40, 4', 40') of the connecting means (3, 3') and that said connecting pin (6, 6') protrudes through said second sealing (58).

4. Connecting system according to claim 1, characterized in that said electric conductor (5) comprises an ear (7, V) protruding from said housing (4, 40, 4', 40') and having at least one contacting surface (27) which is connectable to said common ground (2).

5. Connecting system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said electric conductor (5) is a stamped metal strip and that said stamped metal strip is enclosed in said housing (4, 40, 4', 40') by injection molding said electric conductor (5) as an insert.

6. Connecting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stamped metal strip comprises at least two groups of contact pins (6, 6') the groups of contact pins (6, 6') extending to opposite sides of a support line (20).

7. Connecting system according to claim 6, characterized in that said contact pins (6, 6') of both groups are arranged in one common plane with the support line (20).

8. Connecting system according to claim 7, characterized in that said ear (7, 7') is arranged in the same plane as the contact pins (6, 6') or that said ear (7, 7') is arranged in a second plane parallel to said plane.

9. Connecting system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (4, 40, 4', 40') provides a plurality of accommodating chambers (10, 10') for accommodating a connector (11) each.

10. Connecting means according to claim 9, characterized in that at each of the accommodation chambers (10, 10') comprise a recess (16, 16') as second securing means for cooperating with said first securing means (15) of an accommodated connector (11).

11. Connecting system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (4, 40, 4', 40') comprises a first surface (28) an a second surface parallel to each other and that protruding elements (29) are arranged on said first surface (28) corresponding to recessed portions (25) provided on said second surface the protruding elements (28) cooperating with said recessed portions (25) in such that identical connecting means (3, 3a) are stackable.

12. Connecting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ear (7, 7') is injection molded in parts leaving a first contact surface (27) and a second contact surface (26) uncovered the first contact surface (27) and said protruding elements (29) defining a third plane parallel to said first surface (28).

13. Connecting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (4, 40, 4', 40') provides a snap fit in a lateral extension (31) for securing said connecting means (3, 3') to said common ground (2).

14. Connecting system according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that an end of said housing (4, 40, 4', 40') opposed to said ear (7, V) provides a first coupling element (35, 35') an a second coupling element (36, 36') for coupling two of said connecting means (3, 3') to a connecting unit (1, 1').

15. Connecting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that two connecting means (3, 3') as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprise a common stamped metal strip (5).

16. Method of establishing a ground connection in a vehicle for at least one cable comprising the steps of:

- fixing a contact (13) to a cable (12) - inserting said contact (13) into a connector housing (39, 39') for assembling a connector (11)

- mounting a connecting means (3, 3') to a vehicle body (2)

- inserting said connector (3, 3') into said connecting means (3, 3').

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that said connecting means (3, 3') is secured to said vehicle body (2) by attaching a snap fit onto a vehicle mounted bolt.