Patent Application
20080003851
The invention relates to a cable connector for electrically conductingly connecting a plurality of separate cables which each comprise an insulation and electrical conductors.
DE 41 15 020 C3 describes a connecting sleeve which is made of an electrically conducting material and which comprises a front cylindrical portion which serves to receive the conductors of two cables which are connected to one another by squeezing the sleeve, so that both cables together, via the connecting sleeve, can be connected to a terminal of a device or a similar piece of equipment. The front cylindrical sleeve portion which receives the insulated part of the cable is joined by a conical portion which is moulded in such a way that there is formed a plastic collar which changes into a receiving portion whose cross-section is adapted to that of two cables, i.e. including the insulation and receives same. The plastic collar which is connected to the conical part of the connecting sleeve comprises an approximately oval shape, and the same applies to the sleeve part adjoining same.
It is the object of the invention to provide a sealed cable connector wherein at least two cables can be connected one behind the other in such a way that there is obtained a directly electrically conducting contact between the conductors of said cables. More particularly, it should be possible to connect a plurality of first cables arranged in parallel relative to one another to at least one further cable in the sense of either a power cable or a collection of same.
In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved by providing a cable connector for electrically conductingly connecting a plurality of separate cables which each are provided with an insulation and an electrical conductor, comprising
The advantage of this assembly is that it is possible to provide a cable connector wherein the conductors of a plurality of cables can be arranged so as to branch out or they can be combined, wherein, in a simple way, there is produced, simply by squeezing, a connection which achieves a direct conducting contact between the conductors of the cables to be connected. In addition, it is ensured that the connection is liquid- and humidity-proof, which, for example, allows the connection to be used in a motor vehicle in an environment subjected to environmental influences. There is a further advantage in that the connection produced for example by directly squeezing the conductors together constitutes a form-fitting or friction locking connection, so that the electric transition resistance between the cables to be connected is low and, as a result of the dense arrangement, is not adversely affected by the environment.
According to one embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that at least one of the two receiving portions of the connecting sleeve serves to receive at least two cables in a parallel arrangement and that the associated seal comprises a corresponding number of bores for guiding through the cable. The number of receiving portions is adapted to the number of cables to be introduced. Preferably, if two cables, together, enter a receiving portion, it is possible to select an approximately oval or flat cross-section whose side ends are rounded. If, for example, three or more such cables have to be introduced into a receiving portion, the latter can be provided in the form of a polygon with rounded corners.
If only one cable enters one of the two receiving portions, the receiving portion can be circular-cylindrical in shape. In all cases, the seal has to be adapted accordingly and has to be provided with the corresponding number of through-bores. According to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that between the first receiving portion and the connecting portion, there is provided a necked portion whose cross-section is reduced relative to those of the above-mentioned portions.
If is advantageous if the connecting sleeve consists of an electrically conducting material and, more particularly, consists of a copper material, so that the connecting sleeve is additionally used in the connecting portion for transmitting the electric power between the conductors of the cables. Furthermore, the connecting sleeve, as a whole, can be covered by an insulating material.
In order to achieve a good transition between the connecting portion receiving the conductor portions only and the receiving portion receiving all the cables and the seal, it is proposed that between the second receiving portion and the connecting portion there is arranged a transition portion which forms a transition from the connecting portion with the greater cross-section to the connecting portion with the reduced cross-section.
Furthermore, a necked portion can be provided between the first receiving portion and the connecting portion, with the cross-section of said necked portion being reduced relative to those of the above-mentioned portions, more particularly if the first receiving portion receives only one cable. The necked portion is then designed in such a way that, practically, only the conductor portion of the only one cable can pass through.
In a preferred embodiment, the electrically conducting connection between the first and the second conductor portion is achieved in that the cross-section of the connecting portion is reduced in such a way that there is produced a friction-locking and/or form-fitting connection of the conductor portions relative to one another and relative to the connecting sleeve respectively. The cross-sectional reduction can be effected by crimping, but also by rotation forming, thus achieving a continuously uniform deformation around the entire cross-section of the connecting portion. Deformation can also be achieved by producing a groove-like indentation in the outer face of the connecting portion, which indentation then continues into the conductor portions where there exists contact, so that there is achieved an almost form-fitting connection, as a result of which the resistance against the cable being pulled out of the connecting sleeve is increased.
To ensure that the cables are positioned satisfactorily, it is proposed that the first seal and/or the second seal comprise/comprises a collar which is supported against one end of the connecting sleeve.
In order to prevent the first or the second seal from automatically escaping from the connecting sleeve, it is proposed that each bore of the first seal and/or of the second seal, through which there passes a cable, is shaped so as to be stepped, with there existing a step face which is intended to rest against an end face of the cable insulation, which end face points towards the bared conductor portion.
The sealing effect between the insulation and the seal is advantageously affected in that it is proposed that the bore of the first seal and/or of the second seal comprise/comprises a first bore portion by means of which it rests on the insulation, a second bore portion which is provided with at least one annular inner bead, and a third bore portion with a reduced diameter.
The seal between the inner face of the connecting sleeve in the region of the receiving portions and the seal is effected more particularly in that the first seal and/or the second seal are/is provided with at least one continuous outer bead which has a sealing function relative to an inner face of the first receiving portion or second receiving portion receiving same.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing wherein
In the case of the first cable, the conductor is not visible; only the insulation 3 of the first cable 1a can be seen. In the case of the two second cables 1b, it is also possible to see the conductor 2 next to the insulation 3. Furthermore, it is possible to identify the connecting sleeve 4 composed of portions, and the two seals 5, 6. All the components and portions are aligned on, and, respectively, parallel to, the longitudinal axis 7.
Below, there will follow a more detailed explanation of the design of the connecting sleeve 4. The connecting sleeve 4 comprises a first receiving portion 8 which, substantially, is provided in the form of a circular-cylindrical hollow cylindrical portion because, in the present embodiment, it is provided only for receiving a round first cable 1a with a first seal 5 being arranged therebetween. The whole of the connecting sleeve 4 is hollow and open at its ends 10, 11. It preferably consists of an electrically conducting material, for example of a copper material. Away from the first end 10, the first receiving portion 8 is followed by the connecting portion 12, with a necked portion 13 being arranged therebetween which is designed in such a way that—as can be seen in
Away from the first end 10, the connecting portion 12, by means of a transition portion 14, is followed by the second receiving portion 9 which ends at the second end 11. The second receiving portion 9 serves to introduce two second cables 1b which each also comprise a conductor 2 which is exposed in the second conductor portion 2b. The two exposed conductor portions 2b enter the connecting portion 12 in such a way that the conductor portions 2b with the conductor portion 2a axially overlap by the overlapping portion 14 along the longitudinal axis 7. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting portion 12, in respect of its exit cross-section, can be designed in such a way that, with a specified number of three conductor portions 2a and 2b, which it has to accommodate, it comprises a more or less oval or oblong laterally rounded profile, so that the three conductor portions 2a, 2b are received in a way in which they are positioned side by side. The conductor portion 2a of the first cable 1a is preferably arranged between the two conductor portions 2b. The lateral rounded shape can be seen in
The second receiving portion 9 is designed similarly in respect of its cross-section, with the second seal 6 being arranged between the two second cables 1b and the inner face 17 of the second receiving portion 9 of the connecting sleeve 4. As far as the first cable 1a and the two second cables lb are concerned, it can be seen that there is an end face 32 in the transition between the exposed conductor portions 2a, 2b and the insulation 3.
The design of the connecting sleeve 4 such as it was described above can again clearly be seen in
However, it is also possible to provide embodiments wherein, for example, the first receiving portion 8 serves to receive two cables. Depending on the number of cables to be introduced into the receiving portions 8, 9 and to be electrically connected to one another in the region of the connecting portion 12, said cables have to be adapted to one another in respect of shape.
To be able to maintain conductivity permanently, even if the cable connector is used in humid surroundings such as an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, there are additionally provided the two seals 5, 6 which are associated with the receiving portions 8 and 9 respectively. The shape of the second seal 6 can be seen in
Next to the first bore 19, there is provided in the second seal a second bore 21 whose second bore axis 22 extends parallel to the first bore axis 20, so that the two second cables as illustrated in
On its outside, the second seal 6 is provided with a continuous collar 28 which starts from the end where the cable enters, i.e. in the region of the first bore portion 13, and which comprises a stop face 29 which rests against the associated end face, i.e. in the present case against the end face 11 according to
Away from the collar 28, the second seal 6, on its outer circumference, i.e. extending transversely to the two bore axes 20, 22, is provided with outer beads 30 which serve to have a sealing effect relative to the inner face of the second receiving portion 9, i.e. to the inner face 17 illustrated in
The first seal 5 differs from the second seal only in that it comprises only one bore for receiving one single cable. The number of bores and the shape of the seal have to be selected on the basis of the number of cables to be accommodated, i.e. they have to be adapted to the respective receiving portion of the connecting sleeve 4.
First the cables 1a, 1b are unisulated (the insolation is removed), so that they constitute insulated conductor portions. Then the first seal 5 is fitted on the first cable 1a in such a way that the step face comes to rest against end face of the insulation 3 of the first cable 1a leading to the bared first conductor portion 2a. The first seal 5 is then introduced into the first receiving portion 8 together with the first cable 1a. In the same way, the two second cables 1b, after the second conductor portions 2b have been exposed, are associated with the second seal 6 and, together, these are slid into the second receiving portion 9. The length of the conductor portions is measured in such a way that there is achieved a predetermined length of overlap 14. Subsequently, pressing takes place in such a way that the cross-section of the connecting portion 12 of the connecting sleeve 4 is reduced and that the conductor portions 2a, 2b are directly pressed together, with deformation of the conductor portions also being permitted to take place. There is thus produced a direct electrically conducting connection between the cables received in the connecting sleeve 4.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102006028880.7-34 | Jun 2006 | DE | national |
