Patent Application
20210036456
The invention relates to a connector part and to a method for manufacturing a connector part.
Such a connector part includes an electrically conductive shield sleeve, a plug-in portion provided on the shield sleeve for plug-in connection to an associated mating connector part, at least one electrical contact element disposed in or on the plug-in portion, and a plastic housing part at least partially enclosing the shield sleeve.
Such a connector part may, for example, be configured as what is known as a circular connector, where the plug-in portion has a substantially cylindrical shape and can be brought into contact with a correspondingly shaped, complementary mating connector part. Such a circular connector can be advantageously used, for example, for data, sensor signal and power transmission in an industrial environment.
The shield sleeve is made from an electrically conductive material and serves, in particular, to provide shielding of signals transmitted through the connector part. The plastic housing part may be formed directly on the shield sleeve, for example by overmolding, and thus partially encloses the shield sleeve in such a manner that wires of an electrical cable connected to the connector part are fixed relative to the shield sleeve and thereby fixedly secured to the connector part. Such an overmolded plastic housing part may enclose, for example, not only the shield sleeve, but also, for example, a connection region for stranded cores of electrical wires inside the connector, so that contact elements of the connector part are not floatingly supported within the connector part, but held in position by the plastic housing part.
Generally, it is desirable that such a connector part comply with a predefined degree of protection and for this purpose be sufficiently moisture-proof. To this end, it is necessary to seal a transition between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve in order to prevent the ingress of moisture into the interior of the connector part through a capillary gap that may be present between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve. If the plastic housing part is formed on the shield sleeve by overmolding, such sealing can sometimes be difficult to achieve.
DE 10 2010 036 324 A1 describes a cable and an injection-molded part disposed thereon. The injection-molded part is sealed via a sealing element against the cable.
In a connector known from DE 10 2013 205 493 A1, a shield is sealed against a conductor.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a connector part, comprising: an electrically conductive shield sleeve; a plug-in portion provided on the shield sleeve for plug-in connection to an associated mating connector part; at least one electrical contact element disposed in or on the plug-in portion; a plastic housing part at least partially enclosing the shield sleeve; a pressure element which is disposed on the shield sleeve and connected to the plastic housing part and which has a receiving means; and a sealing element which is disposed in the receiving means of the pressure element and in sealing engagement with the shield sleeve to seal a transition between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve.
The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a connector part and a method for manufacturing a connector part which will permit reliable sealing of the plastic housing part against the shield sleeve and at the same time allow for a simple construction and easy manufacture.
Accordingly, the connector part includes a pressure element which is disposed on the shield sleeve and connected to the plastic housing part and which has a receiving means, and further includes a sealing element which is disposed in the receiving means of the pressure element and in sealing engagement with the shield sleeve to seal a transition between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve.
The plastic housing part may be formed, for example, by overmolding a portion of the shield sleeve. Thus, the plastic housing part is formed on the shield sleeve by overmolding.
In order to enable sealing of a transition between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve, a sealing assembly formed by the pressure element and the sealing element is used, the sealing assembly being disposed on the shield sleeve and connected to the plastic housing part. The sealing element serves to seal the transition between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve and sealingly engages against the shield sleeve. The pressure element preloads the sealing element by pressing it against the shield sleeve and thereby compressing the sealing element, so that a seal is provided by the pressing engagement of the sealing element with the shield sleeve. The compression of the sealing element for sealing against the shield sleeve is effected by the pressure element in that the sealing element is held on and pressed against the shield sleeve by the pressure element (which is separate from the plastic housing part but connected thereto, for example by areal engagement therewith or by a material-to-material bond). Thus, the sealing effect of the sealing element is independent of the plastic housing part, in particular of any action of the plastic housing part on the sealing element. This makes it possible to effect an advantageous sealing action via the pressure element in order to then form the plastic housing part on the shield sleeve, for example by overmolding.
The pressure element is connected to the plastic housing part. In one embodiment, this may be achieved by the pressure element forming a bond with the plastic housing part, for example by being connected to the plastic housing part by a material-to-material bond or by an interference fit or interlocking fit.
A material-to-material bond between the pressure element and the plastic housing part can be created, for example, when during the overmolding of the shield sleeve with the material of the plastic housing part, the plastic housing part is also molded against the pressure element (which at this point has already been placed on the shield sleeve), so that such molding creates a material-to-material bond between the pressure element and the plastic housing part.
In one embodiment, during the formation of the plastic housing part on the shield sleeve, the pressure element may also be overmolded, so that the pressure element is completely or partially enclosed by the plastic housing part. In this case, the plastic housing part covers the assembly formed by the pressure element and the sealing element on the outside, thus enclosing the pressure element and the sealing element.
However, in another embodiment, it is also conceivable and possible that the plastic housing part may be molded against an end face of a body of the pressure element and may thus form a bond with the pressure element over a planar surface area thereof.
In yet another embodiment, it conceivable and possible that while the plastic housing part is, in fact, in engagement with the pressure element, no material-to-material bond exists between the plastic housing part and the pressure element. In this case, the pressure element may engage a latching groove of the shield sleeve and thereby be held in position on the shield sleeve in such a manner that the pressure element is in contact with the plastic housing part and connected to the plastic housing part in this way.
In an embodiment, the shield sleeve has a stem portion formed at an end opposite the plug-in portion of the shield sleeve. The shield sleeve may have, for example, a cylindrical basic shape, especially if the connector part is designed as a circular connector, and accordingly, the stem portion of the shield sleeve and the plug-in portion may also be cylindrical in shape. The plastic housing part is formed on the stem portion, for example by the stem portion being at least partially overmolded with the material of the plastic housing part.
In one embodiment, the pressure element is annular in shape and disposed on the stem portion of the shield sleeve in such a manner that the pressure element extends around the stem portion. In this case, the pressure element is configured as an annular element and placed on the (in particular cylindrical) stem portion of the shield sleeve, so that the stem portion extends through the pressure element. The pressure element may be held in position on the shield sleeve by engagement in a latching groove of the shield sleeve, which facilitates fitting of the pressure element on the shield sleeve together with the sealing element, and also allows the pressure element and the sealing element to be precisely fixed in position relative to the shield sleeve.
If the pressure element is configured as an annular element, the latching groove preferably extends circumferentially around the shield sleeve (for example around the stem portion on which the pressure element is disposed), and thus holds the pressure element positively in position on the shield sleeve.
If the pressure element is configured as an annular element, the sealing element is preferably also annular in shape and formed, for example, in the manner of an O-ring. The sealing element is received in the receiving means of the pressure element and extends circumferentially in the receiving means. The sealing element is disposed on the stem portion of the shield sleeve in such a manner that the stem portion extends through the sealing element and is, at the same time, in pressing and sealing engagement with the sealing element. In an embodiment, the pressure element has a body which is in engagement with the shield sleeve via an engagement surface. The body may, for example, engage the latching groove in the stem portion of the shield sleeve, so that the pressure element is thereby fixedly and positively secured on the stem portion. Engagement between the pressure element and the stem portion is provided via the engagement surface.
The sealing element is preferably configured such that, in an initial condition before the assembly formed by the pressure element and the sealing element is placed on the shield sleeve, the sealing element projects beyond the engagement surface of the body of the pressure element. As the pressure element is placed on the shield sleeve, together with the sealing element, the sealing element is compressed by interaction with the shield sleeve, thus causing the sealing element to pressingly engage against the shield sleeve for reliable, moisture-tight sealing of a transition between the plastic housing part and the shield sleeve.
In one embodiment, the receiving means forms an undercut for receiving the sealing element. The sealing element is received and positively held in the receiving means by the undercut configuration thereof and is thereby prevented from slipping axially out of place. Thus, the sealing element cannot readily slip out of the receiving means axially relative to the shield sleeve, in particular axially relative to the (cylindrical) stem portion on which the pressure element is disposed together with the sealing element, so that the sealing element is held in position relative to the pressure element.
In one embodiment, the sealing element is made as an element separate from the pressure element and is inserted in the receiving means of the pressure element. In this case, the sealing element may, for example, take the form of an O-ring and is received in the receiving means in such a manner that in the mounted position, the sealing element is held by the pressure element in compressed, pressing engagement with the shield sleeve.
The pressure element may, for example, be made from a relatively hard plastic, for example a thermoplastic material. In contrast, the sealing element is made from a relatively soft material, for example a rubber material or a soft plastic material, such as an elastomer, and thus is compressible for reliable sealing engagement with the shield sleeve.
In another embodiment, the pressure element and the sealing element may be manufactured by plastic injection molding using a two-component injection molding technique. In this embodiment, the sealing element is not separate from the pressure element after completion of the manufacturing process, but is manufactured together with the pressure element by plastic injection molding. In this case, the pressure element is formed by a relatively hard plastic component, for example a thermoplastic material, while the sealing element is composed of a soft component, such as an elastomer.
In one embodiment, the sealing element has a bead portion which is received in the receiving means of the pressure element. If the sealing element is configured an annular element, the bead portion, which is, for example, circular or oval in cross section, extends, for example, around the stem portion of the shield sleeve. Via the bead portion, the sealing element is preferably in sealing engagement with the shield sleeve.
In one embodiment, a planar portion extends from the bead portion substantially perpendicularly to the outer surface of the stem portion, the planar portion bearing, for example, against an end face of the pressure element. The planar portion may, for example, extend to the outer peripheral surface of the body of the pressure element, which may facilitate the production, in particular the injection molding of the sealing element when manufactured using a two-component injection molding technique.
In an embodiment the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a connector part of the type described hereinabove. In such method, the pressure element is placed on the shield sleeve together with the sealing element, and the plastic housing part is formed on the shield sleeve by overmolding.
The advantages and advantageous embodiments described above are analogously applicable to the method.
Shield sleeve 10 is made from an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal material, and is formed with a plug-in portion 100 which encloses a connector face 12 having a plurality of electrical contact elements 120. Via plug-in portion 100, connector part 1 can be pluggingly connected to mating connector part 3 along plugging direction E to thereby create an electrical connection between connector part 1 and mating connector part 3.
Connector part 1 is connected to an electrical cable 2 which has a plurality of wires electrically contacted to the contact elements 120 and which is inserted into the interior of connector part 1 via a cylindrical stem portion 101 of shield sleeve 10 at an end opposite the plug-in portion 100.
As can be seen from
Connector part 1, embodied as the circular connector, is used for data, signal and/or power transmission and, in particular, allows for a reliable, vibration-resistant, heavy-duty connection between an electrical cable 2 and an associated electrical unit. It is desirable for connector part 1 to comply with a predefined degree of protection, which in particular also requires a sufficient degree of moisture proofness. In particular, it is desired to prevent the ingress of moisture into the interior of connector part 1 in order to prevent impairment of an electrical connection.
To achieve this, it is in particular required to seal a transition between plastic housing part 15 and shield sleeve 10. For this reason, connector part 1 has a sealing assembly which is formed by a pressure element 13 and a sealing element 14 and which is placed on stem portion 101 of shield sleeve 10 and serves to prevent the ingress of moisture through a capillary gap between plastic housing part 15 and shield sleeve 10, particularly stem portion 101.
Pressure element 13 is configured as an annular element and, as seen in the views of
Body 130 has a receiving means 132 in the form of an annular recess formed therein to receive sealing element 14. Receiving means 132 forms an undercut which is in the form of a concave depression and which causes sealing element 14 to be positively held in receiving means 132 and, in particular, prevents it from slipping out of receiving means 13 axially along stem portion 101.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the assembly formed by pressure element 13 and sealing element 14 is manufactured by plastic injection molding using a two-component injection molding technique. Thus, the assembly is produced in an injection mold using two different plastic components, namely a hard component for forming pressure element 13 and a soft component for forming sealing element 14. The hard component used may, for example, be a thermoplastic material. The soft component may, for example, be an elastomer. As can be seen from the sectional view of
For assembly, in one step, the assembly formed by pressure element 13 and sealing element 14 is placed on stem portion 101 of shield sleeve 10 until pressure element 13 engages the latching groove 102 formed on stem portion 101. In an initial state, as can be seen from the sectional view of
Then, with electrical cable 2 connected to connector part 1, plastic housing part 15 is formed directly on shield sleeve 10 by overmolding electrical cable 2 and stem portion 101 at least partially with the material of plastic housing part 15, thereby fixing electrical cable 2 on shield sleeve 10.
As can be seen from the sectional view of
Since sealing element 14 extends annularly around stem portion 101, a transition between plastic housing part 15 and stem portion 101 is sealed moisture-tight in this way. In particular, it is no longer possible for moisture to bypass sealing element 14 and enter the interior of the connector part through a capillary gap between plastic housing part 15 and stem portion 101.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In this case, pressure element 13 is manufactured as a plastic part by injection molding from a relatively hard plastic, in particular a thermoplastic material.
For assembly, again, the assembly formed by pressure element 13 and sealing element 14 is placed on stem portion 101 of shield sleeve 10 (which is identical in design to the exemplary embodiment shown in
In the exemplary embodiments shown in
In the exemplary embodiments of
The concept underlying the invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, but may also be implemented in a completely different way.
A connector of the type discussed herein may advantageously be configured as a circular connector. However, this is not mandatory. Generally, the invention can also be utilized in other connectors.
By using the pressure element, the sealing element is caused to compress, such compression reliably sealing a transition between the plastic housing part and shield sleeve. The compression of the sealing element is effected by the pressure element and is generally independent of the plastic housing part. Thus, the formation of the plastic housing part on the shield sleeve and the sealing are decoupled from each other, which, on the one hand, allows the plastic housing part to be formed on the shield sleeve in a convenient and easy manner and, on the other hand, provides for a reliable seal.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| BE2018/5270 | Apr 2018 | BE | national |
This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2019/057212, filed on Mar. 22, 2019, and claims benefit to Belgian Patent Application No. BE 2018/5270, filed on Apr. 23, 2018. The International Application was published in German on Oct. 31, 2019 as WO 2019/206536 under PCT Article 21(2).
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/057212 | 3/22/2019 | WO | 00 |
