CONTACT ELEMENT FOR SHIELDED CONNECTORS

Abstract

In order to connect the shielding (62) of an electric cable (6) to a metallic connector (7), the invention proposes an electrically non-conductive cable guide part (1) that features a wall segment (2) of an electrically conductive material that needs to be laterally open sectionally.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the figures and described in greater detail below. The figures show:

FIG. 1 an exploded perspective representation of a connector;

FIG. 2 an individual cable guide part of the connector;

FIG. 3 the cable guide part with an indicated electric cable;

FIG. 4 a partially sectioned cable guide part with an engaged wall segment, and

FIG. 5 the partially sectioned cable guide part with the tilted wall segment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a connector 7 in the form of a partially exploded representation with an electric cable 6, a coupling ring 5 that is pushed on said cable, a sealing insert 4 and a cable guide part 1 that is also referred to as a splicing ring, as well as a plug contact insert 3, in which not-shown electric contacts are arranged.

The cable guide part 1 features several specially shaped through-openings 13 in its interior, wherein one individual electric conductor contacted by an electric contact needs to be respectively inserted into said through-openings.

A contact element realized in the form of a wall segment 2 is also assigned to the cable guide part 1, wherein said wall segment occupies a recessed semicircle of the cable guide part and can be tilted radially outward about an acutely angled edge 29 within the angular range of the recessed section of the cable guide part.

A zone 28 with a wedge angle of 30° formed by the acutely angled edge 29 is required in order to open the wall segment, wherein the wall segment is rotatably supported by means of a toggle lever 24 inserted into the cable guide part 1.

FIG. 2 shows the connecting element 1 in the form of a perspective representation, in which part of the interior structure is visible.

The connecting element 1 as a whole has the shape of a round body and features a collar in the upper part, wherein one collar half 10 is formed by the connecting element 1 while the second collar half 20 is formed by the metallic wall segment 2.

In this case, the wall segment is shaped identical to the collar of the connecting element in the region of the collar 20 such that a circular shape is realized that features two locking grooves 11, 21, into which one respective snap-in projection 41 of the sealing insert 4 to be attached on the collar can be inserted.

In the interior of the round body, at least one rounded rib 14, 21 that points into the interior is provided on each of the two body halves, wherein two ribs 22 are provided in this case and the opposite rib 14 is arranged symmetric thereto.

The interior structure as a whole forms an about rectangular cable opening 12 with a few through-openings 13.

In this case, one individual electric conductor 61 needs to be respectively inserted into the two through-openings 13 provided within the cable opening 12, wherein the stripped cable shielding is inserted into the cable opening 12 and fixed with the aid of the two ribs 14, 22 as shown in FIG. 3, in which the wall segment is still tilted into its open position.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of the cable guide part 1, in which the wall segment 2 is illustrated in the closed position, wherein the cable guide part is longitudinally sectioned about centrally such that the function of the toggle lever 24 can be elucidated.

The cable guide part 1 features a continuous rectangular opening 16, into which the wall segment 2 within the toggle lever 24 is inserted. In order to guide the toggle lever in the vertical direction, two snap-in edges 26 formed on the toggle lever 24 slide along two snap-in edges 18 in the rectangular opening 16.

Once correspondingly inserted, the toggle lever engages with a step 25 behind a snap-in shoulder 17 in the rectangular opening 16.

When the closed wall segment 2 is pulled or pressed radially outward as shown in FIG. 5, the toggle lever 24 situated in the rectangular opening 16 is tilted about the acutely angled edge 19 within the free space 19 in the cable guide part 1.

During this process, the snap-edge 26 on the toggle lever jumps over the snap-in edge 18 in the rectangular opening 16, wherein the wall segment 2 is freely movable in any position between 0° and 30°, but still held in the cable guide part.

The electric cable 6 can be easily installed in this opened state of the wall segment 2.

During the assembly of the electric cable and the connector, the coupling ring 5 and subsequently the sealing insert 4 are pushed on the cable end of the electric cable 6. The wires of the individual electric conductors 61 and part of the shielding 62 are then exposed.

Subsequently, the individual electric conductors 61 are inserted into the corresponding through-openings 13 in the cable guide part 1 until the shielding is positioned between the ribs 14 and 22 in the region of the cable opening 12.

The wall segment 2 is then closed and the sealing insert 4 is joined with the cable guide part 1, wherein one of the oppositely arranged snap-in projections 41 respectively engages into the locking groove 11, 21 such that the cable guide part and the sealing insert form one unit.

After removing the conductor ends that protrude from the through-openings 13 of the cable guide part, this interconnected unit is inserted into the plug contact insert 3 and secured by means of the coupling ring 5. During this process, the individual electric conductors are pressed into corresponding insulation displacement contacts within the plug contact insert and the electric connection between the cable shielding on the metallic plug contact insert 3 and a mating connector is produced by means of the metallic wall segment 2 and the coupling ring 5.

Claims

1: A contact element for connecting the shielding of an electric cable to a connector, wherein an electrically conductive wall segment to be opened sectionally is provided in a recessed section adjacent to a collar region of a cylindrical, non-conductive cable guide part.

2: The contact element according to claim 1, wherein a toggle lever formed on the wall segment can be inserted into a corresponding opening in the cable guide part, wherein the wall segment can be outwardly opened by being radially tilted about an imaginary axis of rotation.

3: The contact element according to claim 1, wherein a bevel is provided on the wall segment on the surface bordering the cable guide part.

4: The contact element according to claim 2, wherein the toggle lever of the wall segment can be locked via a snap-in shoulder arranged in the opening of the cable guide part.

5: The contact element according to claim 1, wherein the cable guide part features ribs that point into the interior in order to fix and contact the shielding of the electric cable, wherein one rib is formed on the cable guide part and at least one other rib is formed on the wall segment.