Electrical connectors – With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision – Grounding to conductive sheath of cable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-05-08
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision
Grounding to conductive sheath of cable
C174S029000, C174S036000, C174S073100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227881
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the management and termination of shielded cables, and more particularly to the termination of multiple shields to a at least one electrical potential.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known for cables that transmit digital electrical signals to be provided with a electromagnetic shield. Typically, this shield is in the form of a metal braid, metal or conductive plastic foil and drain wire, metal screen, or the like, which is arranged so as to isolate and protect the signal conductors within the cable from electromagnetic interference or to prevent the inducement of electromagnetic interference in neighboring equipment. A separate shield may be provided for each individual signal conductor, or a conductive shield may be provided around a bundle of signal conductors. A combination of one or more shields may be employed for added protection against electromagnetic interference and/or to improve the signal transmission properties of the cable. To terminate bundles of shielded cables, it is necessary not only to connect each of the individual wires, but also to ground each of the shields. Sometimes the shields are commonly interconnected, while other times groups of shields must be placed at differing electrical potentials. In addition, it is often necessary to mechanically bundle one or more whole cables together so as to provide for strain relief for the bundle.
A number of techniques are known in the art for terminating one or more shielded cables. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,376, issued to Schuhl, et. al., an adaptor for an electrical connector is disclosed which enables the shields of a number of shielded electrical wires to be terminated, and which also provides electromagnetic shielding for the wires. Schuhl's connector includes an electrically conductive outer body having a central aperture through which a plurality of wires are positioned, an electrically conductive shielding member that can be positioned within the aperture, and a plurality of electrically conductive hollow deformable ferrules. One of the ferrules is coaxially positioned over each of the wires so as to be in electrical engagement with the wire's shield. The shielding member is a sprocket-shaped annular ring having a central through-bore and a plurality of recesses located around its periphery. The ferrules are sized and shaped to be held in a corresponding one of the recesses of the shielding member when the ferrules are deformed during assembly of Schuhl's connector. A split, tapered ring holds the ferrules securely in the recesses of the shielding member so that a locking ring may be tightened to hold the assembly together. Schuhl's ferrules are apparently capable of being removed from their respective recesses so that the connector may be disassembled for repair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In its broadest aspects, the present invention provides a cable management and strain relief coupling comprising a base having a plurality of radially projecting arms arranged in circumferentially spaced relation to one another so as to define a plurality of saddles that provide support for at least one cable, and a ferrule positioned in crimped coaxial relation to the base and the at least one cable. The base and ferrule are often formed of electrically conductive materials. In this way, the cable management and strain relief coupling of the present invention may be used to mechanically secure together numerous cables with varying electrical interconnections being formed between the cables. For example, at least two cables may be mechanically secured together with a shielding member that is associated with each of the cables being electrically interconnected to a common electrical potential. Alternatively, at least two cables may be mechanically secured together with a shielding member that is associated with at least one of the cables being electrically interconnected to another shielding member, or to another electrical potential, or both.
In one embodiment, at least two bases and at least two ferrules are provided in spaced apart relation to one another along a bundle of separate cables, and arranged so as to (i) mechanically secure together a plurality of cables, and (ii) electrically interconnect at least one shielding member of at least one of the plurality of cables to another shielding member of at least one of the plurality of cables, or to another electrical potential, or both.
In another embodiment, a cable management and strain relief coupling includes a star-anvil having a conductive base and a plurality of radially projecting arms that are circumferentially spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of cable support saddles between the arms. At least two shielded cables, each including a dielectric jacket and at least one shielding member, are positioned within respective ones of the saddles wherein each shielding member is electrically and mechanically accessible. A ferrule is positioned in coaxial relation to the star-anvil and the at least two shielded cables are positioned in corresponding ones of the saddles so as to position each of the electrically and mechanically accessible shielding members in electrical communication with the star-anvil. The ferule is then crimped to hold the cable shield interconnect together.
A method for interconnecting cable shielding to at least one electrical potential is also provided in which the a shielding member on each of at least two cables is exposed so as to be electrically accessible, and then positioned so that the exposed shielding members are arranged in electrical and mechanical engagement with an outer surface of a star-anvil. The cables and the star-anvil member are then positioned within a unitary open ended cylindrical ferrule and crimped.
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Scarano Timothy Mark
Tharp Keith Franklin
Duane Morris & Heckscher LLP
Nasri Javaid
Sircus Brian
The JPM Company
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