Electrical connectors – With vitreous-type envelope – Having bayonet-coupling contact
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-03-20
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With vitreous-type envelope
Having bayonet-coupling contact
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203377
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector, in accordance with the preamble of claim
1
, and a method, according to the preamble of claim
8
, for assembling the connector.
Known methods for assembling shielded cable connectors, as, for example, the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,249, suffers from the disadvantage that the assembling process time is long, causing a high manufacturing cost.
According to one of the prior art methods, it is difficult to assemble the connector, as in this specific technique two spring washers are needed, for contacting the shielding of the cable and the cover of the cable connector for EMC-protection.
The two washers, according to this known technique, causes also a “step” to pass for the electrical signals, which causes ineffectiveness and reduction in performance, when used for high-speed signals.
Also ferrules, according for example to U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,249, cause disturbances of the signals in the connection area between the shielding and the cover in the connector, that means that the electrical signals from the earth screen, have to go backward via a squeezed metal ferrule and furthermore forward to the cover of the connector.
Known cable connectors, suffers furthermore from the disadvantage that existing racks do not allow larger dimensions for the cables, since the connectors, according to known techniques already are in a tight position between each other when maled. Larger dimension of the cable gives a better signal performance. It is also a problem for operating personnel to get their fingers around the connector, since there is no sufficient space between the connectors, when mounted in the rack.
Furthermore rivets, according to known technique, have to be mounted before or after the assembly process of the connectors for riveting. This causes a complicated assembly of the connector and high costs.
Screws, according to known technique, for fastening the connector to the rack have to be screwed through threads in the connector after the assembly process of the cable and the connector. This also causes a high mounting cost.
It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the known devices and methods. That is, primary, to decrease the assembling time and the complexity of the connector and furthermore to improve the electrical characteristics for shielding and grounding function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above mentioned objects have been solved by a connector as defined in the introduction, which is characterized in that the connecting means comprises an outer ferrule of which a first part is crimped onto the cable jacket for fastening the connecting means to the cable and a second part is crimped onto the cable shielding for electrical communication, while a third part makes electrical connection to the connector shielding.
Hereby the electrical signals can be transported in a substantially smooth and straight direction, that means that improved electrical characteristics for the shielding and grounding function have been provided. Furthermore the surface-treatment of the covers will be much easier, as there is no small slot in which the electrical connection takes place.
Suitably, the connecting means comprises an inner ferrule fastened substantially under the shielding to the outer ferrule in the area of the second part for making an axial locking between the outer ferrule and the cover means by means of at least one holding member at the inner ferrule. In this way the cable can be locked in an axial direction in relation to the connector.
Preferably, the at least one tongue member forming said third part at the end of said second part is in contact with said cover means, and which at least one tongue member is oriented in an elongated direction of said outer ferrule for making a smooth and straight member for electrical communication. Hereby the signals can have an even and direct way from the cable shielding to the cover halves and vice versa.
Suitably, the at least one holding member of the inner ferrule is locked in a recess of the outer ferrule and the cover for making the connecting means non-rotatably. An advantage of this arrangement is that the cable is prevented to rotate relatively to the connector body.
Preferably, the at least one holding member is arranged substantially normal to the width of said connector, which width then is minimized, for making space around said connector. This allows that cables with bigger dimension can be connected to the connector according to the invention, since the connection means according to the invention compared with known connection means, makes it possible to use cables with bigger dimension, without increasing the width of the connector. Using bigger dimension of the cables leads to an improved signalling capacity. This also leads to improved electrical characteristics for the shielding and grounding function. Furthermore may a reduction of the size of the connectors for existing cable dimensions be provided, which makes more space between adjacent cable connectors according to the invention. This makes it possible to get your fingers around the cable connector body in a god manner, without forcing operating personal to pull on the cable when disconnecting the cable connector from for example a PCB connector.
Suitably, the cover means is made of zinc. Hereby a conductive material for the shielding and grounding function is provided.
Preferably, rivets are made integral with one of said cover means. This means that the assembly-time is decreased and that no mounting of the rivets to the cover halves is needed. The rivets may be cast integral with the cover.
The connector, according to the invention, is furthermore assembled by a method described below. The disadvantages of the known methods have been solved by a method as defined in the introduction, which is characterized by fitting an outer ferrule onto the cable, stripping a part of the jacket of the cable, cutting a part of the shielding for providing the shielding substantially the length of a second part of the outer ferrule, fitting an inner ferrule over the at least one conductor and under the shielding, sliding the outer ferrule back over the inner ferrule within the area of the second part, crimping the outer ferrule onto the inner ferrule, thereby trapping the cable shielding and making an electrical connection to the ferrules, and onto the cable jacket at the same time or substantially at the same time, terminating the at least one conductor into the terminal block, mounting the terminal block with the fitted cable and ferrules into the bottom cover and mounting the top cover to the bottom cover.
Hereby the assembly-time for the assembly is decreased compared with known assemblies, due to that the crimping can be done in one step. Furthermore other steps according to the invention, compared with known methods, means shorter assembly-time.
Preferably, the mounting of at least two screws into said bottom cover takes place before fitting said top cover to said bottom cover. The threads of the screws have also a function of stopping the screws to fall out during transport. Hereby the assembly-time is additionally decreased compared with known methods.
Suitably, wherein said top cover is fitted to said bottom cover by means of deforming the head of rivets, which are integrated in the bottom or top cover. The rivets may be cast integral with the cover. This means that the assembly-time is further decreased. The integrated rivets leads to that the manufacturing of the cover and rivets is more uncomplicated, since no mounting of the rivets to the halves has to be done. Further more it is easier fitting the two cover halves together, since the rivets already are in their position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4194805 (1980-03-01), Ayer et al.
patent: 4640569 (1987-02-01), Dola et al.
patent: 4854895 (1989-08-01), Komatsu
patent: 4902249 (1990-02-01), Morishita et al.
patent: 4963104 (1990-10-01), Dickie
patent: 5180316 (1993-01-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5267
Grek Ivan Joachim
Meller Andrew Graham
Donovan Lincoln
FCI Katrineholm A.B.
Le Thanh-Tam
Perman & Green LLP
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