Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Sealing
Patent
1999-08-18
2000-08-01
Paumen, Gary F.
Electrical connectors
Coupling part including flexing insulation
Sealing
439589, 439274, H01R 1340
Patent
active
06095860&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical connector with a family seal and a connector housing, which has an outer collar and at least one chamber for a contact, the open end of the chamber, on the cable side, lies inside the outer collar, the family seal having at least one through-opening for introducing a contact into the corresponding chamber. The invention also relates to a family seal for such an electrical connector.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
The use of family seals for sealing the conductors attached to contacts in connector housings is widely known. The family seals thereby provided seal with respect to each individual conductor which is connected to a contact and with respect to the housing collar. A number of problems have occurred with the use of such seals.
From EP 335 721-A2 a water proof electric connector is known. Disclosed is an improved water proof electric connector structure which uses a rubber gasket to be sandwiched between a cap and a housing. The rubber gasket is used as a family seal and has an outer limit to permit the complementary outer limit of the inner surface of the housing to fit in.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,410 discloses, for example, the introduction of a family seal into a receptacle which is divided into a grid-like network by cross plates. This ensures that the through-openings of the family seal are not displaced with respect to the ends of the chambers for the electrical contacts as soon as some individual contacts are introduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A further problem is that, if an increased contact pressure of the family seal to the peripheral housing collar is desired, this increased contact pressure has the result that the inner sealing lips of the through-openings are damaged when contacts are pushed through. Such damage must be avoided, however, to achieve a good sealing effect.
It is the object of the invention to specify an electrical connector with a family seal where the probability of damaging the inner sealing lips is reduced in spite of an optimized contact pressure of the family seal against the housing collar.
The object is achieved by an electrical connector with a family seal having the features of patent claim 1.
Advantageous developments are specified in the subclaims.
The object of the invention is achieved by separating from each other the two sealing effects which are achieved by the family seal, to on the one hand seal with respect to the outer collar of the plug housing and on the other hand with respect to the conductors which are fitted to the contacts. This is accomplished by the family seal being provided with an outer rim which is connected only by means of a connecting plate to the plate-like region which has the through-openings for sealing the conductors. As a result, an increased pressure on the outer collar does not likewise act in the region of the through-openings.
To obtain a particularly good seal with respect to the outer collar, the outer rim of the family seal has on its outside wall at least one sealing lip. An additional, inner collar is arranged on the connector housing, and the contact pressure of the family seal on the outer housing collar is ensured by this inner collar. The outer rim of the family seal is located between the inner collar and the outer collar. Although the sealing effects are separated from each other, the two sealing parts, outer rim and plate-like region, are still connected to each other. Thus, no additional opening which has to be sealed is produced. The connecting plate extends over the inner collar.
To establish a stable connection between the outer rim and the pate-like region of the family seal, it is possible to provide stabilizing pieces, which connect the two to each other. Correspondingly, the inner collar has recesses which receive these stabilizing pieces. Even when the inner collar is not completely closed, the desired effect is still achieved as long as the collar can exert adequate pressure on the outer rim of the family seal and
REFERENCES:
patent: 4998896 (1991-03-01), Lundergan
patent: 5145410 (1992-09-01), Maejima et al.
patent: 5571032 (1996-11-01), Sano et al.
patent: 5676373 (1997-10-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 5707251 (1998-01-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 5766039 (1998-06-01), Abe
Gehrke Horst
Jaklin Ralf
Paumen Gary F.
Ta Tho D.
The Whitaker Corporation
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