Electrical connectors – With vitreous-type envelope – Having bayonet-coupling contact
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-18
2001-08-21
Pauman, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With vitreous-type envelope
Having bayonet-coupling contact
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276967
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a connector assembly, and more particularly to an interlocking shield termination connector assembly that provides for easy grounding of shields.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current technology has brought about the proliferation in use of electronics and electronic equipment. It becomes increasingly important to protect sensitive electronic equipment from the effects of electromagnetic interference (EMI), high intensity radiated field (HIRF), and lightning to prevent potential failures or a system upset. One way to protect the equipment is to shield the wires that are connected to the equipment by adding a shield over the length of sensitive signal and/or power wires. The shield is usually constructed from several small gauge wires braided over the internal signal and/or power wires or conductors. The shield absorbs radiated energy and distributes the energy away from the internal conductors and their connected electronic component. The wires forming the shields are typically grounded at every connector interface throughout the electrical system. Proper grounding of each shield is an important aspect of protecting sensitive electronic equipment.
Most products on the market today use a backshell assembly with a compression ring to ground shields, but they are very difficult and time-consuming to assemble and disassemble. For example, with currently available backshell assemblies, the shields must be manually separated from their respective internal conductors and then threaded through small isolated termination holes in the compression ring to terminate the shields. A person uses either a crochet-like hook or a pick to pull the shields through the holes. This process has the disadvantages of being difficult, tedious and slow, because it is akin to threading a needle, only with much coarser filaments and little room for maneuverability. Moreover, when there are a large number of shields in the wire harness, the task becomes nearly impossible due to the spacing constraints. The internal conductors, from which the shields have been separated, are connected to connector pins for making the next level of electrical connection in the system.
Once the shields are terminated in the termination holes, the backshell is screwed tightly onto the mating connector to compress the shields between the compression ring and the backshell to obtain a good electrical connection between the shields and the backshell. During this process small fragments of the shield, from the braided small gauge wires, can fray, break and fall into the connector which can then cause electrical shorting of the connector pins. Another problem encountered in the prior art is that shields tend to become crushed after undergoing repeated vibrations and thermal cycling, and loss of electrical contact can occur. Once this happens, the functionality of the shield is lost, and the attendant electronic component would no longer be shielded from radiated energy.
Hence, a need exists for a shield termination connector assembly that is simple to assemble and use, that does not damage portions of the shields during assembly, and that does not require special hand tools for feeding the shields into termination holes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is particularly useful where shielding of electrical wires from radiated energy, such as EMI and HIRF as well as lightning, is critical to protecting the integrity of electronic components. The invention provides, as part of the shield termination electrical connector assembly, an easy to use termination adapter having elongated termination holes and feed channels leading into the termination holes for simple termination of the shields. Moreover, the invention also provides a method for using the connector assembly that mitigates damage of the shields during assembly as well as test and actual operation, thus preventing electrical shorting problems.
These and other features and advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important to point out that the illustrations may not necessarily be drawn to scale, and that there may be other embodiments of the present invention which are not specifically illustrated. Furthermore, as many of the figures illustrate the same or substantially similar elements, like reference numerals will be used to designate elements that are the same or substantially similar in shape or function.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3926499 (1975-12-01), Bailey et al.
patent: 3944317 (1976-03-01), Oberdiear
patent: 3990765 (1976-11-01), Hill
patent: 5052947 (1991-10-01), Brodie et al.
patent: 5246376 (1993-09-01), Schuhl et al.
patent: 5366383 (1994-11-01), Dearman
patent: 39 13 544 (1989-04-01), None
patent: 0 546 657 (1992-05-01), None
patent: 0 724 310 (1996-01-01), None
Correspondence from Joel T. Barbieri with ICORE International, Inc. dated Oct. 31, 1997.*
Brochure entitled: “OPTILOCK The Antivibration Solution” from ICORE International, Inc. no date avail.*
International Search Report dated Apr. 9, 1999 (PCT/US98/26371)(RAYT:008).
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Ngandjui Antoine
Pauman Gary
Raytheon Aircraft Corporation
LandOfFree
Shield termination connector assembly and method for using... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shield termination connector assembly and method for using..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shield termination connector assembly and method for using... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2445333