Electrical shielding member for a network connector

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical shielding member that includes a receiving portion for receiving a cable end of a shielded cable at least partially, wherein the receiving portion is adapted to be in contact with a shielding of the cable, and wherein the receiving portion comprises at least one coupling element, protruding outwardly from the receiving portion. The coupling element is adapted to be coupled to a corresponding coupling element of a network connector housing. The electrical shielding member further comprises an engagement element, protruding inwardly into the receiving portion, wherein the engagement element is adapted to be engaged with the cable. The electrical shielding member further comprises at least one contact beam, extending from the receiving portion, wherein the contact beam is adapted to be electrically connected to a counter electrical shielding member of a counter connector.

Claims

1. An electrical shielding member for a network connector, wherein the electrical shielding member is made from bent and cut sheet metal, the electrical shielding member comprising: a receiving portion having an interior space for receiving a cable end of a shielded cable at least partially, wherein the receiving portion is adapted to be in contact with a shielding of the cable, and wherein the receiving portion comprises: at least one coupling element, protruding outwardly from the receiving portion, wherein the coupling element is adapted to be coupled to a corresponding coupling element of a network connector housing, and wherein the coupling element is a coupling protrusion, embossed in the receiving portion; and an engagement element, protruding inwardly into the interior space of the receiving portion, wherein the engagement element is adapted to be engaged with the cable and/or a fastening ferrule of the cable, the electrical shielding member further comprising: at least one contact beam, extending from the receiving portion, wherein the contact beam is adapted to be electrically connected to a counter electrical shielding member of a counter connector.

2. The electrical shielding member claim 1, wherein the electrical shielding member comprises multiple engagement elements.

3. The electrical shielding member of claim 2, wherein at least two of the engagement elements have a different width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable.

4. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, wherein at least one engagement element is an embossed element, comprising a perforated section, wherein the perforated section further comprises: a cut edge, that intersects the longitudinal direction of the cable to be received under an angle of about 90°, and a cut face that faces into the direction of the cable end, when the cable end is received within the receiving portion.

5. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, wherein at least one engagement element is an embossed element, that comprises a first shoulder and a second shoulder, wherein the first and second shoulders form an edge that protrudes inwardly into the receiving portion and that intersects the longitudinal direction of the cable to be received under an angle of about 90°.

6. The electrical shielding member of claim 5, wherein the first shoulder encloses an acute angle with an inner surface of the receiving portion, and wherein the first shoulder and the second shoulder enclose an angle in the range of 75° to 105°, wherein the second shoulder faces into the direction of the cable end, when the cable end is received within the receiving portion.

7. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises a cut face that faces away from the cable end, when the cable end is received within the receiving portion.

8. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, wherein at least three sides of the coupling element are connected with the receiving portion.

9. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, wherein the electrical shielding member further comprises at least two coupling elements, and wherein the coupling elements are preferably equally distributed around a circumference of the receiving portion of the electrical shielding member.

10. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion comprises opposing joint rims, wherein a first joint rim is provided a primary locking protrusion and the second joint rim is provided with a corresponding primary locking recess, and wherein the first joint rim is preferably provided with at least one secondary locking recess and the second joint rim is provided with at least one corresponding secondary locking protrusion.

11. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, further comprising at least one primary fastening element, wherein the primary fastening element protrudes inwardly into the receiving portion and is provided an end of the receiving portion that faces away from the cable end, in an assembled state, and wherein the electrical shielding member further comprises a lateral trough-opening, adjacent to the primary fastening element.

12. The electrical shielding member of claim 1, further comprising a secondary fastening element, wherein the secondary fastening element protrudes inwardly into the receiving portion and is provided at a distal end of the receiving portion that faces into the direction of the cable end, in an assembled state.

13. An electrical shielding assembly for a network connector, the electrical shielding assembly comprising an inner ferrule, that is adapted to be crimped on a stripped cable end of a shielded cable to be in electrical contact with a shielding of the cable, and an outer ferrule, wherein the outer ferrule is an electrical shielding member and is adapted to be crimped over the inner ferrule, so that the inner ferrule is at least partially received within an interior space of a receiving portion of the electrical shielding member; at least one corresponding engagement element that protrudes outwardly from the inner ferrule, wherein the corresponding engagement element is adapted to be engaged with an engagement element of the electrical shielding member, when the electrical shielding member is crimped over the inner ferrule.

14. The electrical shielding assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner ferrule further comprises a number of engagement protrusions that protrude inwardly into and/or outwardly from the inner ferrule, wherein the engagement protrusions are formed as embossment, piercing, rim hole, and/or a louver or a combination thereof.

15. The electrical shielding assembly of claim 13, wherein the corresponding engagement element of the inner ferrule is formed as an embossed element, and comprises a perforated section, wherein the perforated section further preferably comprises a cut edge, that intersects the longitudinal direction of the cable to be received under an angle of about 90°, and a cut face that even more preferably faces into the opposite direction of the cable end, when the inner ferrule is arranged on the stripped cable end.

16. The electrical shielding assembly of claim 13, wherein the corresponding engagement element of the inner ferrule is an engagement arm, having a free end that faces into the opposite direction of the cable end, when the inner ferrule is arranged on the stripped cable end.

17. The electrical shielding assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner ferrule-further comprises an abutment face arranged on a front face of the inner ferrule that faces into the opposite direction of the cable end, when the inner ferrule is arranged on the stripped cable end, wherein the abutment face is adapted to be engaged with an engagement element of the electrical shielding member, when the electrical shielding member is crimped over the inner ferrule.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the following, the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in relation to the accompanied figures, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of an electrical shielding element;

(3) FIG. 2A shows a perspective schematic view of an inner ferrule in an uncrimped state;

(4) FIG. 2B shows a schematic view of the inner ferrule in a bend shape;

(5) FIG. 3A shows a perspective schematic view of an exploded view of the network connector housing;

(6) FIG. 3B shows a perspective schematic view of the network connector housing in an assembled state;

(7) FIG. 4A to FIG. 4L show multiple steps of a method for manufacturing a network connector;

(8) FIG. 5 shows a perspective schematic view of the network connector, being provided in a collector housing;

(9) FIG. 6 shows a schematic cut view of an assembled network connector, as shown in FIG. 5;

(10) FIG. 7 shows a perspective schematic view of a further electrical shielding element, and

(11) FIG. 8 shows a detailed cut view of an electrical shielding assembly.

(12) In particular, FIG. 1 shows an electrical shielding member 100, comprising a receiving portion 110 for receiving a cable end of the shielded cable (not shown). The receiving portion 110 has a substantially cylindrical form and is adapted to enclose a cable end entirely. The receiving portion 110 may be wrapped around the cable end during assembly or may be pre-formed in the cylindrical shape.

(13) Further, the electrical shielding member comprises two contact beams 130, 150, wherein each of the contact beams is provided with three distinct contact points 131, 132, 133, respectively 151, 152, 153. The contact points may be provided as line contacts or surface contacts and are adapted for establishing an electrical connection between the electrical shielding member and an electrical shielding member of a corresponding counter connector.

(14) The receiving portion 110 is provided with two coupling elements 116a, 116b, which protrude outwardly from the receiving portion 110. The coupling elements 116a, 116b are adapted to be coupled with corresponding coupling elements of a network connector housing (cf. FIG. 4L). The coupling elements 116a, 116b are provided as coupling protrusions that are embossed in the receiving portion 110. Further, the coupling elements 116a, 116b comprise a cut-face that faces away from the cable end when the cable is received within the receiving portion 110. Further, the electrical shielding member 100 comprises an engagement element 112, which is adapted to be engaged with a cable, in particular with a cable insulation, when the electrical shielding member 100 receives said cable. The engagement element 112 protrudes inwardly into the receiving portion 11o and is provided with a perforated section 113. The perforated section comprises a cut-edge that intersects the longitudinal direction of a cable to be received under an angle of about 90°. Further, the perforated section comprises a cut-face that faces into the direction of the cable end, when the cable would be received within the receiving portion. The cut-face may act as a barb. Therefore, the engagement element 112 and in particular the perforated section 113 can carve into the cable and/or the cable insulation, to allow for a reliable fastening of the electrical shielding member 100.

(15) The electrical shielding member 100 of FIG. 1 is formed from bent and cut sheet metal, so that a preform of the electrical shielding member is a substantially flat piece of metal sheet. By cutting and embossing, the single structural features can be provided and the final shape is achieved by bending or wrapping the electrical shielding member 100.

(16) Still further, the electrical shielding member 100 comprises opposing joint rims. A first joint rim is provided with a primary locking protrusion 122, and the second opposing joint rim is provided with a corresponding primary locking recess 123. The locking protrusion and locking recess 122, 123 engage with each other, when the electrical shielding member 100 is bent or wrapped in the form as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, a very stable electrical shielding member 100 can be provided. The engagement of the locking elements 122, 123 can be achieved prior to arranging the electrical shielding member on the cable end or during arranging the electrical shielding member on the cable end. In particular, the engagement can occur during crimping and/or during wrapping. Further, the first joint rim can be provided with secondary locking recesses 125, 126 and the opposing second joint rim can be provided with corresponding secondary locking protrusions 124, 126 for further engagement.

(17) The electrical shielding member 100 is provided with primary fastening elements 114a, 114b, which are provided at an end of the receiving portion 11o that faces away from the end of the cable, in an assembled state. The primary fastening elements 114a and 114b protrude inwardly into the receiving portion 110 and clamp the cable within the receiving portion 110 when the receiving portion is installed. Further, the electrical shielding member 100 is provided with lateral through openings 115a, 115b that are provided adjacent to the primary fastening elements 114a and 114b. Thus, insulation material of the cable that is displaced by the primary fastening elements 114a and 114b can be received within the lateral through openings 115a, 115b. This would increase the retention force.

(18) The electrical shielding member 100 may be provided with a secondary fastening element 117, wherein the secondary fastening element 117 protrudes inwardly and is provided at a distal end of the receiving portion, i.e. the end of the receiving portion that is oriented towards the cable end. The secondary fastening element 117 can be an embossed element that can be provided in a substantially wave form. Particularly, the secondary fastening element 117 can extend from a first joint rim to a second joint rim and encircle the receiving portion 110 almost entirely. Therefore, the fastening between the cable and the electrical shielding member 100 can be further increased.

(19) As shown in FIG. 1, the entire electrical shielding member may be integrally formed, i.e. formed from one piece of metal sheet. Therefore, a very cost effective electrical shielding member can be provided.

(20) FIG. 2A shows an inner ferrule 200, which can be used together with the electrical shielding member 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1, to from an electrical shielding assembly. The inner ferrule 200 comprises a sleeve that is formed from cut and bent sheet metal. On joint rims, the inner ferrule is provided with a locking protrusion 222 and on the opposing rim with a locking recess 223, which engage with each other, if the inner ferrule 200 is formed into sleeve form as shown in FIG. 2B. The inner ferrule can be formed in sleeve form either during crimping or previously. Particularly, the inner ferrule 200 can be supplied in a substantially flat form in an assembly line of a connector. The inner ferrule may be provided with engagement protrusions 230 that protrude inwardly and/or outwardly. These engagement protrusions 230 lead to an increased retention force. Further, the inner ferrule 200 can comprise an abutment face 215 that is arranged on a front face of the inner ferrule 200. The abutment face faces into the opposite direction of the cable end, when the inner ferrule is arranged on the stripped cable end (cf. FIG. 4D.) Said abutment face 215 is adapted to be engaged with an engagement element 112b of the electrical shielding member as e.g. shown in FIG. 8.

(21) FIG. 3A shows a housing 300 of a network connector 10. The housing 300 may comprise a first housing part 310 and a second housing part 320. The first housing part 310 can be provided with at least one primary latching arm 312, wherein the second housing part comprises a corresponding primary latching element 322. During assembling the housing, the latching arm 312 and latching element 322 will latch with each other to fasten the parts 310, 320 of the housing 300. The primary latching element 322 can be provided as a latching nose. Further, the first housing part 310 can be provided with a secondary latching arm 314 which is adapted to latch with a secondary latching element 324 of the second housing part 320. Still further, the first housing part 310 can be provided with a coupling opening 318 that is adapted to couple with a corresponding coupling protrusion 328 of the first housing part. The corresponding coupling protrusion 328 may protrude through opening 318 and may further serve to couple with a collector housing (cf. FIG. 6B).

(22) Further, the housing 300 and in particular the second housing part 320 can be provided with a stopping member 327. The stopping member 327 may be arranged in a middle portion of the housing part 320 and may be sandwiched between a first and second electrical contact terminal receiving channel. Each of the first and second electrical contact terminal receiving channel is adapted to receive the first and second electrical contact terminals 530, 540, respectively, in an assembled state of the connector 10. The stopping member 327 is adapted to abut with an intersecting point of the cable 400, wherein the intersecting point of the cable, is the point, where the first and second wires 430, 440 leave the cable insulation sleeve 415. Thus, the stopping member 327 allows to limit the insertion depth of the cable 400 and/or the electrical shielding member 100 into the housing 300.

(23) Still further, the housing is provided with counter coupling elements 316a, 316b. In particular, the first housing part 310 may be provided the counter coupling elements 316a, 316b. The counter coupling elements 316a, 316b are adapted to couple with the coupling elements 116a, 116b of the electrical shielding member 100 to secure the electrical shielding member 100 and respectively the cable within the housing 300.

(24) FIG. 3B shows the housing 300 in an assembled state. The cable and the electrical shielding member are not shown. In particular, the latching arms 312, 314 engage with the respective latching elements 322, 324.

(25) FIGS. 4A to 4L illustrate some manufacturing steps of a method to manufacture a network connector assembly 10. The order of the shown manufacturing steps is only illustrative and can be different. In a first method step as shown in FIG. 4A, a cable 400 is provided. The cable comprises an insulation 415 and a shielding 410. In a second method step as shown in FIG. 4B, the insulation 415 is partly removed and the shielding 410 is laid open, to provide a stripped cable end.

(26) In FIG. 4C, in a third method step, the inner ferrule 200, as described with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, is provided and wrapped around the shield 410 of the cable 400. The inner ferrule 200 may be provided in a substantially flat shape and may be wrapped around the cable end before crimping. The crimped inner ferrule 200 is shown in FIG. 4D. After wrapping and/or crimping, the inner ferrule 200 forms a substantially cylindrical sleeve around the shielding 410 of the cable 400, wherein an abutment face 215 faces into the opposite direction of the cable end. The abutment face 215 may protrude from the inner ferrule 200 in the opposite direction of the cable end. In a further method step as shown in FIG. 4E, the shield 410 of the cable 400 is folded back to cover the inner ferrule 200, at least partially. As shown in FIG. 4G, the wires 430 and 440 of the cable 400 can be provided with contact terminals 530, 540. The cable 400 may be a twisted cable, with shielded or unshielded wires 430, 440.

(27) After having provided the contact terminals 530, 540 to the wires 430, 440, the electrical shielding member 100 is assembled. The electrical shielding member 100 may be provided in a substantially flat shape and may be wrapped around the cable end, respectively the inner ferrule 200, before crimping. Thus, the electrical shielding member 100 may cover the folded back shielding 410, the inner ferrule 200 and the insulation 415 of the cable 400 at least partially. The engagement element 112 (not shown) can carve into the insulation 415 of the cable 400. Subsequently, the electrical shielding member 100 is crimped, so that the locking contour, comprising primary and secondary locking recesses and protrusions 122 to 127 engage with each other, as shown in FIG. 41. As shown in FIG. 41, the electrical contact terminal 530, 540 may have a primary locking means 531, 541 in form of a latching arm and a secondary locking means 533, 543 in form of a locking recess. The primary locking means 531, 541 and/or secondary locking means 533, 543 serve to lock the electrical contact terminal 530, 540 within the connector housing, as described in greater detail with respect to FIG. 6.

(28) As shown in FIG. 4J, the cable 400 with the electrical shielding member 100 is arranged within the second housing part 320. The, the first housing part 310 is assembled and latched to the second housing part 320 (see FIGS. 4K and 4L). The coupling elements 116a and 116b couple with the corresponding coupling elements 316a and 316b of the first housing part 310. The corresponding coupling elements 316a and 316b are provided as coupling openings. A cut face of the coupling elements 116a, 116b can abut with the corresponding face of the counter coupling elements 316a, 316b to secure the electrical shielding member 100 within the housing 300. FIG. 4L shows the network connector 10 in an assembled condition.

(29) FIG. 5 shows a perspective schematic view of the network connector 10, being provided in a collector housing 600. The collector housing 600 covers the network connector 10 and protects the electrical conductive parts, such as the electrical contact terminals 530, 540 and the electrical shielding member 100 form mechanical impact. Particularly, the electrical conductive parts are protected from being touched, i.e. they are provided fully finger proof within the collector housing 600.

(30) FIG. 6 shows a schematic cut view of an assembled network connector, as shown in FIG. 5. The electrical contact terminal 530 may have a primary locking means 531 and the connector housing may have a corresponding primary locking means 311, that engage with each other when the terminal 530 is assembled. Further, the electrical contact terminal 530 may have a secondary locking means 533 and the connector housing may have a corresponding secondary locking means 313, that engage with each other when the terminal is assembled.

(31) The primary locking means 531, the corresponding primary locking means 311, the secondary locking means 533, the corresponding secondary locking means 313 and the coupling element 116 a, 116b and the counter coupling element 316a, 316b may be arranged so that, when pulling the cable 400 out of the connector housing 300, firstly the primary locking means 531 and the corresponding primary locking means 311 abut each other. Subsequently, the coupling element 116 a, 116b and the counter coupling element 316a, 316b may abut each other and thereafter, the secondary locking means 533 and the corresponding secondary locking means 313 may abut each other. Thus, the cable 400 can be held reliable with in the connector housing 300, without losing its electrical connection.

(32) The primary locking means 531, 541 of the electrical contact terminals may be provided as latching arms and the secondary locking means 533, 543 may be provided as locking recess that receives a corresponding secondary locking means 313 of the connector housing 300. Further, the corresponding coupling protrusion 328 of the second housing part 320 may protrude through an opening of the first housing part, which serves as coupling opening 318. This allows the coupling protrusion 328 to couple with a corresponding coupling protrusion 628 of collector housing 600. The corresponding coupling protrusion 628 of collector housing 600 may be provided on a latching arm 629 to provide a releasable coupling of the collector housing 600 and the connector housing 300.

(33) FIG. 7 shows an electrical shielding member 100′ that has particularly the same structure as the electrical shielding member 100, shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the parts of the electrical shielding member that are already described with respect to FIG. 1, can also be present in the electrical shielding member 100′ and are not described here explicitly. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is not provided with secondary fastening elements 117. However, providing secondary fastening elements is possible.

(34) The electrical shielding member 100′ comprises multiple engagement elements 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d. The engagement elements 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d are arranged so that at least a first engagement element 112a is engaged with the cable, in particular with a cable jacket. Second engagement elements 112b, 112c and 112d are arranged so as to be engaged with a fastening ferrule (inner ferrule) of the cable, as shown in greater detail in FIG. 8. Providing multiple engagement elements allows for increased retention forces of the cable. The engagement elements 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d may have different widths and/or heights to provide the desired retention force.

(35) FIG. 8 shows a detailed cut view of an electrical shielding assembly, comprising an inner ferrule 200′, that is adapted to be crimped on a stripped cable end of a shielded cable (not shown) and an outer ferrule, wherein the outer ferule is an electrical shielding member 100′, as described above. Even though FIG. 8 shows an electrical shielding assembly that comprises inner ferrule 200′ and electrical shielding member 100′, other embodiments may comprise the electrical shielding member 100 and/or the inner ferrule 200 as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 2B.

(36) The inner ferrule 200′ comprises a corresponding engagement element 212 that protrudes outwardly from the inner ferrule 200′, wherein the corresponding engagement element 212 is engaged with an engagement element 112c of the electrical shielding member 100′.

(37) The corresponding engagement element 212 of the inner ferrule 200′ is formed as embossed element, and comprises a perforated section 213, wherein the perforated section 213 comprises a cut edge, that intersects the longitudinal direction of the cable to be received under an angle of about 90°. The cut edge provides a secure engagement between the corresponding engagement element 212 of the inner ferrule 200′ and the engagement element 112c of the electrical shielding member 100′.

(38) The inner ferrule 200′ further comprises an abutment face 215 that is arranged on a front face of the inner ferrule 200′. The abutment face 215 faces into the opposite direction of the cable end, when the inner ferrule 200′ is arranged on the stripped cable end. Said abutment face 215 is engaged with the engagement element 112b of the electrical shielding member 100′.

(39) The engagement elements 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d are provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 as embossed elements (embossed ribs). Each engagement element comprises a first shoulder 1121 and a second shoulder 1122, wherein the first and second shoulders 1121, 1122 form an edge 1123 that protrudes inwardly into the receiving portion of the electrical shielding member 100′. The edge 1123 intersects the longitudinal direction of the cable to be received under an angle of about 90°. The second shoulder 1122 of engagement element 112c engages with the corresponding engagement element 212 of the inner ferrule 200′.

(40) The first shoulder 1121 encloses an acute angle with an inner surface of the receiving portion of the electrical shielding member 100′. Further, the first shoulder 1121 and the second shoulder 1122 enclose an angle of about 90°, wherein the second shoulder 1122 faces into the direction of the cable end, when the cable end is received within the receiving portion of the electrical shielding member 100′. This configuration allows to provide high retention forces with low tolerances.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(41) 10 network connector 100, 100′ electrical shielding member 110 receiving portion 112 engagement element 112a, b engagement element 112c, d engagement element 1121 first shoulder 1122 second shoulder 1123 edge 113 perforated section 114a, b primary fastening element 115a, b lateral trough-opening 116a, b coupling element 117 secondary fastening element 122 primary locking protrusion 123 primary locking recess 124, 126 secondary locking protrusion 125, 127 secondary locking recess 130, 150 contact beam 131, 132, 133 contact points 151, 152, 153 contact points 200, 200′ inner (fastening) ferrule 212 corresponding engagement element 213 perforated section of corresponding engagement element 215 abutment face 222 locking protrusion 223 locking recess 230 engagement protrusion 300 network connector housing 310 first housing part 311 corresponding primary locking means 312 primary latching arm 313 corresponding secondary locking means 314 secondary latching arm 316a, b counter coupling element 318 coupling opening 320 second housing part 322 primary latching element 324 secondary latching element 327 stopping member 328 coupling protrusion 400 cable 410 shielding 430 wire 440 wire 530 electrical contact terminal 531 primary locking means 533 secondary locking means 540 electrical contact terminal 541 primary locking means 543 secondary locking means 600 collector housing 628 corresponding coupling protrusion of collector housing