ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Abstract

An electrical junction box comprises an electrically conductive housing and at least one cable end wherein an everted braided shield section of the cable end is received in a retainer section of the housing and an electrically conductive adhesive is provided.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an electrical junction box having an electrically protective housing and at least one cable end defining an axial direction, the method comprising the steps of: providing the least one cable end; everting a braided shield of the cable to partially surround an isolating jacket of the least one cable end, thereby forming an everted braided shield section; providing an electrically conductive housing which has a retainer section for receiving the everted braided shield section of the least one cable end, said retainer section having at least one protrusion for urging against the everted braided shield section; applying an electrically conductive adhesive to the retainer section or to the everted braided shield section of the least one cable end; inserting the least one cable end in the housing with the everted braided shield section being placed in the retainer section and the everted braided shield abutting against the protrusion; and closing the housing.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of applying an electrically conductive adhesive to the retainer section or to the everted braided shield section of the least one cable end includes applying an electrically conductive adhesive to the retainer section and to the everted braided shield section of the least one cable end.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein an annular sealing ring is placed over the isolating jacket of the least one cable end and is inserted in a receptacle of the housing.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein two complementary half-shells are provided to form at least part of the housing, each of said half-shells forming part of the retainer section.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the everted braided shield section is clamped between the half-shells upon closing the housing.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the everted braided shield section is clamped between a plurality of protrusions that are staggered in the axial direction.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the everted braided shield section is placed in the retainer section without a ferrule being provided on the braided shield.

8. An electrical junction box, comprising: an electrically conductive housing and at least one cable end defining an axial direction, wherein an everted braided shield of the least one cable end partially surrounds an isolating jacket of the cable end, wherein the everted braided shield of the least one cable end is received in a retainer section of the housing, wherein the retainer section has at least one protrusion which urges against the everted braided shield section; and an electrically conductive adhesive provided between the retainer section and the everted braided shield section of the least one cable end such that the cable end is fixedly secured in the housing with the housing and the braided shield being connected in an electrically conductive manner.

9. The junction box in accordance with claim 8, wherein an annular sealing ring placed over the isolating jacket of the least one cable end is received in a receptacle of the housing.

10. The junction box in accordance with claim 8, wherein the housing comprises two complementary half-shells, each of said half-shells forming part of the retainer section.

11. The junction box in accordance with claim 10, wherein the everted braided shield section is clamped between the half-shells.

12. The junction box in accordance with claim 8, wherein the everted braided shield section is clamped between a plurality of protrusions that are staggered in the axial direction.

13. The junction box in accordance with claim 8, wherein the everted braided shield section is placed in the retainer section without a ferrule being provided on the braided shield.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0014] The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an electrical junction box in a dismounted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts an example of an electrical junction box in the form of a junction box for a Y-splice. However, this is merely an exemplary embodiment and the electrical junction box according to the present disclosure may have various forms and configurations, e.g. an H-splice or other types of junctions.

[0017] The junction box depicted in FIG. 1 is designed for accommodating three cable ends A, B and C in an electrically conductive housing comprising two complementary half-shells 10 and 12. Each of the cable ends A, B and C define an axial direction marked with an arrow. Further, each cable end has one or more wires 14, 16 surrounded by a braided shield 18 and an outer isolating jacket 20. The outer isolated jacket 20 is partially removed such that the wires 14 and 16 of the three cable ends can be interconnected and that the braided shield 18 can be everted, i.e. turned inside out, to partially surround the isolating jacket 20 of the cable end. Thereby, an everted braided shield section E is formed.

[0018] Before removing the isolating jacket 20 partly from the cable end, an annular end cap 22 and an annular sealing ring 24 are placed over the cable end.

[0019] The electrically conductive housing which may be made of metallic material, provides in each half-shell 10 and 12 for each cable end A, B and C a retainer section 26, 28 for accommodating the everted braided shield section E. The retainer sections 26 and 28 are provided with a plurality of protrusions 30, 32 and 34 in the form of semi-ring-shaped webs designed to receive the half outer circumference of the everted braided shield section E. After the everted braided shield section E has been placed in the retainer section and both half-shells 10 and 12 have been closed, each protrusion urges against the everted braided shield 18 to electrically and mechanically interconnect the housing and the braided shield 18.

[0020] To improve the electrical conduction, the sealing capability and the fixation of the cable end in the housing, an electrically conductive adhesive 40 end which is indicated in FIG. 1 as a hatched area is provided between the retainer section 26, 28 and the everted braided shield section E of each cable. It is noted that the electrically conductive adhesive 40 may be applied to the everted braided shield section E and/or to one or both retainer sections 26, 28 of the half-shells.

[0021] For accommodating the sealing ring 24 both half-shells 10 and 12 comprise a receptacle 36 which is shaped to receive the elastic sealing ring 24 in a slightly compressed condition.

[0022] An electrical junction box as disclosed may be manufactured as follows:

[0023] First, each cable end A, B and C is inserted into the end cap 22 and the sealing ring 24. Thereafter, each cable end is dismantled to expose the wires 14 and 16 and the braided shield 18. The braided shield 18 is cut and thereafter everted such that the braided shield 18 partially surrounds the isolating jacket 20 of each cable end to form the everted braided shield section E. The wires 14 and 16 of each cable end are then interconnected using isolated connectors in a known manner Thereafter, a configuration as shown in FIG. 1 is provided.

[0024] For securely and sealingly fixing each cable end the electrically conductive adhesive 40 is then applied to the everted braided shield section E and/or the retainer section 26, 28 of the housing. Thereafter, each cable end A, B and C is put into one of the half-shells with the everted braided shield section E being placed in a retainer section and the sealing ring 24 being placed in the receptacle 36. In a next step both half-shells 10 and 12 are closed, optionally sealed and fixed by well-known. After the adhesive has cured and the housing has been closed each cable end is securely accommodated in the housing wherein the protrusions press against the braided shield 18 to secure the cable end in the housing and to electrically interconnect the housing and the braided shield 18. Finally, each end cap 22 is fit on the housing and interconnected with the housing, e.g. by means of a snap-on connection.

[0025] It should be noted that the protrusions 30, 32 and 34 each extend around the cable end over 180° such that after mounting an electrical connection between the housing and the braided shield 18 is provided which extends around the entire circumference of the cable end. This provides improved shielding properties with reduced parts and cost.