SHIELDING ELEMENT AND PLUG CONNECTOR

Abstract

A shielding element and a plug connector providing reliable shielding as well as reduced assembly effort and assembly and savings on material, weight and material costs. Inner spring elements are arranged at a first end of a hollow cylindrical main body and configured to establish electrical contact with a shielding of a mating connector The shielding element furthermore has a plurality of tabs arranged along the circumference of a hollow cylindrical main body at a second end of the hollow cylindrical main body, wherein the tabs are bent and project at least in part radially from a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical main body.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A shielding element, comprising a hollow-cylindrical base body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, inner spring elements arranged at the first end configured to establish electrical contact with a shielding of a mating connector, and a plurality of tabs arranged at the second end along a circumference of the hollow-cylindrical base body in at least one group so as to protrude at least partially radially from a longitudinal axis of the hollow-cylindrical base body, the tabs having a bend and configured to establish an electrically conducting axial connection between the shielding element and a housing of an electrical assembly, with the tabs in the at least one group having identical mutual spacings with respect to one another.

12. The shielding element of claim 11, wherein the tabs each have a bead arranged transversely to a longitudinal extent of the tabs in the region of the bend.

13. The shielding element of claim 11, wherein the hollow-cylindrical base body comprises at the first end positioning means for positioning the hollow cylindrical base body in a plug connector housing encompassing the shielding element.

14. The shielding element of claim 11, wherein the hollow-cylindrical base body comprises at the second end locking means for rotation-locked positioning of a contact carrier in a plug connector housing encompassing the shielding element.

15. A plug connector arranged to form a plug connection with a mating connector, the plug connector comprising a plug connector housing, a contact carrier, and a shielding element arranged between the plug connector housing and the contact carrier, with the shielding element comprising a hollow-cylindrical base body haying a first end and a second end opposite the first end, inner spring elements arranged at the first end configured to establish electrical contact with a shielding of a mating connector, and a plurality of tabs arranged at the second end along a circumference of the hollow-cylindrical base body in at least one group so as to protrude at least partially radially from a longitudinal axis of the hollow-cylindrical base body, the tabs having a bend and configured to establish an electrically conducting axial connection between the shielding element and a housing of an electrical assembly, with the tabs in the at least one group having identical mutual spacings with respect to one another.

16. The plug connector of claim 15, wherein the plug connector housing further comprises a seal and positioning means for positioning the hollow-cylindrical base body in the plug connector housing.

17. The plug connector of claim 15, further comprising fasteners for fastening the plug connector housing with the shielding element and the contact carrier on the housing of the electrical assembly.

18. The plug connector of claim 15, characterized in that the contact carrier has at least one electrical contact for current or signal transmission.

Description

[0040] The foregoing features and advantages of this invention will be better understood and appreciated after a careful study of the following detailed description of preferred non-limiting example embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which show in:

[0041] FIG. 1: a perspective view of a shielding element according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 2: a plan view of a connector housing with a shielding element according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 3: a sectional view of the connector housing and the shielding element according to the invention along the section line AA shown in FIG. 2,

[0044] FIG. 4: an enlarged detail of the sectional view shown in FIG. 3,

[0045] FIG. 5: a perspective view of a connector with the shielding element according to the invention,

[0046] FIG, 6: another embodiment of the tabs of the shielding element according to the invention, and

[0047] FIG. 7: another sectional view of the connector housing and the shielding element according to the invention according to FIG. 6.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of the shielding element 1 according to the invention. This shielding element 1 has a hollow-cylindrical base body 2 with a longitudinal axis 3.

[0049] Spring elements 5 are arranged at a first end 4 of the shielding element 1. These internal spring elements 5 are provided for establishing electrical contact with a shielding of a mating connector, which can be connected to a cable. The mating connector and the cable are not shown in FIG. 1. The internal spring elements 5 are arranged, for example, in groups having each three spring elements 5.

[0050] Tabs 7 according to the invention are arranged at a second end 6 of the shielding element 1. These tabs 7 are spaced apart from one another and are arranged along the circumference of the hollow-cylindrical base body 2. The distance between each two adjacent tabs 7 can be chosen to be identical or different. In the example of FIG. 1, the tabs 7 are arranged in two groups having equal distances from one another in the group. Between the two groups, i.e. at the points where a larger distance was selected between two adjacent tabs 7, a so-called gap 8 is created.

[0051] In the example in FIG. 1, the tabs 7 have recesses, which can reduce the weight of the shielding element 1. However, this is not essential for the present invention.

[0052] The tabs 7 have a bend, as a result of which the tabs 7 are arranged at least partially protruding radially outwards from a longitudinal axis 3 of the hollow-cylindrical base body 2 or away from the longitudinal axis 3. Such a bend can be made in a range of, for example, 60 degrees to 130 degrees.

[0053] The tab 7 can be bent in such a way that the bend divides the tab 7 into two sections. As shown in FIG. 1, the respective first section of a tab 7 runs in an extension of the lateral surface of the hollow-cylindrical base body 2. The respective second section of a bracket 7 after the bend extends at an angle 20 from the hollow-cylindrical base body 2, and protrudes outward or points away from the longitudinal axis 3. In the example of FIG. 1, the angle 20 is shown as approximately 65 degrees. The angle 20 is subtended between the hollow-cylindrical base body 2 and the second section of a tab 7, wherein for example, a mean value is assumed for the second section of the tab 7 in the event that the second section is curved and in particular has a bead 9.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment of the shielding element 1 according to the invention, the bend is arranged directly at the beginning of the tab 7, i.e. at the transition between the lateral surface of the hollow-cylindrical base body 2 and the tab 7, thus eliminating the first section. This embodiment is not shown in the figures.

[0055] In the area of the bend, the tabs 7 have at least one channel-shaped depression or a bead 9 which is arranged transversely to the longitudinal extent of the bent tabs 7. These beads 9 form the bearing surfaces of the tabs 7, which are brought to bear on a housing 14 of an electrical assembly and produce an electrically conductive connection between the shielding element 1 and the housing 14 of the electrical assembly. Such an electrical assembly and a housing 14 are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a connector housing 10 with a shielding element 1 according to the invention. The shielding element 1 is arranged in a connector housing 10 which surrounds the shielding element 1 and fixes it mechanically. Such a connector housing 10 can, for example, have a rectangular flange, which is arranged using appropriate fasteners 11 on a housing 14, not shown in FIG. 2, of an electrical assembly. These fasteners 11 fix the connector housing 10 with the shielding element 1 to the housing 14 in such a way that the tabs 7 arranged at the second end 6 of the shielding element 1 are pressed against a surface of the housing 14 and establish an electrically conductive connection between the shielding element 1 and the housing 14. In particular, the second section of a tab 7 or the bead 9 incorporated into the tab 7 is pressed against a for example flat surface on the housing 14.

[0057] Screws or rivets, for example, can be used as fasteners 11.

[0058] A contact carrier 12 is arranged inside the shielding element 1. The contact carrier 12 has two electrical contacts 13, which ensures power transmission between a power-supplying cable and an electrical load. In addition, the contact carrier 12 may have additional contacts, which are not shown in FIG. 2. For example, an unillustrated mating connector connected to the power-supplying cable is plugged into the connector housing 10 for power transmission, as a result of which the electrical contacts 13 are connected to corresponding mating contacts arranged in the mating connector and current flow is enabled to an electrical load arranged in the housing via the cable, the mating contacts and the contacts 13.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the section line AA shown in FIG. 2 through the connector housing 10, the shielding element 1 and the contact carrier 12 with its electrical contacts 13.

[0060] The shielding element 1 is arranged in the connector housing 10. The spring elements 5 arranged at the first end 4 can also be seen. The connector housing 10 is connected with the fasteners 11 to a housing 14 of an electrical assembly such as a main or auxiliary unit. Through this connection, the tabs 7 arranged at the second end 6 of the shielding element 1 are fastened, in particular with their beads 9, by pressing against a flat surface of the housing 14.

[0061] To prevent dirt and moisture from entering the housing 14, a ring-shaped seal 15 is arranged between the housing 14 and the connector housing 10. With this design of the seal 15, the leak-tightness depends on the diameter of the opening in the housing 14 and not, as is the case in the prior art, on a pressing force which is generated by the fasteners 11. Thus, according to the present invention, the leak-tightness is maintained even when the pressing force decreases, for example if the functionality of the fasteners 11 degrades.

[0062] FIG. 3 is intended as an example basic illustration and does not show how the electrical contacts 13 are connected to an unillustrated electrical load arranged in the housing 14, which of course is absolutely necessary for supplying power, for example.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail of part of the sectional view shown in FIG. 3. In this illustration, the area of the transition between the tabs 7 as contact springs of the shielding element 1 and a surface on the housing 14, which is preferably designed as a flat surface, is shown as an enlarged detail. The fasteners 11, the seat 15 and the contacts 13 have been omitted.

[0064] It can clearly seen that the tabs 7 bear against the housing 14 in particular with their beads 9 and enable an electrically conductive connection. The design of the tabs 7 with a bead 9 selected in the illustration in FIG. 4 is not mandatory for the present invention. Bending the tabs 7 such that the second section of the tab 7 is angled at an angle 20 of 90 degrees relative to the first section, for example, also makes it possible to provide an electrically conductive connection of the tab 7 to the housing 14.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a connector 19 according to the invention with the shielding element 1. The illustrated connector 19 includes the connector housing 10 with the shielding element 1 and the contact carrier 12.

[0066] Also visible is the for example rectangular flange of the connector housing 10, which is fastened to an unillustrated housing 14 using unillustrated fastening means 11.

[0067] A means 16 designed, for example, as a pin for positioning or aligning the plug connector 19 during assembly on the housing 14 is arranged on this flange.

[0068] Also shown is the shielding element 1 introduced into the connector housing 10, with only the tabs 7 protruding from the connector 19.

[0069] These tabs 7 are formed with a gap 8, with a positioning shape 17 formed on the contact carrier 12 ensuring a corresponding alignment of the contact carrier 12 upon insertion into the connector housing 10. Thus, the exact position of the contact carrier 12 in the connector housing 10 is specified and the contact carrier 12 is rotation-locked.

[0070] In the example in FIG. 5, the unillustrated electrical contacts 13 are extended outwards via the depicted connection wires 18, in order to be able to connect for example an unillustrated load.

[0071] In addition, means known from the prior art for aligning and fixing an unillustrated mating connector with the connector 19 on the connector housing 10 can be seen.

[0072] By mechanically fixing the plug connector 19 to a housing 14 using the fasteners 11, the conductive tabs 7, which operate as contact springs, are pressed against the housing 14 of an unillustrated electrical assembly, such as a control unit, a main unit or an auxiliary unit in a vehicle, hereby ensuring electrical contact between the mating connector and the plug connector for power and/or signal transmission, including a ground connection for shielding, which is robust and tight.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the shielding element 1 according to the invention, with the tabs 7 being designed in an alternative configuration. As can be seen in this embodiment, the tabs 7 are designed without a bead 9 and with an angle 20 of approximately 90 degrees.

[0074] FIG. 7 shows a partial sectional view of the shielding element 1 according to the invention in the configuration according to FIG. 6 in a connector housing 10. The resulting angle 20 between the hollow-cylindrical base body 2 of the shielding element 1 and the second section of a tab 7, which bears against the housing 14, is approximately 90 degrees in this embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS

[0075] 1 shielding element

[0076] 2 hollow-cylindrical body

[0077] 3 longitudinal axis

[0078] 4 first end

[0079] 5 spring element

[0080] 6 second end

[0081] 7 tab

[0082] 8 gap

[0083] 9 bead

[0084] 10 connector housing

[0085] 11 fasteners

[0086] 12 contact carriers

[0087] 13 electrical contact

[0088] 14 housing

[0089] 15 seal

[0090] 16 positioning means

[0091] 17 positioning shape

[0092] 18 connection wires

[0093] 19 plug connector

[0094] 20 angle