[0001] The invention relates to a method for connecting a connector to a shielded cable,
said cable having a plurality of wires, a common shielding and an outer jacket, comprising
exposing the wires and the shielding at one end of the cable, providing a first sleeve-like
body on the outer jacket near the exposed shielding, laying the exposed shielding
on the first body and mounting a second sleeve-like body of conductive material on
the first body to thereby clamp the exposed shielding between both bodies, connecting
the exposed wires to contacts accommodated in an insulating housing and mounting the
bodies in a chamber of first and second hood parts. The invention further relates
to a cable connector with a shielded cable and to cable connector parts to be used
in the method.
[0002] Such a method, cable connector and cable connector parts are shown for example in
EP-A-0 694 989, fig. 5 and 6. The first body is a plastic sleeve having an inner diameter
sufficient to receive the outer jacket of the cable. The shielding, generally made
as braided metallic wires, is clamped between the plastic sleeve and the second conductive
body.
[0003] US-A-4 902 249 discloses a method for connecting a connector to a shielded cable,
wherein an inner ferrule is mounted on the exposed shielding, the shielding is laid
on the inner ferrule and the shielding laid back on the inner ferrule is covered by
a conductive layer such as a copper foil.
[0004] The invention aims to provide an improved method of the above-mentioned type.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, the method is characterized in that
the first body is mounted on the outer jacket by crimping an axial section of the
first body at its end directed away from the exposed shielding, and in that the second
body is provided with a conical part which is pressed on the first body while clamping
the exposed shielding by mounting the bodies in the chamber of the hood parts.
[0006] In this manner the first body is fixed in position on the outer jacket before mounting
the second body, whereas the conical part of the second body is pressed on the first
body so that a good electrical connection between the first and second bodies can
be obtained without exerting high forces on the cable. The forces exerted on the cable
for fixation of the inner body can be determined in an accurate manner to fix the
inner body in position and to provide a desired strain relief of the cable through
locking the body/bodies within a hood of the connector.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention a cable connector is provided with
a shielded cable having a plurality of wires, a shielding and an outer jacket, said
cable connector comprising a housing of insulating material accommodating a plurality
of contacts connected to said wires, and a hood of conductive material connected to
the cable shielding, wherein a first sleeve-like body is provided on the outer jacket
and a second sleeve-like body of conductive material is mounted on the first body,
the cable shielding being clamped between both bodies, characterized in that an axial
section of the first body directed away from the insulating housing is crimped on
the outer jacket, in that the second body has a conical part, and in that the bodies
are received within a chamber in each of the hood parts, at least one of the chambers
having a wall engaging the conical part of the second body, the exposed shielding
being clamped between both bodies.
[0008] According to a further aspect of the invention cable connector parts for use in the
method of the invention are provided, comprising an insulating housing accommodating
a plurality of contacts, first and second hood parts of conductive material, a first
sleeve-like body and a second sleeve-like body, at least the second body being made
of conductive material, characterized in that the first body is provided with a radial
ring at one end, and in that the second body comprises a conical part.
[0009] The invention will be further explained by reference to the drawings in which an
embodiment of the method and cable connector of the invention is schematically shown.
[0010] Fig. 1-9 show subsequent steps in an embodiment of the method of the invention for
connecting a connector to a shielded cable, wherein fig. 6 and 7 show perspective
views of a hood part of the connector and fig. 9 shows the complete connector with
shielded cable obtained by the method.
[0011] Fig. 10 and 11 show subsequent steps in an alternative embodiment of the method of
the invention.
[0012] Fig. 12 shows a connector part used in the method of fig. 10-11.
[0013] Fig. 13 and 14 show two hood parts of a connector used in a third alternative embodiment
of the method of the invention.
[0014] Fig. 15 and 16 show subsequent steps in the third embodiment of the method of the
invention.
[0015] Fig. 1 shows a shielded cable 1 having a plurality of wires 2, a common shielding
3 and an outer jacket 4. The shielding 3 is made of braided metallic wires. At one
end of the cable 1 the wires 2 and the shielding 3 are exposed. A first sleeve-like
body 5 made of a conductive material, for example a metallic ring is slid onto the
outer jacket 4 such that one end of the body 5 extends beyond the outer jacket 4 along
a short distance as shown in fig. 2. At the other end of the body 5, the body is fixed
in position on the outer jacket 4 by crimping an axial section 6 on the outer jacket
4. In this manner the remaining section 7 does not clamp the outer jacket 4 and remains
relatively flexible.
[0016] As shown in fig. 3, the exposed part 8 of the shielding 3 is laid on the inner body
5, wherein it is guaranteed that the shielding 3 will contact the inner body 5 both
at the outer circumferential surface and the end extending beyond the outer jacket
4. When the exposed shielding part 8 has been laid on the inner body 5, a second sleeve-like
outer body 9 of conductive material is slid on the inner body 5 until an inwardly
directed shoulder 10 at its end near the exposed wires 2 abuts against the exposed
shielding part 8 at the corresponding end of the inner body 5. Thereafter an axial
section 11 at the end of the outer body 9 near the exposed wires 2 is crimped on the
exposed shielding part 8 supported by the non-crimped section 7 of the inner body
5. In this manner the shielding 3 is clamped with a high clamping force between the
bodies 5, 9 without exerting high forces on the cable 1. A good electrical connection
between the bodies 5, 9 and the shielding 3 is guaranteed.
[0017] Fig. 3 and 4 further show that the second or outer body 9 has a substantially cylindrical
part 12 joining the inwardly directed shoulder 10 and a conical part 13 with slots
14 providing outwardly flaring spring-type legs 15. The purpose of these legs 15 will
be explained hereinafter.
[0018] When the second body has been crimped on the first body to thereby clamp the exposed
shielding part 8, the wires 2 of the cable 1 can be connected to IDC-type contacts
16 accommodated in an insulating housing 17 of a connector. The connector further
comprises a hood including two hood parts 18, one of which is shown in fig. 6 and
7. The hood parts 18 are made of conductive material, wherein a covering plate 19
is mounted on one end of each hood part 18. The covering plate 19 is made of insulating
material and covers the exposed parts of the contacts 16 when the housing 17 is mounted
in the hood. As shown in fig. 6, the covering plate 19 is fixed on the hood part 18
by means of two wing parts 20 having a slot engaging oblique edges 21 of the hood
part 18 and two lugs 22 engaging into openings 23 of the hood part 18.
[0019] Each hood part 18 is provided with a semi-cylindrical chamber 24 for receiving the
outer body 9. This chamber 24 is limited in axial direction by a first shoulder section
25 and a second shoulder section 26. When the wires 2 are connected to the contacts
16, the insulating housing 17 is mounted in the lower end of the hood part 18 whereas
the second body 9 is fittingly received in the chamber 24. The diameter in this chamber
24 is such that the spring-type legs 15 will be forced inwardly to guarantee a good
electrical connection between the outer body 9 and the hood parts 18 and thereby between
the shielding 3 and the hood parts 18. The axial length of the chamber 24 is such
that the second body 9 is locked within the chamber 24 between the shoulder sections
25, 26, so that the bodies 5, 9 provide a strain relief for the cable 1. The strength
of the strain relief can be determined by the force used to crimp the first body 5
on the outer jacket 4.
[0020] When the insulating housing 17 and the second body 9 have been mounted in the first
hood part 18, an identical second hood part 18 is placed on top of the first hood
part 18, wherein the hood parts 18 are fixed one to the other by rivets 27 for example.
[0021] As shown in fig. 8 and 9, before fixing the hood parts 18 one on the other, two bolts
28 are placed in respective bolt chambers 29 provided in wing sections 30 of the hood
parts 18. The bolts 28 each comprise a head 31, a shaft section 32 and a screw thread
section 33. The outer diameter of the shaft section 32 is smaller than the outer diameter
of the head and screw thread section 33, respectively. Each bolt chamber has a passage
34 receiving the shaft section 32 with play, wherein however the diameter of the passage
34 is smaller than the outer diameter of the head 31 and screw thread section 33,
respectively. In this manner the fixation bolts 28 are mounted in a loose-free manner
without any further special provisions on either the hood parts 18 or the bolts 28.
[0022] Fig. 10-12 show an alternative embodiment of the method, connector and connector
parts of the invention. Parts corresponding to the parts of the embodiment of fig.
1-9 are indicated by the same reference numerals.
[0023] In fig. 10, 11 the shielded cable 1, wires 2 and shielding 3 are only schematically
indicated. Just as in the first embodiment, the wires 2 and shielding 3 are exposed
at one end of the cable 1. Further the first body or inner ferrule 5 is mounted on
the outer jacket 4 of the cable with one end extending beyond the outer jacket 4.
The inner ferrule 5 is fixed on the cable 1 by crimping the axial section 6 on the
outer jacket 4. In the present embodiment, the inner ferrule 5 is provided with a
radially extending ring 35 at its end directed away from the exposed shielding 3.
[0024] When the shielding 3 is laid on the outer surface of the inner body 5, the second
sleeve-like body or outer ferrule 9 is slid on the first body 5 until its inwardly
directed shoulder 10 engages the corresponding axial end of the first body 5. In this
embodiment the second body 9 is provided with slots 14 extending along the major part
of the axial length of the second body 9 as shown in fig. 12, so that flexible legs
36 are obtained directed outwardly as shown in fig. 10.
[0025] The hood parts 18 are provided with a receiving chamber 24 for the outer ferrule
9, wherein at one end a slot 37 is provided for receiving the ring 35 of the inner
ferrule 5. The diameter A of the chamber 24 near the slot 37 is smaller than the outer
diameter B of the flexible legs 36 such that when the bodies 5, 9 are mounted in the
chamber 24, the flexible legs 36 of the outer body 9 are pressed against the inner
body 5 thereby clamping the exposed shielding part 8 be-tween both bodies 5, 9. The
ring 35 is received in the slot 37 so that the first and second bodies 5, 9 are locked
within the hood parts 18 and a desired strain relief is obtained.
[0026] It will be understood that the wires 2 can be connected to IDC-contacts 16 accommodated
in an insulated housing 17 in the same manner as in the first embodiment of fig. 1-9.
[0027] Fig. 13-16 show a third embodiment of the method, connector and connector parts of
the invention. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. The
shielded cable 1, the wires 2, the shielding 3 and the outer jacket 4 are shown very
schematically in fig. 15 and 16. In the same manner as in the first and second embodiments,
the wires 2 and shielding 3 are exposed at one end of the cable 1 and the same inner
ferrule 5 with a radial ring 35 at one end directed away from the exposed shielding
3 is mounted on the outer jacket 4 by crimping an axial section 6 on the outer jacket
4. In this case one end of the inner ferrule 5 is aligned with the end of the outer
jacket 4. The exposed shielding part 8 is laid on the outer surface of the inner ferrule
5.
[0028] In the third embodiment a second sleeve-like body or outer ferrule 38 having a conical
shape, is used. In cross-section the diameter of the outer ferrule 38 increases from
a radially inwardly directed shoulder 39 at its end near the exposed wires 2 to the
end directed away from the exposed wires. The inner diameter of the outer ferrule
38 near the shoulder 39 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the inner
ferrule 5.
[0029] In this third embodiment two hood parts 40 and 41 are used, which are shown in fig.
13 and 14, respectively. The hood part 40 is provided with a cylindrical receiving
chamber 42 having an outer diameter A which is larger than the largest outer diameter
B of the outer ferrule 38. A shoulder 43 of the hood part 40 provides a stop for the
ring 35 of the inner ferrule 5. When the wires 2 are connected to contacts 16 of the
insulated housing 17 (not shown), the inner and outer bodies or ferrules 5, 38 are
placed in the receiving chamber 42 of the hood part 40 as shown in fig. 15.
[0030] The second hood part 41 is provided with a receiving chamber 44 and a slot 45 for
receiving the ring 35 of the outer ferrule 5. The receiving chamber 44 has a conical
shape corresponding to the conical shape of the outer ferrule 38, wherein the largest
diameter of the receiving chamber 44 near the slot 45 corresponds to the largest diameter
of the outer ferrule 38. When the second hood part 41 is mounted on the first hood
part 40, the conical receiving chamber 42 will push the outer ferrule 38 towards the
slot 45 so that the exposed shielding part 8 of the shielding 3 will be clamped between
the outer body 38 and inner body 5. The inner and outer bodies 5, 38 are locked within
the hood parts 40, 41 as the ring 35 is received in the slot 45 and engages the shoulder
43 of the first hood part 40. In this manner a strain relief is obtained.
[0031] It will be clear that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described
which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims.
1. Method for connecting a connector to a shielded cable, said cable having a plurality
of wires, a common shielding and an outer jacket, comprising exposing the wires and
the shielding at one end of the cable, providing a first sleeve-like body on the outer
jacket near the exposed shielding, laying the exposed shielding on the first body,
mounting a second sleeve-like body of conductive material on the first body to thereby
clamp the exposed shielding between both bodies, connecting the exposed wires to contacts
accommodated in an insulating housing and mounting the bodies in a chamber of first
and second hood parts, characterized in that the first body is mounted on the outer
jacket by crimping an axial section of the first body at its end directed away from
the exposed shielding, and in that the second body is provided with a conical part
which is pressed on the first body while clamping the exposed shielding by mounting
the bodies in the chamber of the hood parts.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the second body comprises flexible legs providing
at least partially the conical part, wherein the legs are pressed on the first body
while clamping the exposed shielding by mounting the bodies in the chamber of the
hood parts.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible legs of the second body are
pressed on the first body at a part of the non-crimped section thereof.
4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second body is provided with an
inwardly directed shoulder at one end, wherein said second body is placed on the first
body with its shoulder against the shielding laid on the first body.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the second body comprises a conical sleeve having
its largest diameter at its end opposite the exposed wires and a smallest inner diameter
substantially equal or smaller than the outer diameter of the first body, wherein
the second body is axially moved with respect to the first body to clamp the exposed
shielding be-tween the bodies by Cupertino of the conical second body with the chamber
in at least one of the hood parts.
6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the first hood part has a chamber having a semi-cylindrical
shape limited by a shoulder at one end and the second hood part has a conical shape
corresponding with the conical shape of the second body, wherein the second body is
placed with play in the chamber of the first hood part, wherein the second hood part
is fixed on the first hood part thereby forcing the second body in axial direction
away from the exposed wires by Cupertino between the conical shapes of the chamber
and body.
7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the second hood part is provided with a slot
at the end of the conical chamber having the largest diameter, wherein the first body
is provided with a radial ring at its end opposite of the exposed wires, wherein said
ring is received in said slot to lock the bodies in the hood parts.
8. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the first body is mounted
on the outer jacket with one end of the first body aligned with or preferably extending
beyond the outer jacket at the end adjacent the exposed shielding.
9. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fixation
bolt is placed in a corresponding bolt chamber provided in the interface of the first
and second hood parts, each bolt having a shaft section be-tween bolt head and a screw
thread section with a diameter smaller than the screw thread diameter, each bolt chamber
having a passage for receiving said shaft section, the diameter of said passage being
smaller that the diameter of the screw thread and head of the bolt.
10. Cable connector with a shielded cable having a plurality of wires, a shielding and
an outer jacket, said cable connector comprising a housing of insulating material
accommodating a plurality of contacts connected to said wires, and a hood of conductive
material connected to the cable shielding, wherein a first sleeve-like body is provided
on the outer jacket and a second sleeve-like body of conductive material is mounted
on the first body, the cable shielding being clamped between both bodies, characterized
in that an axial section of the first body directed away from the insulating housing
is crimped on the outer jacket, in that the second body has a conical part, and in
that the bodies are received within a chamber in each of the hood parts, at least
one of the chambers having a wall engaging the conical part of the second body, the
exposed shielding being clamped be-tween both bodies.
11. Cable connector according to claim 10, wherein the second body has flexible legs providing
at least partially the conical part, wherein the bodies are received within the chambers
of the hood parts having a stop co-operating with at least one of the bodies to lock
the bodies in the hood, wherein the inner diameter of the chamber is smaller than
the outer diameter of the flexible legs so that when assembled, the legs of the second
body are pressed on the first body at least at a part of the non-crimped section thereof,
while clamping the exposed shielding.
12. Cable connector according to claim 11, wherein the first body is provided with a radial
ring at its end directed away from the exposed wires, which ring is received in a
slot formed in at least one of the chambers of the hood parts.
13. Cable connector parts for use in the method of anyone of claims 1-9, comprising an
insulating housing accommodating a plurality of contacts, first and second hood parts
of conductive material, a first sleeve-like body and a second sleeve-like body, at
least the second body being made of conductive material, characterized in that the
first body is provided with a radial ring at one end, and in that the second body
comprises a conical part.
14. Cable connector parts according to claim 13, wherein the conical part of the second
body has a plurality of axial slots which are open at one end to provide a plurality
of spring-type legs.
15. Cable connector parts according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the second body is provided
with an inwardly directed shoulder at its end opposite of the conical section, wherein
the axial slots extend from the opposite end upto near the other end.
16. Cable connector parts according to claim 13, wherein the second body comprises a conical
sleeve, wherein the first hood part has a semi-cylindrical chamber and the second
hood part has a conical chamber.