Electrical cable connector

• US 5,823,803 A
• Filed: 06/17/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conxall Corp. (Heico Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conxall Corp. (Heico Corporation)
• Inventors: Majors, Brian C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goins, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US08/668,043
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 439/98, 439/610, 439/585
• US Class Current: 439/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6593 the shield being composed of different pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule

Abstract

What is disclosed is a electrical cable connector to shield against EMI, ESD and EMC emissions. The cable connector is used to connect an electrical cable to a mating connector having an integral connecting mechanism such as a threaded exterior surface. The cable has a cable jacket surrounding a braid which surrounds at least one signal lead. The cable jacket is removed over a portion of the cable to expose the braid. The exposed braid is then folded back over the cable jacket to create a braid surface. A coupling ring, which has an integral coupling mechanism such as a threaded interior surface, is placed over the end of the cable. A shield is placed in the coupling ring and a portion of the shield is crimped over the braid surface. An optional wave spring may be placed between the coupling ring and the shield. An insulating insert is placed between the end of the one cable and the mating connector. The coupling ring is screwed onto the mating connector. The connector thus has electrical continuity between the braid, the cylindrical shield and the coupling ring to shield against EMI, ESD and EMC emissions.

Claims

1. A cable connector for connecting a cable to a mating connector having at least one electrical lead and an integral coupling mechanism, the cable having a cable jacket surrounding a layer of electrically-conductive material, the electrically-conductive layer including an exposed portion not covered by the cable jacket, the electrically-conductive layer surrounding at least one electrical lead having an insulting layer surrounding a wire, the cable connector comprising:

a coupling ring having an integral coupling mechanism and an interior surface placed around the cable, said coupling mechanism of said coupling ring engageable with the integral coupling mechanism of the mating connector to connect the mating connector with said coupling ring;

a tubular shield extending from said coupling ring and surrounding the cable and the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer; and

an insulating insert placed within said shield, said insulating insert surrounding an exposed end of the at least one electrical lead of the cable;

wherein a portion of said shield is crimped to create multiple indents in secure engagement with the cable for mechanical retention and an electrical contact between said shield and the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a wave spring placed around said shield, said wave spring in electrical contact with said coupling ring and said shield.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said integral coupling mechanism of the mating connector is a threaded exterior surface and said coupling mechanism of said coupling ring is a threaded interior surface.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein said shield is cylindrical in shape and said insulating insert is cylindrical in shape.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein said shield and said coupling ring are aluminum with electroless nickel plating.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein said insulating insert is polyurethane.

7. The connector of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical lead of the cable is connected to the at least one electrical lead of the mating connector.

8. The connector of claim 4 wherein said coupling ring further comprises a retaining wall having an opening with a diameter sufficient to allow passage of said shield.

9. The connector of claim 8 wherein said shield further comprises a flared lip which abuts against said retaining wall.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein said insulating insert has a stopper which abuts against said flared lip of said shield.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the coupling ring and the shield are separate members.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically-conductive layer is a braid.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer is folded over the cable jacket.

15. The connector of claim 1 further including an electrical contact member located within the insulating insert and provided in electrical communication with the exposed end of the at least one electrical lead.

11. A method of fabricating a cable connector to connect a cable to a mating connector having an integral coupling mechanism, the cable having a cable jacket, a layer of electrically-conductive material surrounded by the cable jacket, and at least one electrical lead surrounded by the electrically-conductive layer, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the cable jacket from a portion of one end of the cable to expose a portion of the electrically-conductive layer;

placing the cable through a coupling ring having an integral coupling mechanism engageable with the integral coupling mechanism of the mating connector;

placing a tubular shield over the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer such that said shield is extending from said coupling ring;

crimping a portion of said shield to create multiple indents in secure engagement with the cable for mechanical retention and electrical contact between the shield and the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer; and

placing an insulating insert within said shield so that an exposed end of the at least one electrical lead of the cable is contained within the insulating insert.

16. The method of claim 11 further including the step of folding the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer over the cable jacket prior to placing the shield thereover.

17. A cable connector for connecting a cable to a mating connector having at least one electrical lead and an integral coupling mechanism, the cable having a cable jacket surrounding a layer of electrically-conductive material, the electrically-conductive layer including an exposed portion not covered by the cable jacket, the electrically-conductive layer surrounding at least one electrical lead having an insulating layer surrounding a wire, the cable connector comprising:

a coupling ring having an integral coupling mechanism and an interior surface placed around the cable, said coupling mechanism of said coupling ring engageable with the integral coupling mechanism of the mating connector to connect the mating connector with said coupling ring, said coupling ring further including a retaining wall with an opening therethrough;

a tubular shield extending through the opening in the retaining wall of said coupling ring and surrounding the cable and the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer, said shield including a flared lip abutting against the retaining wall;

an insulating insert place within said shield, said insulating insert surrounding an exposed end of the at least one electrical lead of the cable, said insulating insert including a stopper abutting against the flared lip of the shield;

wherein a portion of said shield is crimped into engagement with the cable to create an electrical contact between said shield and the exposed portion of the electrically-conductive layer.