EP2907199B1

EP2907199B1 - Electrical connection system

Info

Publication number: EP2907199B1
Application number: EP12806654.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean Fabre; Gilles Schmitt
Original assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
Current assignee: Delphi International Operations Luxembourg SARL
Priority date: 2012-10-15
Filing date: 2012-10-15
Publication date: 2017-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-15
Also published as: KR20150074033A; KR101959106B1; EP2907199A1; CN104823328A; WO2014060788A1; CN104823328B

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connection system. In particular, the present invention relates to an electrical connection system between an electrical connector and a cable, comprising a bundle of wires, for instance electrical wires, as those used in motor vehicles.
Such electrical connector is intended to receive two or more wires, and is provided with an electrical shielding, which surrounds an end portion of the wires received in the electrical connector. Typically, the electrical shielding, consisting of a grounded electrically conductive part, is a means to prevent a leaking of electromagnetic interferences outside/inside the wires and also a means to protect signals carried by these wires.
An insulator has also to be provided between the wires and the electrical shielding in order to prevent any contacts between them.
When connecting two non-shielded wires, a specific solution is needed. Such an electrical connection requires a shielding to prevent electromagnetic interferences where the connection between the cable and a reception portion of the connector is. For this purpose, an electrically conductive sheath shielding a bundle of wires can be used. By the means of assembly, a shielding continuity of the cable with the electrical connector can be achieved.
A shielded electrical connector assembly using a collar clamping a common shielding sheath onto a conductive shielding shell arranged on the electrical connector is known form the document JP2008288021A . Such particular arrangement is shown on Figure 1. The collar consists of an outer ring and an inner ring. The inner ring is tapered integrally to press and fix the shielding sheath to the shielding shell. To ensure a tight grip of the collar, coupling the shielding sheath to the shielding shell, a cover is screwed onto the shielding shell.
Document US 2010/261367 A1 discloses an electrical connection system according to the preamble of claim 1.
Nevertheless, nowadays, for versatile applications, it is required to provide not only a shielding for an electrical connection but also to provide an efficient and less-expensive solution for a sealing of such connection which would prevent the infiltration of moisture and/or of foreign particles into the electrical connection while keeping its shielding properties.
The present invention ails to solve those drawbacks.
For this purpose, the present invention is for an electrical connection system comprising:

a cable having at least two electrical wires having a front end portion,
an electrical connector having a reception portion in which the front end portion of the electrical wires are connected,
a shield surrounding the reception portion of the electrical connector,
a sealing sleeve extending between the electrical wires and the electrical connector,
a common shielding element surrounding the sealing sleeve, and
a collar sealingly extending through the sealing sleeve, to provide the electrical connection between the shield and the shielding element wherein the sealing sleeve is made of an electrically conductive elastomeric material.

With these features, it is provided a simple and reliable sealed shielding electrical connection without impacting any of the requested functions. Thus, it is provided an electrical connection which is safer, time resistant, less expensive for maintenance and with small leak of electromagnetic interferences inside/outside the electrical wires.
Any of the embodiments of a electrical connection system with a shield as described above may be used in an assembly comprising any of the above described electrical connection systems and a complementary device.
Further information is provided in the following detailed description.
In some embodiments, one might also use one or more of the features of the claims taken alone or in combination. Of course, different features, alternatives and/or embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various arrangement to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive of others.
The present invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description including embodiments for illustrative purposes with reference to the figures, presented as non- limitative examples, which can be used to complete the understanding of the present invention and the description and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, in which:

Figure 1 shows a shielded electrical connector assembly according to the state of the art,
Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective front view of an electrical connection system according to the present invention,

Figure 3 shows a perspective front view of the electrical connection system as illustrated in Figure 2,
Figure 4 shows a perspective front view of a shielding element inside the electrical connection system according to the present invention,
Figure 5 shows a perspective front view of metallic shielding elements and sealing sleeve with a conductive plastic collar of the electrical connection system according to the present invention,
Figure 6 is a detailed front cross-section view along line VI-VI of Figure 4 of the electrical connection system according to the present invention,
Figure 7 is a detailed side cross-section view along line VII-VII of Figure 4 of the electrical connection system according to the present invention,
Figure 8 is a detailed view of the electrical connection system as shown in Figure 7,
Figure 9 shows a part of a locking cam of the electrical connection system according to the present invention,
Figure 10a shows a front end portion of an electrical wire according to the present invention,
Figure 10b shows an arrangement of the electrical wire according to the present invention, and
Figure 11 shows a tie of the shielding element according to the present invention.

It should be noted that, on Figures, structural and/or functional elements which are common to different embodiments may have the same reference sign. Thus, unless otherwise stated, these elements have structural, dimensional and material properties which are identical.
Figure 1 shows a shielded electrical connector assembly 100 according to the state of the art. Such shielded electrical connector assembly 100 is provided with a conductive shielding shell 104 mounted on a connector housing 102, shielding braids 106 coating the shielding shell 104, a ring assembly, constituted of an outer ring 110 and a diameter shrinkable inner ring 106, clamping the shielding braids 106 onto the shielding shell 104 and a cover 112 screwed into the shielding shell 104 to carry out clamping.
Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective front view of a electrical connection system, or sealingly shielded electrical connector, according to the present invention.
Such electrical connection system consists of two main parts:

a electrical connector 12, suitable to be coupled to a complementary device, not shown, and wherein at least two electrical wires 4, shown on Figure 2 without their terminals, can be received, and
a sealingly shielding portion 13, providing a sealing and shielding protection for an electrical connection between the electrical wires 4 and the electrical connector 12.

The electrical connector 12 comprises a reception portion 9 in which the electrical wires 4 are connected. It may further comprise a front end extension, suitable to be coupled to the complementary device, and advantageously, comprising an interfacial seal 10 and individual seal caps 11.
The front end extension and the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12 are enclosed in a shield 8. Preferably, the shield 8 is made of a metallic material. For example, the shield 8 comprises two curved metallic shells 8a and 8b, coupled to each other. Preferably, the curved metallic shells 8a and 8b are similar. The shield 8 provides a shielding protection against electromagnetic interferences to/from outside the reception portion 9, and at connection between the electrical connector 12 and the electrical wires 4.
The shield 8 is electrically conductive. In addition, the shield 8 extends from a rear portion 9a of the reception portion 9 to the front end extension of the electrical connector 12.
The front end portion extension and the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12, commonly with the shield 8 are protected by an outer cover 7.
The outer cover 7 provides two kinds of protrusions, i.e. a first protrusions 16 and a second protrusions 18, which can be seen on Figure 9.
First protrusions 16 are adapted to cooperate with openings 17 of a sealing sleeve 2 in order to assemble the sealing sleeve 2 and the outer cover 7 of the electrical connector 12.
Second protrusions 18 are designed to cooperate with an notch 20 of a locking mechanism 6. The locking mechanism 6 enables an interaction between the outer cover 7 and a slider 5 for the purpose of assisting the assembly of the connector 12 with the not shown mating connector. The locking mechanism 6 may be preferably a locking cam 6.
The locking mechanism 6 is a mate assist system which is directly related to the present invention and is therefore optional.
The slider 5 is to cooperate with another complementary device or electrical connector. As a particular embodiment, the locking mechanism 6 can perform a rotational movement relative to the second protrusion 18.
On the depicted embodiment of Figure 9, the locking cam 6 comprises toothed projections 19 which cooperate with a toothed rack of the complementary device or electrical connector to be mated. In that manner, the moving from the pre-assembly to the assembled position, and vice-versa, can easily be realised.
Figure 3 shows a perspective front view of the electrical connection system as shown on Figure 2. More particularly, Figure 3 represents a completed embodiment without a complementary device or electrical connector. The electrical connector 12 is adapted to receive a cable including at least two electrical wires 4.
As depicted on Figure 10a which shows a front end portion 21 of the electrical wire 4 according to the present invention. The front end portion 21 of the electrical wire 4 is adapted to be received in a respective holder of the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12.
Figure 5 shows a perspective front view of metallic shielding elements and the sealing sleeve 2 with a collar 1 of the electrical connection system according to the present invention. Preferably, the collar 1 is made of a conductive plastic material.
As shown on Figure 10b, electrical wires 4 each consist of an electrically-conductive core 22 and an insulating layer 23 surrounding the electrically-conductive core 22. However, the electrical wires 4 do not have an individual shield. It is preferable to provide a sealed connection in order to prevent material degradation of some particular components by an penetration of moisture or other foreign particles into the interior space of the electrical connection. For this purpose, the sealing sleeve 2 is used. Preferably, the sealing sleeve 2 is made of elastomeric material.
The sealing sleeve 2 extends between the electrical wires 4 and the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a plurality of openings 17 arranged along to the longitudinal axis of the sealing sleeve 2. These openings 17 are designed to cooperate with first protrusions 16 of the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12.
In this manner, an assembly between the electrical connector 12 and the sealing sleeve 2 is ensured. The front portion of the sealing sleeve 2 also includes a groove 24. The groove 24 is advantageously provided along the entire perimeter of the sealing sleeve 2. Preferably, the groove 24 is alos arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the sealing sleeve 2. The groove 24 comprises a plurality of apertures 15 deployed regularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the sealing apertures 15 sleeve 2. Apertures 15 of the groove 24 are designed to receive extensions 14 of the collar 1.
Preferably, the groove 24 has a U-shape cross-section, i.e. section normal to the peripheral direction. The cross-section of the groove 24 has two opposed side walls and a bottom wall radially and outwardly facing each other. The apertures 15 are provided in the bottom wall of the groove 24. Preferably, apertures 15 do not extend to either side wall of the groove 24.
Moreover, the rear end of the sealing sleeve 2 also defines at least two paths 25, for example cylindrically shaped paths 25, suitable to each receive one electrical wire 4 while keeping sealing properties of the sealing sleeve 2.
In this embodiment, electrical wires 4 are not individually shielded. Conversely, a common shielding braid 3 is provided. Figure 4 shows a perspective front view of the common shielding element 3 inside the electrical connection system according to the present invention. Preferably, the common shielding element 3 is a the common shielding braid 3.
The common shielding element 3 surrounds the common sealing sleeve 2 from one part of the cable to the rear portion 9a of the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12. The common shielding element 3 consists of electrically conductive material. It extends longitudinally beyond each end of the sealing sleeve 2.
Figure 7 is a detailed side cross-section view along line VII-VII of Figure 4 of the electrical connection system according to the present invention. Figure 8 is a detailed view of the electrical connection system as shown in Figure 7.
An electrical contact between the shield 8 surrounding the reception portion 9 of the electrical connector 12 and the common shielding element 3 is assured by the collar 1.
The collar 1 is advantageously made of elastically conductive elastomeric material which enables, through the sealing sleeve 2, the electrical connection between the shield 8 of the connector 12 and the shielding element 3. More precisely, the electrical connection between the shield 8 and the shielding element 3 through the sealing sleeve 2 is possible thanks to the extensions 14 of the collar 1 designed to pass through apertures 15 of the groove 24 of the sealing sleeve 2. The collar 1 is inserted in the groove 24 in such a manner that it provides a continuous contact between the collar 1 and the groove 24 of the sealing sleeve 2.
Advantageously, the collar 1 is provided from charged elastomers, such as charged silicone rubber. The collar 1 may be a band running along the peripheral direction.
The collar 1 has a bottom face. Extensions 14 protrude from the bottom face radially toward the longitudinal axis. When the collar 1 is inserted into the groove 24, the extensions 14 are inserted with some play in the respective apertures 15, and contact the shield 8. The bottom face of the collar 1 rests in contact with the bottom wall of the groove 24 and this contact extends continuously all along the periphery of the collar 1.
Figure 6 is a detailed front cross-section view along line VI-VI of Figure 4 of the electrical connection system according to the present invention. A tight connection of the shielding element 3 to the rear portion of the shield 8 is realized by a tie 26, as shown on Figure 11. The tie 26 is made of plastic material.
The tie 26 is made to clamp the shielding element 3 with the sealing sleeve 2 to the rear portion of the shield 8 of the electrical connector 12. Consequently, a good coupling of the shielding element 3, surrounding the sealing sleeve 2, to the shield 8 is ensured. In this way, a sealingly shielded connection between the electrical wires 4 and the electrical connector 12 is achieved.

Claims

Electrical connection system comprising:
- a cable having at least two electrical wires (4) having a front end portion (21),

- an electrical connector (12) having a reception portion (9a) in which the front end portion (21) of the electrical wires (4) are connected,

- a shield (8) surrounding the reception portion (9a) of the electrical connector (12),

- a sealing sleeve (2) made of elastomeric material extending from the electrical wires (2) to the electrical connector (12),

- a common shielding element (3) surrounding the sealing sleeve (2),
characterised in that it further comprises
- an electrically conductive elastomeric collar (1) extending through the sealing sleeve (2), to provide the electrical connection between the shield (8) and the shielding element (3) ;
Electrical connection system according to claim 1, wherein each electrical wire (4) consists of an electrically-conductive core (22) and an insulating layer (23) surrounding the electrically-conductive core (22).
Electrical connection system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the front end portion (21) of the electrical wire (4) comprises a terminal adapted to be received in the reception portion (9a) of the electrical connector (12).
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shield (8) consists of two metallic curved shells (8a, 8b) being coupled to each other.
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sealing sleeve (2) comprises a groove (24).
Electrical connection system according to claim 5, wherein the groove (24) is provided along the entire perimeter of the sealing sleeve (2).
Electrical connection system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the groove (24) of the sealing sleeve (2) comprises a plurality of apertures (15).
Electrical connection system according to claim 7, wherein apertures (15) are arranged regularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the sealing sleeve (2).
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the collar (1) comprises extensions (14) suitable to engage aperture (15) of the groove (24) of the sealing sleeve (2).
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the collar (1) is inserted into the groove (24) of the common sealing sleeve (2) in order to provide a continuous peripheral contact between the collar (1) and the groove (24) of the sleeve (2).
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein it comprises a tie (26) clamping the shielding element (3) commonly with the sealing sleeve (2) to the electrical connector.
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sealing sleeve (2) comprises a plurality of openings (17) each cooperating with first protrusions (16) of the electrical connector (12).
Electrical connection system according to claim 12, wherein openings (17) are deployed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the sealing sleeve (2).
Electrical connection system according to any of claims 1 to 13 wherein the sealing sleeve (2) defines at least two paths (25) suitable to sealingly receive one of the electrical wires (4) .
Electrical connection system according to any claims 1 to 14 wherein the common shielding element (3) is a shielding braid (3).