WO2011045328A2

WO2011045328A2 - Sealing device for individually shielded cable, and corresponding cable assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2011045328A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/065294
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwan Guillanton; Jean Pierre Jarnoux; Claude Casses
Original assignee: Fci
Priority date: 2009-10-14
Filing date: 2010-10-13
Publication date: 2011-04-21
Also published as: EP2489103A2; CN102598427B; WO2011045328A3; CN102598427A

Abstract

Sealing device (5) for an individually shielded cable, comprising a tubular electrically conductive layer (30) and a tubular humidity-insulating layer (31); the outer surface of the humidity-insulating layer being sealed in the inner surface (32) of the tubular electrically-conductive layer, the inner surface (33) of the tubular humidity-insulating layer being designed to hermetically fit an inner insulating layer of the cable, at least on an axial portion (13) of the device.

Description

SEALING DEVICE FOR INDIVIDUALLY SHIELDED CABLE , AND CORRESPONDING CABLE ASSEMBLY .

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is relative to electromagnetically shielded connector assembly.

In particular, it is relative to the connection between the connector body and one or several individually shielded cables.

More particularly, the invention is relative to humidity protection sealing devices and method for such cable/connector connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On board, electrical network used in the car industry may comprise some low power electrical cables used for sensor signal or passenger compartment lights.

When several of these cables need to cross a compartment panel, it is possible to gather these cables in a multiple cable which could have a collective sheath which still have a roughly circular cross section. A humidity protection could be provided collectively between the collective sheath and the panel with a traditional cable seal having a circular cross section.

The invention is more particularly directed towards the on-board power cables which traditionally carry direct current between the battery of the accumulator and the starter engine. As the diameter of the low power wires is much bigger compared to the signal wires, the humidity protection while crossing a compartment panel is provided on a unitary basis for each separated power cable. A traditional circular cable seal is considered as easy to install. It is a safe technology to provide humidity barrier between a cable and a panel. Circular cable seal installation is well under control by car manufacturer people.

Nowadays, in hybrid or electric vehicles, the power of the electric engine could be 50 kW or more. Therefore, the wires of the electric power cables could have a cross section of 40 to 50 mm² and the courant could reach 200A under 400 Volts. Additionally, such an electrical power is now generated by electronic converters. The power cables carry high frequency current superposed to the power current. Therefore, EMI shielding comes to be necessary for the power cables in order to limit electromagnetic interference with other electrical and/or electronic elements.

For each power source or engine, two wires are needed for direct current energy, three or four wires are needed for a three-phase alternating current energy. EMI protection provided by individually shielded cable is much more efficient than a collective braid around a multiple cable. For thermal reasons, it is also better to separate the different wires of a power link. Additionally, the humidity barrier, when the power link needs to go across a compartment panel, is easier to achieve with separate circular seals. For all these reasons, individually shielded cables are preferred for today hybrid or electric vehicles.

For example, high electrical power cables may be individually shielded. Such a cable comprises an electrical core, a core insulating layer, a shielding braid and an external insulating layer.

The connector technology to connect two series of individually shielded cables could use individually shielded termini. However, the cost and the volume for this terminus and for such a connector would be very high .

As described in WO 2006/008022, a cost effective shielding electrical connector assembly may use a collective screen like metallic shells surrounding a multi terminal housing. However, the cable connected to that connector is a multiple conductor cable collectively shielded by a unique braid surrounding all the insulated conductors of the cable. That unique cable braid is connected to the metallic cover shells. This connector technology, with a collective EMI shielding is more compact and more cost effective than a connector with individually shielded terminus. However this document does not provide any teaching to ensure shielding continuity against electromagnetic interferences (EMI) from several individually shielded cables to a multiple cable connector with a collective screen. Additionally, no solution is provided to ensure continuity of the protection against humidity.

The US patent 5,611,706 describes a waterproof plug. A rubber joint surrounds the end portion of an insulating layer of a particular electrical wire. The rubber joint comprises inner and outer lips and provides a humidity barrier between the terminal chamber bloc and the individual insulating layer.

Such a rubber joint, used with individually shielded cables leads to several drawbacks. If the rubber joint is fitted around the inner insulating layer of the cable, humidity can slide along the inner insulating layer and reaches the braid. Then, by capillarity, water goes all along the individually shielded cable. If the rubber joint is fitted around the outer insulating layer, then the individual cable braid has to be connected to each terminal chamber. This solution is not cost effective.

The electrical car industry faces increasing needs of electrical power connector assemblies. However, existing technical solutions used in severe environment applications are not suitable for such a mass production industry.

In the other end, the electronic component industry has developed well-known mass production techniques. However, car applications bring cumulative requirements namely, high electrical power with electromagnetic shielding effectiveness together with humidity endurance, while compatible with mass production .

An object of the invention is to provide a sealing device for individually shielded cables, a cable assembly and the corresponding connector assembly and method that remedy to at least one of the above needs or drawbacks .

In particular the invention aims at making humidity sealing requirements easier to achieve for individually shielded cable connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention provides a sealing device.

The sealing device for an individually shielded cable comprises a continuous electrically-conducting shield, adapted to be electrically connected both

. to an electrically conductive sheath or braid of each of at least one cable, and

to an electrical shield of a connector body in which said cable is to be connected. The device further comprises a continuous waterproof barrier adapted to provide a continuous humidity seal from an outer sealing layer of each of said at least one cable, to said connector body.

In some embodiments, one might also use one or more of the features as defined in dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of some of its embodiments, provided as non-limitative examples, and of the accompanying drawings .

On the drawings :

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section according to plan II-II of figure 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section according to plan III- III of figure 1 ;

- Fig. 4 is a cross-section according to plan IV-IV of figure 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section according to plan V-V of the figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a cross-section according to plan VI- VI of the figure 1 ;

Figure 7 illustrates a variant of the first embodiment and shows the paths of EMI shielding and of humidity protection;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a part of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment;

Figures 9a, 9b, 9c illustrate a sealing element according to a third embodiment;

Figure 10 illustrates a sealing element according to a fourth embodiment;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of fifth embodiment ;

Figure 12 is a cross-section of an individual sealing element of the fifth embodiment,

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate two steps for mounting the sealing element of Figure 12,

Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of the cable assembly of the fifth embodiment,

- Figure 16 is a side view of the cable assembly of the fifth embodiment,

Figure 17 and 18 are cross sections according to planes XVII and XVIII of Figure 15,

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment showing the outside of a first half sealing device,

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment showing the inside of a second half of sealing device,

- Figure 21 is a longitudinal section of the half sealing device in Figure 19,

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a single block conductor for the first half sealing device of Figure 19,

- Figure 23 is a partial longitudinal section of a cable assembly using the sixth embodiment, and

Figure 24 is a cross section of the cable assembly according to plan XXIV of Figure 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Within the different figures, similar features are represented by the same numerical reference.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the connector assembly comprises a sealing device 1 and a connector body 2 presenting at least two terminal chambers 3, 3' . Each of the terminal chambers 3, 3' receives a cable assembly 4 , 4 ' .

Each cable assembly 4, 4' comprises an individually shielded cable and an individual sealing element 5, 5'. The cable comprises, concentrically from the inside to the outside, a metallic cable core 6, an inner insulating layer 7, a metallic braid 8, and an outer insulating layer 9. "Insulating" layer is intended to be a layer providing both electrical and humidity isolation. The outer insulating layer 9 is also called "the outer sealing layer 9". Each of these concentric elements ends on successive axial portions, following a well-known striping technique. A first axial portion 10 corresponds to the end of the outer insulating layer 9. A second axial portion corresponds to the end portion of the metallic braid 8.

The individual sealing element 5 or 5' is of a tubular shape and is introduced radially between the metallic braid 8 and the inner insulating layer 7 in the second axial portion 11 of each cable assembly 4, 4'. The tubular individual sealing element 5, 5' extends further to two other axial portions, in a third axial portion 12 and a fourth axial portion 13.

The inner insulating layer 7 extends all along to the previous axial portions 10, 11, 12, 13 up to a fifth axial portion 14 where it receives a rubber joint 15. Then, the inner insulating layer 7 is striped off and the end of the cable core 6 is crimped in an electrical terminal 16.

The connector body 2 comprises two half metallic shells 17 forming an electrical shield of the connector body. The two half shells provide an EMI screen surrounding the different electrical elements fitted in the connector body 2. Such metallic shells 17 are designed to be connected to corresponding metallic shells (not shown in the Figures) of a counterpart connector 36. The back of the metallic shells 17 extends in an outside surface of the connector body 2. A collective metallic braid 18 surrounds the back of the connector body 2 and is fixed and electrically connected to the metallic shells 17 by a collar 19 visible in Figure 6. Therefore, the collective metallic braid 18 continues the EMI shielding of the metallic shells 17 towards the back direction of the connector body 2.

The rubber joint 15 has been illustrated in the same cross section visible on Figure 6. However, it can take place in any location at the back of the electrical terminal 16, within the terminal chamber 3.

Each of the individual sealing element 5 comprises a conducting metallic tube 30 in which have been preliminary assembled a humidity insulating layer 31, which is made of an elastomeric material hermetically sealed onto the inner surface 32 of the conductive metallic tube 30. An inner surface 33 of the humidity insulating layer 31 receives the cable core 6 and its inner insulating layer 7. The inner diameter of the humidity insulating layer 31 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the inner insulating layer 7, at least in the fourth axial portion at the end of the conductive metallic tube 30 located towards the electric terminal 16. The inside diameter of the elastomeric layer 31 may be slightly conical in order to reach a diameter bigger than that one of the inner insulating layer diameter on the backside. The conical shape helps the introduction of the inner insulating layer 7 inside the individual sealing element 5. The compression of the elastomeric material of the humidity-insulating layer 31 on the fourth axial portion 13 provides a humidity barrier between the inner insulating layer 7 and the conductive metallic tube 30.

The material of the humidity-insulating layer 31 may be a cross-linked silicone. It is a non-liquid material which is capable to remain in place during the insertion on the cable. This avoids spoiling the outer surface of the conductive metallic tube 30.

As illustrated on Figures 2, 3, 4, the sealing device 1 further comprises two individual housings 20 and 20' surrounding the corresponding cable assemblies 4, 4' from the first axial portion 10 illustrated in Figure 2 to the third axial portion 12 illustrated in Figure 4. The two housings 20, 20' are joined by a bridge 21 and are made of two half parts to simplify the assembly process.

Each housing 20, 20' comprises a first and a second half bodies 53a, 53b which contribute to form an individual waterproof barrier 54. An inner sealed volume 55 around each cable 4, 4' between the first and the axial zone 10, 12 is delimited by the individual waterproof barrier 54.

A sealant material 22 is introduced in a circular internal groove 23 at the back end of the housing 20, 20'. This sealant material 22 terminates the humidity sealing barrier 54 between the housing 20 and the corresponding outer insulating layer 9. An inner groove 24, similar to the inner groove 23 is managed in the housing 20, 20', at the third axial portion 12 and filled by a same or similar sealant material 22 in order to contribute to the humidity sealing barrier 54 between the housing 20 and the conductive metallic tube 30 of the individual sealing element 5.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the housing 20 comprises in the second axial portion 11 an inner chamber 25, suitable to receive an individual crimping collar 26 pressing the individual metallic braid 8 around the conductive metallic tube 30. The inner chamber 25 is hermetically sealed from the outside by lips or a rubber ring 27 managed between two halves 53a, 53b of the housing 20. The inner chamber 25, the sealant material 22, the conductive metallic tube 30 and the humidity-insulating layer 31 constitutes the individual waterproof barrier 54 which delimit the inner sealed volume 55 around the cable 4, 4' .

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 5, the sealing device 1 comprises a multi-way clamp 35 pressing simultaneously the collective metallic braid 18 around each conductive metallic tube 30 of the two individual sealing elements 5 of each cable assembly 4, 4' . The multi-way clamp is made of two halves assembled by any suitable techniques like screw or elastic clips. Each half of the clamp 35 is unitary with the corresponding half of the housing 20 and 20' .

Figure 7 illustrates a variant of the above described first embodiment where the multi-way clamp 35 and the housing 20 are separate devices. The doted line illustrates the continuity of the humidity protection from each individually shielded cable assemblies 4, 4' to the counterpart connector 36. First, the outer insulating layer 9 is waterproof. The sealant 22 of the first axial portion 10 provides a continuity of the humidity protection to the housing 2. Each housing 20, 20' are hermetically closed due to the lips 27 or due to a cylindrical shape. The humidity protection directly goes up to the third axial portion 12. Then, the sealant material 22 of the inner groove 24 provides a continuity of the humidity protection, towards the conductive metallic tube 30. The metal in itself is waterproof and the elastomeric layer 31 provides a humidity barrier towards the inner insulating layer 7. Said humidity insulating layer 31 prolongs the humidity protection towards the rubber joint 15. The rubber joint 15 provides a continuous humidity barrier towards the inner surface of the terminal chamber 3. A rubber ring 37 provides a humidity barrier between the connector body 2 and the counterpart connector 36.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the metallic shells 17 travels across the humidity barrier without prejudice for the continuity of the humidity protection through well-known techniques like sealing rings or overmolding techniques .

The continuity of the EMI protection is also provided from each individually shielded cable assembly 4, 4' to the connector screen metallic shells 17. The shielding stays individual for each cable assembly 4, 4' from the first to the fourth axial portions 10, 13. Then, the multi-way clamp 35 illustrated on Figure 6 provides a transition between the two individual shielding braids 8 to a collective shielding technique provided by the collective metallic braid 18 and the metallic shells 17.

The collective metallic braid 18 is not waterproof. So, humidity can enter at the back of the connector body 2 and is stopped in the fourth axial portion 13 as indicated by the reference "b" by the humidity insulating layer 31, and in the fifth axial portion 14 by the rubber joint 15 as indicated by the reference "c".

The housing 20 provides a humidity barrier between the conductive metallic tube 30 and the outer insulating layer 9. The elastomeric layer 31 provides a humidity barrier between the conductive metallic tube 30 and the inner insulating layer 7. Both barriers constitute an annular waterproof termination barrier 41 between the inner and the outer insulating layer 7, 9. The conductive metallic tube 30 is passing through said annular waterproof termination barrier 41. The metallic braid 8 is limited to one side of the termination barrier 41 and is connected to the corresponding side of the conductive metallic tube 30. Therefore, the electric link through the termination barrier 41 only goes through the conductive metallic tube 30 and reaches the collective metallic braid 18.

As illustrated in Figure 8, a second embodiment of cable assembly 4, 4' comprises an individually shielded cable and an individual sealing element 5, identical or similar to the one previously described. The individual sealing element 5, 5' is fitted around the inner insulating layer 7 under the end part of the electrically-conductive sheath or braid 8. Then, an adhesive heat-shrinkable sleeve 40 is fitted around both the cable and the individual sealing element 5 and covers the outer insulating layer 9 in the first axial portion 10 and extends continuously up to the third axial portion 12.

When the heat-shrinkable sleeve 40 is concentrically retracted by a heated air-flow, the shrinkage presses the electrically conductive sheath or braid 8 around the metallic tube 30 and provokes a permanent electrical contact between them.

Additionally, the adhesive constitutes a sealant material between the heat-skrinkable sleeve 40 and the outer insulating layer 9 in the first axial portion 10 and between the same sleeve 40 and the metallic tube 30 in the third axial portion 12. The heat-skrinkable material of the sleeve 40, as well as the metal tubes 30, are both waterproof materials, and constitute, together with the elastomeric layer 31, a waterproof and humidity termination barrier 41 extending between the outer insulating layer 9 and the inner insulating layer 7.

The conductive metallic tube 30 passes hermetically through the termination barrier 41. The hermeticity of that termination barrier 41 can be between 300 to 500 mbar.

In a variant of that second embodiment, the adhesive head-shrinkable sleeve 40 is replaced by a simple heat-shrinkable sleeve. That variant can be sufficient for automotive applications where the temperature between different portions of the cable is rather limited. Therefore, humidity variations are such that a reduced level of hermeticity of 50 to 100 mbar can be enough and reached by a direct shrinkage.

In another variant, the heat-shrinkable sleeve can be replaced by a cold-retractable elastomeric sleeve.

The third and fourth embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 are alternative individual sealing elements 45, 50 which can be used for both first and second embodiments of the cable assembly or their variants in replacement of the metallic tube 30 filled with the elastomeric layer 31.

The individual sealing element 45 is foldable. It is made of a metallic braid 46, overmolded internally by an elastomeric material 47 like silicone.

As illustrated in the detail 9c, the metallic strand of the braid 46 are only covered in one side of the braid 46. So, the free side of the braid 46 is still available for electrical contact. A possible way to manufacture such a sealing device 45 is to externally overmold an elastomeric material around a metallic braid 46 tightly pressed on an inner mandrel. Then, the tube is reversed like a sock.

As illustrated in Figure 10, the fourth embodiment 50 of the individual sealing element is made of two half rigid shells 51, covered internally by an elastomeric material 52. The two halves 51 can be molded in metal or can be plastic shells with metallic plating .

The invention covers a large variety of processes where the different operations can be done in any order. Providing a conductive tube can be done before, during or after the assembly of an annular waterproof termination barrier 41 between the inner and the outer insulating layer of the cable. The electrical connection between the cable sheath or braid 8 and said conductive tube can be done before, during or after the assembly of said humidity barrier 41.

The fifth embodiment (Figures 11-18) and the sixth embodiment (Figures 19-24) differ from the previous embodiments only by the way the cables 4, 4' are held and the way an electrical conductor is going across an individual waterproof barrier. In other words, the way the collective metallic braid 18 is fixed on the fourth axial portion 13 and on the connector body 2, and the way the inner insulating layers 7 are sealed by the rubber joint 15 into the terminal chambers 3, 3' are identical as previously described.

As illustrated in Figure 11, a sealing device 100 comprises a housing 101 made of two identical half housings 101a, 101b, covering each one of the two cables 4, 4' . A rear collar 102 and a front collar 103 press the two half housings 101a, 101b together. The rear collar 102 provides a suitable pressure of the housings 101 on each cables 4, 4' . The front part of the housing 101 guides the collective braid 18 around an external part 104 of an individual electrical conductor 105 (visible in Figures 12-14) . The particular wave shape of said front part provides a suitable EMI shielding continuity between the individual electrical conductor 105 and the collective braid 18.

As illustrated in Figure 12, an individual sealing element 106 is a single block comprising the individual electrical conductor 105 and an individual waterproof barrier 115. The individual waterproof barrier 115 is made by a unique elastomeric material overmolded over the individual electrical conductor 105.

The individual waterproof barrier 115 has a global tubular shape, includes an elastomeric tubular sheath 109 extending axially from an elastomeric sealing joint 110. The elastomeric sealing joint 110 includes inner seal teeth 110b, suitable to provide humidity sealing with the inner insulating layer 7 of the cable 4.

The individual electrical conductor 105 has a tubular shape, made from a traditional punched and rolled copper alloy plate, tin-or preferably nickel- plated .

A central zone of the individual electrical conductor 105 is passing through the elastomeric seal 110. The rolled plate includes several through holes in the overmolded central zone, through which elastomer extends, in order to reinforce the mechanical strength of the single block sealing element 106. An inner part 110a of the seal 110 is designated to provide a humidity seal between the central zone of the conductor 105 and the inner insulating layer 7.

The individual electrical conductor 105 comprises an inner part 107 presenting a plurality of elastic spring tongues 108 having radially free ends 108a. The external part 104 of the individual electrical conductor 105 has a tubular shape extending axially further the seal part 110 in the opposite direction of the tubular sheath part 109.

A free end 109a of the sheath part 109 extends axially further the free ends 108a of the spring tongues 108 in the opposite direction of the seal 110. The free end 109a of the tubular sheath part 109 has a smaller inner diameter, at rest, than the outer sealing layer diameter. Therefore, the spring tongues 108 can cover the metallic braid 8 and the end 109a of the tubular sheath part 109 covers the end of the cable outer sealing layer 9 so as to provide humidity seal with the outer sealing layer 9.

The humidity seals of the individual waterproof barrier 115, on the outer sealing layer 9 and on the inner insulating layer 7, isolate from the outside an inner sealed volume 116 around the end of the electricity sheath or braid 8 of the cable 4.

As illustrated, the seal part 110 includes some outer teeth, the spring tongues 108 are radially separated from the tubular sheath part 109 and the external part 104 of the individual electrical conductor 105 is provided with axially elongated cut^¬ outs making the external parts 104 radially deformable. However, a variant of the individual sealing element 106 may not have such outer teeth. In another variant, the external part 104 may be a rigid metallic tube .

As illustrated in Figure 13, the different layers 9, 8, 7 of the cables 4, 4' are first stripped at respectively the first, the second and the fifth axial portions 10, 11, 14. Independently, the tubular sheath part 109 of the individual sealing element 106 is folded like a sock in order to open slightly the spring tongues 108. Such a sealing element 106 is slid on the inner insulating layer 7 of each cable 4, 4' . The opened spring tongues 108 axially slide over the metallic braid 8 up to an axially butting position where the metallic braid 8 buts again the seal part 110 or the spring tongues 108 buts again the outer sealing layer 9.

As illustrated in Figure 14, the tubular sheath part 109 is pushed back to its rest position and the end 109a of the tubular sheath part 109 covers the outer sealing layer 9, exerts radial pressure on it and provides a humidity seal at the first axial portion 10. Then the electric terminal 16 can be crimped on the terminal core 6.

In a variant, the sheath part 109 is overmolded onto the external face of the spring tongue 108. The tubular sheath part 109 adheres permanently to the external face of the spring tongues 108, a thin strippable annular anvil may be preliminary introduced below the spring tongues 108. Only the sheath end 109a is turned back. The annular anvil slides over the metallic braid 8 and is stripped off when the individual sealing element 106 is in place.

In an alternative way, the inner diameter of the spring tongues 108 at rest can be larger than the metallic braid diameter and the inner diameter of the end 109a of the tubular sheath part 109 can be slightly larger than the outer sealing layer diameter.

As illustrated in Figures 15 or 16, the cable 4, assembled with its sealing element 106 is introduced in a dedicated cavity 111 of the housing 101. The cavity 111 comprises an annular part 112, located between the first and the second axial portions 10, 11 and protruding towards the inside of the cavity 111. The annular part 112 radially presses the tubular sheath part 109 in order to press the spring tongues 108 in electrical contact with the metallic braid 8.

Preferably, the cavity 111 may further include a front annular part 113 pressing the end 109a of the tubular sheath 109 against the outer sealing layer 9.

As illustrated in Figure 17, the two half housings 101a, 101b encircle each ends 109a. The front annular part 113 provides a circular pressure improving the humidity sealing circular contact all around the outer sealing layer 9 of each cable 4,4' . The tightening force is provided by the front collar 103.

As illustrated in Figure 18, the collective braid 18 encircles the main part of each external part 104 of the individual electrical conductor 105. A small angular sector 114 toward the inner side of the tubular external part 104 may not to be surrounded by the collective braid 18. However, the EMI leaks, able to propagate along that free inner side 114 are small enough to fulfil to the Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness requested by the car industry.

The sixth embodiment illustrated in Figures 19-24 is particularly suitable for a two cable power link. It is particularly simple to assemble on these two cables and requires a very limited number of parts. The sealing device 200 is made of a top half sealing device 201a, and a bottom half sealing device 201b, both of them being identical.

As illustrated in Figures 19, 20, each of the half sealing devices 201a, 201b comprises a half body 202, having globally an "m" cross-section defining two half cylinders, placed side by side. Said half sealing device 201a, 201b further includes a guide 203 having a "V" shape or a triangular cross-section. The guide 203 cooperates with the outside surface of the half body 202. The half body 202 and the guide 203 are molded together in one piece with a synthetic material, and are connected together by a hinge strip 204. Such a synthetic material is rather rigid and could be a PBT, reinforced with glass fibers. Said half sealing body 202 is overmolded with a metallic conductor 205.

As illustrated in Figure 20, the half sealing body 202 extends around two cavities 206, adapted to receive the stripped cables 4, 4' .

For each cavity 206, a joint 207 extends continuously along a rear half ring portion 209, an inner lateral portion 210a, an outer lateral portion 210b and a front half ring portion 211. The elastomeric joint 207 is fixed on each half device 201a, 201b in order to provide a sealed volume 208 around the stripped cables 4, 4' .

The elastomeric joint 207 may be overmolded on the half body 202. The two joints 207 for each of the two cavities 206 can be connected together by one or several linking strips 212. Alternatively, the single- piece or the multi-piece elastomeric joint 207 can be fixed around the corresponding cavities 206 by glue or by distributed fixation protrusions.

In a variant, each of the two identical half devices 201a, 201b comprises an elastomeric joint 207a including only one lateral portion per cavity. The part of the joint 207a corresponding to one cavity includes only the outer lateral portion 210a and the part of the joint corresponding to the other cavity includes only the inner lateral portion 210b.

In another variant, each of the two identical half devices 201a, 201b comprises a unique continuous elastomeric joint 207b for the two cavities 206. The elastomeric joint 207b comprises the two front half ring portions 209, connected by a front liaison strip 212 and the two rear half ring portions 211 connected by a rear liaison strip 212 and one or two outer lateral portion 210b. The joint 207b does not include any inner lateral portion 210a.

In another variant, the sealing device 200 can be made by two different half devices, only one of them having the lateral portions 210a, 210b of the elastomeric joint 207.

In any of the above variants about the elastomeric joint 207, 207a or 207b, the combination of the two half devices 201a, 201b provides a global continuous humidity barrier 214 isolating from the outside a global seal volume 208 extending axially from both sealing layers 9 to both inner insulating layers 7. Some of theses variants provide an individual humidity barrier 214a, 214b for each cable 4, 4', isolating from the outside an individual seal volume 208a, 208b for each cable 4 , 4 ' .

As illustrated in Figures 21, 22, the metallic conductor 205 is made of a unique punched and rolled cooper alloy plate. An external strip 215 has a global "m" shape including two half cylinder 215a, 215b, connected by a bridge 215c. A plurality of spring tongues 216 extends from one side of the external strip 215. Each of the spring tongues 216 comprises a radial portion 216a extending inwardly from the external strip 215 and an axial portion 216b. All the axial portions 216b extend at the same radial distance from the axis of the corresponding cavities 206 and from the external strip 215.

The inner surface of the external strip 215 is covered by the synthetic rigid material of the half body 202. All the radial portions 216a are passing through the thickness of the half body 202. All the axial portions 216b extend at a minimum radial distance from the inner surface of the half body 202 in order to keep axial portions 216b flexible and radially bendable .

As illustrated in Figure 23, the sealing method for two individually shielded cables 4, 4' can use the sealing device 200. The two cables 4, 4' are previously stripped in order to make the different concentric layers 9, 8, 7, successively accessible at the axial portions 10, 11, 14, (see fig. 1) identical for the two stripped cables. The two cables axes are positioned parallelly in a horizontal plane, each axial portion 10, 11, 14 of one cable being laterally in front of the corresponding axial portion of the other cable.

The bottom half sealing device 201b is positioned relatively to the cables 4, 4' such that:

a) the half body 202 is below the two cables;

b) the guide 203 is located under the half body 202 and axially remote from the extremity of the conductive core 6;

c) the two cavities 206 are parallel to the cable axis and axially located such that the rear half ring portion 209 is at the back of the first axial portion 10, under the cable outer insulating layer 9 and the front half ring portion 211 is located further the second axial portion 11 under the inner insulating layer 7.

Then, the top half sealing device 201a is symmetrically positioned from the bottom half sealing device 201b relatively to the horizontal plane of the two cables 4, 4', in order to sandwich the cables 4, 4' between the two half sealing devices 201a, 201b.

The half cylinder 215a, together with the spring tongues 216 extending from said half cylinder 215a constitute a half conductor 205a. Similarly, the half cylinder 215b and its spring tongues constitute a half conductor 205b. The two half conductors, each from one half devices and corresponding to the same cable, constitute an individual conductor. The radial portions 216a of each half conductor 205a, 205b are passing through the corresponding individual half humidity barrier 214a, 214b. The half cylinder 215a of the external strip 215 of the bottom half device 201a, and the half cylinder 215b of the external strip 215 of the top half device 201b correspond to the same cable 4, and constitute together a tubular conductor 217 or a tubular conductive layer 217. Each of the half cylinder 215a, 215b are half shells 215a, 215b, presenting a "c" shape cross-section.

The individual humidity barrier 214a, corresponding to one of the cables 4, 4' is provided by the two half cylinders of each half body 202 surrounding said cable and by the corresponding part of the elastomeric joint 207.

Therefore, when pressing the two half sealing device 201a, 201b against each other,

a) the inner insulating layer 7 is inserted inside the tubular conductor or conductive layer 217;

b) said individual humidity barrier 214a comprises a front portion 220 extending between said tubular conductive layer 217 and the inner insulating layer 7 and a rear portion 221 extending between the outer insulating layer 9 and said tubular conducting layer 217;

c) the axial portion 216b of the spring tongues 216 electrically connects said tubular conductor of conductive layer 217 to the cable conductive braid 8.

Then, the collective braid 18 encircles the two external strips 215 of each half sealing devices 201a, 201b.

As illustrated in Figure 24, the two guides 203 are turned in a closed position in order to sandwich the collective braid 18 between the external strips 215 and the guides 203.

A collar 218 encircles globally the collective braid 18 and the two closed guides 203. The collar 218 exerts a radial pressure inwardly orientated. Such a pressure presses the two guides 203 and directly presses on the tubular conductor 217 the part of the collective braid 18 not sandwiched by the guides 203.

A small angular sector 219 between the two tubular conductors 217 may not be encircled by the collective braid 18. However, said angular sector 219 is below 120°, preferably below 60°, most preferably between 35° and 45°, in order to fulfil the car industry requirements about Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness .

The collar 218 also presses the two half bodies 202 against each other. Therefore, the elastomeric joints 207 sufficiently press the outer sealing layer 9 and the inner insulating layer 7 in order to isolate the sealed volume 208, or 208a and 208b from the outside.

Claims

1. Sealing device (1, 100, 200) for an individually shielded cable (4, 4'), comprising:

- a continuous electrically-conducting shield, adapted to be electrically connected both

. to an electrically conductive sheath or braid (8) of each of at least one cable, and

. to an electrical shield of a connector body (2) in which said cable is to be connected,

- a continuous waterproof barrier adapted to provide a continuous humidity seal,

. from an outer sealing layer (9) of each of said at least one cable (4, 4'),

. to said connector body (2) .

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous waterproof barrier comprises, for each cable (4, 4')_/ an individual waterproof barrier (54, 115, 214a, 214b) adapted to provide a continuous humidity seal between the outer sealing layer (9) and an inner insulating layer (7) of the cable; an inner sealed volume (55, 116, 208a, 208b) extending around the inner insulating layer being defined by said individual waterproof barrier (54, 115, 214a, 214b).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the continuous electrically-conducting shield comprises, for each cable, an individual electrical conductor (30, 46, 51, 105, 205), hermetically passing through the individual waterproof barrier (54, 115, 214a, 214b) and having an inner part (107, 216b) inside the inner sealed volume (55, 116, 208a, 208b) and an external part (104, 215) outside the inner sealed volume.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the individual electrical conductor comprises a tubular electrically conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 205).

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein each individual waterproof barrier comprises a tubular humidity-insulating layer (31, 47, 52, 110a, 220); an outer surface (32) of the humidity-insulating layer being sealed in or on an inner surface or face (33) of the tubular electrically-conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 205) ; an inner surface of the tubular humidity- insulating layer being designed to hermetically fit the inner insulating layer (7) of the cable (4, 4') .

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous electrically-conducting shield comprises a tubular electrically conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 205) and the continuous waterproof barrier comprises a tubular humidity-insulating layer (31, 47, 52, 110a, 220); an outer surface (32) of the humidity-insulating layer being sealed in an inner surface (33) of the tubular electrically-conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 205) ; an inner surface of the tubular humidity- insulating layer being designed to hermetically fit an inner insulating layer (7) of the cable (4, 4'), at least on an axial portion (13) of the device (5, 45, 50) .

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the tubular humidity-insulating layer (31, 47, 52, 100a, 220) is overmolded inside the tubular conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 205)

8. Device according to any of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the inner surface (33) of the tubular humidity- insulating layer (31) of the device comprises a conical portion .

9. Device according to any preceding claims, wherein the continuous electrically-conducting shield (51) comprises a rigid body covered by metallic plating.

10. Device according to any of claim 1 to 8, wherein the continuous electrically-conducting shield comprises a rigid metallic tube (30) .

11. Device according to claim 3, wherein the individual electrical conductor is a rigid metallic tube (30) .

12. Device according to any of claim 1 to 8, wherein the continuous electrically-conducting shield comprises a metallic braid (46) covered in one side only by a humidity sealant material (47) .

13. Device according to any of claim 1 to 9, wherein the continuous electrically-conducting shield comprises an assembly of two half shells (51, 215a, 215b), in particular both having a C shape cross section.

14. Device according to claim 3, wherein the inner part of the individual electrical conductor comprises elastic spring tongues (108, 216b).

15. Device according to claim 3 or 14, wherein the external part (104) of the individual electrical conductor (30, 105) extends axially farther the individual waterproof barrier (54, 115).

16. Device according to claim 3 or 14, wherein the external part (215) of the individual electrical conductor (205) is located radially outside the individual waterproof barrier (214a, 214b) , preferably extending axially in the same axial zone than the inner part (216b) of said individual electrical conductor (205) .

17. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each individual waterproof barrier (214a, 214b) comprises a first and a second rigid half body (202) .

18. Device according to claims 4 and 17 together, wherein each half body (53a, 53b, 202) is provided with a rear half ring joint (22, 209) adapted to hermetically fit with the outer sealing layer (9) of the corresponding cable (4, 4') and a front half ring joint (22, 211) adapted to hermetically fit with the tubular electrically conductive layer (30) or directly to the inner insulating layer (7) of the cable (4, 4') .

19. Device according to claim 3, wherein each individual electrical conductor (51, 205a, 205b) comprises a first and a second half individual conductor, both having a substantial C shape cross section .

20. Device according to claims 17 and 19 together, wherein each of the half individual conductors (205a, 205b) is hermetically passing through the corresponding half body (202) .

21. Device according to claim 20, wherein each of the half bodies (202) is provided with a rear half ring joint (209) adapted to fit with the outer sealing layer (9) of the corresponding cable (4, 4') and a front half ring joint (211) adapted to fit with the inner insulating layer (7) of the corresponding cable (4, 4' ) .

22. Device according to any of claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein all the first half individual conductors (205a, 205b) are included into a single-block first conductor (205) and all the second half individual conductors are included into a single-block second conductor .

23. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous waterproof barrier (22, 31, 47, 52, 115, 214, 214a, 214b) comprises an elastomeric material, for example a cross-linked silicone.

24. Device according to any of claim 2, 3, 5, 6, 14- 16, wherein each individual waterproof barrier (115) is made of an elastomeric tubular sheath (109) extending axially from an elastomeric seal (110) .

25. Device according to any of claim 3, 5, 6, 11, 14- 16, 19-22, 24 comprising a housing (101) holding an individual sealing element (106) for each cable (4, 4')_/ each of said individual sealing elements (106) including in a single block the corresponding individual waterproof barrier (115) and the corresponding individual electrical conductor (105).

26. Device according to claims 3, 5, 6, 11, 14-16, 19- 22, 24, 25, wherein the continuous electrically- conducting shield (17) comprises a collective braid (18), electrically connected between the electrical shield of the connector body (2) and the external part (104, 215) of each individual electrical conductor (30, 105, 205).

27. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous waterproof barrier comprises, for each cable, a rubber joint (15) adapted to provide humidity seal between the connector body (2) and an inner insulating layer (7) of the cable.

28. Device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a pressure means (26, 113-102, 216b-218) designed for pressing an electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) of the cable in electrical contact with the continuous electrically-conducting shield.

29. Device according to claim 28, wherein the pressure means comprises a clamp collar (26, 102, 218) .

30. Device according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the pressure means comprises an adhesive heat-shrinkable sleeve (40),

31. Device according to any of claims 1 to 30, wherein the shield crosses the waterproof barrier.

32. Cable assembly (4, 4') for electrical connector comprising at least one individually shielded cable and a sealing device (1, 45, 50, 100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims; each cable including an electrically-conductive core (6), an inner insulating layer (7) surrounding said core, an individual electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) surrounding said inner insulating layer (9), and an outer insulating layer surrounding said electrically- conductive sheath or braid (8), the outer insulating layer (9) ending in a first axial portion (10), the electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) axially extending further, up to a second axial portion (11) .

33. Cable assembly according to claim 11 and 32 together, wherein each rigid metallic tube (30) is inserted radially between the corresponding inner insulating layer (7) and the corresponding electrically conductive sheath or braid (8) of the cable.

34. Connector assembly comprising

- a plurality of two or three or more than three individually shielded cables (4, 4')_/ each cable including an electrically-conductive core (6), an inner insulating layer (7) surrounding said core, an individual electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) surrounding said inner insulating layer (9), and an outer insulating layer surrounding said electrically- conductive sheath or braid (8), the outer insulating layer (9) ending in a first axial portion (10), the electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) axially extending further, up to a second axial portion (11), - a plurality of electrical terminus (16), each of them connected to the end of the electrically- conductive core (6) of a corresponding cable,

- a connector body (2) provided with a collective electrical shield (18, 17) surrounding all the electrical terminus (16), and

- a rear housing (20-20' ; 101, 202) including a plurality of through cavities (111, 206) for each cable,

the connector assembly further comprising for each cable :

* a metallic tube (30) surrounding the inner insulating layer (7) and extending axially from the second axial portion (11) where the metallic tube (30) is electrically connected to individual electrically- conductive sheath or braid (8) of the cable, up to a fourth axial portion (13) where the metallic tube (30) is electrically connected to the collective electrical shield (18, 17),

* a rear sealing joint (22) being provided between the outer insulating layer (9) and the corresponding through cavity,

* a front sealing joint (22) being provided between the metallic tube (30) and the corresponding through cavity,

* a humidity insulating layer (31) being provided between the metallic tube (30) and the inner insulating layer (7) of the cable.

35. Connector assembly comprising

- a plurality of two or three or more than three individually shielded cables (4, 4'), each cable including an electrically-conductive core (6), an inner insulating layer (7) surrounding said core, an individual electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) surrounding said inner insulating layer (9), and an outer insulating layer surrounding said electrically- conductive sheath or braid (8), the outer insulating layer (9) ending in a first axial portion (10), the electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) axially extending further, up to a second axial portion (11),

- a plurality of electrical terminus (16), each of them connected to the end of the electrically- conductive core (6) of a corresponding cable, and

- a connector body (2) provided with a collective electrical shield (17-18) surrounding all the electrical terminus (16),

the connector assembly further comprising, a separated individual sealing element (106) for each cable (4, 4')_/ each individual sealing element (106) including a waterproof elastomeric sheath (109) extending axially from a seal (110) which is over-moulded outside and inside a tubular electrical conductor (105);

the elastomeric sheath (109) hermetically fitting the outer insulating layer (9) and extending up to a third axial portion (12) where the seal (110) hermetically fits the inner insulating layer (7),

the tubular electrical conductor (105) including an elastic spring tongue (108) radially located inside the elastomeric sheath (109) and pressing the electrically- conductive sheath or braid (8) of the cable,

the tubular electrical conductor (105) further including an external part (104) outside the elastomeric sheath (109) and connected to the collective electrical shield (17-18) of the connector body (2 ) .

36. Connector assembly comprising

- a plurality of two or three or more than three individually shielded cables (4, 4')_/ each cable including an electrically-conductive core (6), an inner insulating layer (7) surrounding said core, an individual electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) surrounding said inner insulating layer (9), and an outer insulating layer surrounding said electrically- conductive sheath or braid (8), the outer insulating layer (9) ending in a first axial portion (10), the electrically-conductive sheath or braid (8) axially extending further, up to a second axial portion (11),

- a connector body (2) provided with a collective electrical shield (17-18) surrounding all the electrical terminus,

the connector assembly further comprising two identical half sealing devices (201a, 201b) , each of them comprising :

* a half body (202) over-moulded around an electrical conductor (205) ; said electrical conductor including a plurality of spring tongues (216) entering at said second axial portion inside a half cylindrical cavity (206) of the half body (202), and an external part (215) extending radially outside the half body (202) and connected to the collective electrical shield (17-18) of the connector body (2),

* an elastomeric joint (207) being fixed to each half body (202), including a rear half-ring portion (209) fitting to the outer insulating layer (9), a front half-ring portion (211) fitting to the inner insulating layer (7), and a lateral portion (210a, 21 Ob) providing a continuous waterproof barrier (214, 214a, 214b) between the two half bodies (202) .

37. Sealing method for individually shielded cable (4, 4 ' ) comprising :

inserting the inner insulating layer (7) of the cable inside a tubular conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 217),

providing a waterproof barrier (31 ; 110a,

220) between the tubular conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 217) and the inner insulating layer (7) of the cable,

- electrically connect the conductive sheath or braid (8) of the cable to the tubular conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 217),

providing a waterproof barrier (22; 109-110;

221) between the outer insulating layer (9) and the tubular conductive layer (30, 46, 51, 105, 217).