Shielded Connector Assemblies

Abstract

The invention relates to a shielded connector assembly. A connection assembly comprises a connector and a mating connector. The shielding cage (120) of the connector has an attachment device (152, 154) formed by deformation of the shielding cage (120) without forming an opening. The attachment device (152, 154) is configured to prevent an inner element (112) of the connection housing from translating relative to the shielding cage (120) parallel to a connection direction (A). The shielding cage (120) is prevented from translating relative to an outer housing element (114) parallel to the connection direction (A) by means of a retaining device (124).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of power connectors for electric or hybrid motor vehicles. Background Art

[0002] Power connectors are used in electric or hybrid motor vehicles, for example to interconnect a set of batteries to an electric motor, a power converter, or the like.

[0003] In hybrid and electric motor vehicles, the currents transmitted by the cables and connectors of the power circuits are relatively high and can reach 600 amperes, or even more than 1000 amperes at current peaks. Therefore, the electricity passing through the cables and connectors can generate electromagnetic interference that is not negligible. It is therefore important to be able to limit this electromagnetic interference as much as possible. For this reason, shielding is used on the cables and on the connectors. This shielding consists of metal sheets forming a shielding sleeve or shielding cage that surrounds the inner part of the housing in which the male or female contacts are accommodated. In cable connectors, these sheets establish electrical continuity between the shielding braid of the cable and some other metal elements, such as shielding of the mating connector, metal walls, etc.

[0004] Therefore, it may be necessary to ensure shielding continuity between the connector and the mating connector connected to the connector. Document WO2014108197A1 describes a connection assembly including a connector and a mating connector, wherein the connector and the mating connector respectively have a shielding cage, and the shielding cages of the connector and the mating connector ensure shielding continuity through the connection assembly.

[0005] However, openings are usually provided in the shield of the connector, so as to assemble the shielding sheet to the connector housing and / or to mount the outer housing part on the inner housing part. However, such openings reduce the shielding performance of the shield.

[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to help improve the performance of connector shields. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, a connection assembly is proposed, which includes a connector and a mating connector. The connector and the mating connector are configured to be connected together parallel to a connection direction. The connector and the mating connector each include a shielding cage, and when the connector is connected to the mating connector, the shielding cages are in electrical contact with each other. The connector and the mating connector also each include a housing.

[0008] In the connection assembly, the connector housing has an inner housing element and an outer housing element formed by two separable elements, the outer housing element having an inner wall. The connector also has a retaining device attached to the inner wall by means of a fastening device.

[0009] In the connection assembly, the shielding cage of the connector has an attachment device, which is formed by deformation of the shielding cage of the connector without forming an opening and is configured to prevent the inner housing element from translating relative to the shielding cage of the connector parallel to the coupling direction. In addition, the shielding cage of the connector is prevented from translating relative to the outer housing element parallel to the coupling direction by means of the retaining device.

[0010] Thus, by fixing the inner housing element by means of the shielding cage and by fixing the shielding cage to the outer housing element by means of the holding device, it is no longer necessary to attach the outer housing element to the inner housing element via the shielding cage. By avoiding the formation of openings and / or cutouts in the shielding cage, its shielding properties are improved.

[0011] The connection component also potentially has one and / or another of the following features, each considered independently of each other or in combination with one or more other features:

[0012] - the shielding cage of the connector comprises two half cages, each half cage extending parallel to the coupling direction between the cable outlet portion and the contact portion, wherein the main part is located between the cable outlet portion and the contact portion;

[0013] - the main portion has a channel shape with a bottom extending longitudinally between the cable outlet portion and the contact portion and transversely between two side walls parallel to the coupling direction;

[0014] - the bottom has no openings or cutouts;

[0015] - the shielding cage of the connector has a crown provided with elastic fingers which are compressed between the corresponding shielding cages of the connector and the counter connector;

[0016] - the shielding cage of the connector has at least one fastening tab bent radially towards the outer wall of the outer housing element, each fastening tab having a window configured to cooperate with a tooth extending parallel to the coupling direction through an opening formed in the inner wall of the outer housing element;

[0017] - the retaining device has a flange extending radially towards the inside of the outer housing element, the flange cooperating with the cage so as to prevent a movement of the cage tending to cause it to come out of the outer housing element;

[0018] - the shielding cage of the connector has a front edge which is bent radially towards the outside to form a channel into which the front end of the inner wall of the outer housing element is inserted, the retaining element being configured to fix the front edge against the front end of the inner wall of the outer housing element;

[0019] - the contact portion has flexible tongues, and the retaining device has a wall interposed between at least some of the tongues and cooperating with the front end of the inner wall;

[0020] - The attachment means comprise at least one rib formed by deformation of the shielding cage.

[0021] According to another aspect, a connector for a connection assembly as described above is provided.

[0022] According to yet another aspect, a method for assembling a connector for a connection assembly as described above is provided. The method particularly comprises the following operations:

[0023] - inserting the contacts into the unit of the inner housing element, the ends of the cables being crimped to the contacts,

[0024] - arranging shielding half shells around said inner housing element to form a shielding cage,

[0025] - inserting the inner housing element through an opening in the outer housing element configured to receive a counter connector, wherein the shielding cage is assembled on the inner housing element until these elements abut against the bottom of the outer housing element,

[0026] - mounting the holding device on the outer housing element by interposing at least a portion of the shielding cage between the outer housing element and the holding device.

[0027] Potentially, the method comprises the operation of placing a seal around the inner wall of the outer housing element such that after the operation of mounting the holding device on the outer housing element, the seal is prevented from moving between the holding device and the outer housing element parallel to the coupling direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 A perspective view schematically illustrating an example of an embodiment of a connection assembly;

[0030] Figure 2 Schematically shows the Figure 1 A perspective view of a connector of the connection assembly shown;

[0031] Figure 3 Schematically shows the Figure 1 A perspective view of a mating connector of the illustrated connection assembly;

[0032] Figure 4 Schematically shows Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of some parts of the connector;

[0033] Figure 5 Schematically shows Figure 2 and Figure 4 A perspective view of a shielding half cage of a connector in FIG.

[0034] Figure 6 Schematically shows Figure 1 A perspective view of a shielding cage of a connection assembly in FIG.

[0035] Figure 7 Schematically shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a connector in FIG.

[0036] Figure 8 Schematically shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a detail of a connector in FIG.

[0037] Fig. 9 Schematically shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a detail of a variant of the connector in FIG.

[0038] Fig.10 Schematically shows Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a detail of another variation of the connector in;

[0039] Fig.11 Schematically shows Fig.10 Detail of a variant of a connector with a retaining device in cross-section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figure 1 An example of a connection assembly 1 is shown. The connection assembly 1 comprises a plurality of connecting members parallel to the connection direction A ( Figure 1 )Connector 100 connected to a mating connector 200.

[0041] The connector 100 is a cable connector. The counter connector 200 is a base configured to be mounted on a wall 300 through which the counter connector passes. According to this example, the connector 100 is a female connector, and the counter connector 200 is a male connector.

[0042] The connector 100 comprises a front end 101 corresponding to the coupling face and a rear end 102 through which the cables 400 exit (according to the example presented herein, there are two of these cables 400, but the connector may comprise a single cable 400 or, on the contrary, more than two cables 400) ( Figure 2 ). The connector 100 includes a housing 110 formed by an inner housing element 112 and an outer housing element 114. The inner housing element 112 forms a contact holder housing. A connector position assurance device (CPA) 113 may be mounted on the outer housing element 114. Both the inner housing element 112 and the outer housing element 114 are molded from an electrically insulating plastic material. The inner housing element 112 and the outer housing element 114 are two separable elements that are assembled by fitting one into the other.

[0043] The outer housing element 114 includes an inner wall 116 and an outer wall 118 ( Figure 4 ), the inner wall and the outer wall surround and protect the connection part of the inner housing element 112. The inner wall 116 is connected to the outer wall 118. The outer wall 118 forms a skirt around the inner wall 116.

[0044] The connector 100 also includes a shielding cage 120 interposed between the inner housing element 112 and the outer housing element 114. The shielding cage 120 is formed from a metal sheet.

[0045] The connector 100 has a seal 122 and a retaining device 124. The seal 122 is mounted between the inner wall 116 and the outer wall 118 of the outer housing element 114 and is in sealing contact with the inner wall 116 ( Figure 7 ). A space is provided between the seal 122 and the outer wall 118 so that the outer wall 218 of the mating connector 200, which is in sealing contact with the seal 122, can be inserted into the space. The retaining device 124 has a ring 126 mounted around the inner wall 116, leaving a space between the ring 126 and the outer wall 118 so that the outer wall 218 of the mating connector 200 can be inserted into the space. The retaining device 124 also includes a flange 128 extending radially inwardly from the front end of the ring 126. The retaining device 124 makes it possible to prevent the seal 122 from moving in translation along the outer housing element 114 in the coupling direction A. The retaining device 124 is attached to the inner wall 116 by means of fastening means 130. For example, these fastening means 130 include teeth 132 ( Figure 8 These teeth 132 are configured to cooperate with recesses 134 provided in the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114 of the connector 100 so as to prevent the retaining device 124 from moving in translation forwardly (relative to the front end 101 and the rear end 102 of the connector 100) parallel to the coupling direction A.

[0046] The mating connector 200 also has a housing 210 ( Figure 3 ). The inner housing element 212 corresponds to the contact holder housing. The outer housing element 214 corresponds to the support housing. Both the inner housing element 212 and the outer housing element 214 are molded from an electrically insulating plastic material. The inner housing element 212 and the outer housing element 214 are two separable elements that are assembled by fitting one in the other. The outer housing element 214 includes an outer wall 218. The outer wall 218 forms a skirt around the coupling portion of the inner housing element 112.

[0047] The mating connector 200 also includes a shielding cage 220 interposed between the inner housing element 212 and the outer housing element 214. The shielding cage 220 is formed of a metal sheet ( Figure 6 ).

[0048] When the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 are coupled, the outer wall 218 of the mating connector 200 is inserted into the groove provided between the inner wall 116 and the outer wall 118 of the outer housing element 114 of the connector 100 so as to be in sealing contact with the seal 122. When the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 are coupled, the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200 is in electrical contact with the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100 ( Figure 8 ). More specifically, the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200 is disposed radially inwardly compared to the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100. Then, the shielding cages of the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 are arranged radially inwardly compared to the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114 of the connector 100.

[0049] According to one example of implementation, the shielding cage 120, 220 of the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 comprises two parts or half cages 121, 221 ( Figure 6 ). These half cages 121, 221 are formed by cutting and pressing.

[0050] The half cage 121 of the connector 100 is parallel to the connection direction A at the cable outlet portion 136 and the contact portion 138 ( Figure 5 ). The main portion 140 is located between the cable outlet portion 136 and the contact portion 138. The main portion 140 has a channel shape, the bottom 142 of which extends longitudinally between the cable outlet portion 136 and the contact portion 138 parallel to the coupling direction A, and extends transversely between two side walls 144. The bottom 140 has no openings or cutouts in order to optimize the electromagnetic shielding properties.

[0051] In About Figure 5 and Figure 6In the example described, the side walls 144 also have no openings or cutouts in order to optimize the electromagnetic shielding properties. In this example, it is worth noting that the side walls 144 do not have structures for fastening the half cages 121 together. The longitudinal edges 146 of the corresponding side walls 144 of the two half cages 121 are put together. These longitudinal edges 146 are held together (optionally with overlap), in particular due to the following facts:

[0052] - the two half-cages 121 are inserted and confined between certain portions of the inner housing element 112 and the outer housing element 114, and

[0053] - The sleeve 148 holds the two half cages 121 together at their cable exit portions 136 ( Figure 4 ).

[0054] The cable exit portion 136 has a shape that fits inside the outer housing element 114 so as to keep the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100 in a proper position in the outer housing element if, for example, force is applied backward on the shielding cage 120 by friction between the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100 and the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200 during the coupling of the connector 100 to the mating connector 200. The cable exit portion 136 also has a shape that cooperates with the inner housing element 112 so as to keep the inner housing element 112 in a proper position in the connector 100 if, for example, force is applied backward on the inner housing element during the coupling of the connector 100 to the mating connector 200 and / or if a pulling force is applied to the cable 400.

[0055] Furthermore, the shielding cage 120 has an attachment device 150 for attaching the shielding cage 120 to the inner housing element 112 without using an opening in the sheet of the half cage 121. For example, the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100 has at least one rib 152 or 154 forming a stopper. Each rib 152, 154 is made by deformation (pressing) without a cutout or opening therein. Each rib 152, 154 extends perpendicularly to the coupling direction A. Each rib 152, 154 protrudes from the inner surface of the shielding cage 120. For example, the first rib 152 is arranged at the boundary between the cable outlet portion 136 and the main portion 140, and the second rib 154 is arranged in the main portion 140 ( Figure 5 and Figure 7 The first rib 152 and the second rib 154 cooperate with the groove 155 and the recess 157 provided in the inner housing element 112 ( Figure 4 ).

[0056] The contact portion 138 has a resilient tongue 156 ( Figure 8). Thus, these tongues 156 are configured to deform elastically and exert pressure on the points of contact with the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200. When the half cages 121 are assembled to form the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100, the shielding cage 120 forms a sleeve, the wall of which is perforated only at the cutouts between the tongues 156. In other words, only the contact portion 138 is perforated. However, the contact portion is located close to a continuous (i.e., non-perforated) portion of the wall of the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200.

[0057] Since the wall of the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200 also has no openings, the connection assembly has no uncovered area and no shielding. Even the joint between the respective shielding cages 120, 220 of the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 is covered by the sheet, so there is actually no shielding discontinuity in the connection assembly 1.

[0058] The assembly of the connector 100 comprises in particular the following operations:

[0059] - inserting the contacts into the unit of the inner housing element 112, the ends of the cables 400 being crimped to the contacts,

[0060] - arranging the half shells 121 around the inner housing element 112 to form the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100,

[0061] - inserting the inner housing element 112 through the opening in the coupling face of the outer housing element 114 , wherein the shielding cage 120 is assembled on the inner housing element 112 , until these elements abut against the bottom of the outer housing element 114 ,

[0062] - placing the seal 122 around the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114,

[0063] The holding device 124 is mounted on the outer housing element 114 by cooperating the teeth 132 with recesses 134 provided in the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114 .

[0064] When the holding device 124 is mounted in this way, the flange 128 bears on the front end of the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114 via the wall 158 inserted between the tongues 156 of the shielding cage 120. Thus, by the flange 128, the tongues 156 are prevented from moving in translation forwardly parallel to the coupling direction A.

[0065] All the components of the connector 100 are thus held together: in particular the inner housing element 112 is prevented from moving backwards and forwards by the ribs 152, 154 of the shielding cage 120, it is prevented from moving toward the rear by the outer housing element 114, and it is prevented from moving toward the front by the retaining device 124, which is mounted on the inner wall 116 and is fixed by the cooperation of the teeth 132 with the recesses 134. The seal 122 is interposed between the outer housing element 114 and the ring 126 of the retaining device 124.

[0066] When the connector 100 and the mating connector 200 are coupled, the outer wall 218 of the outer housing element 214 of the mating connector 200 is inserted between the inner wall 116 and the outer wall 118 of the outer housing element 114 of the connector 100, and the seal 122 provides a seal between the connector 100 and the mating connector 200. The shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200 is inserted under the contact portion 138 of the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100 to ensure shielding continuity in the connection assembly 1.

[0067] According to another example of implementation ( Fig. 9 ), the connection assembly 1 is substantially the same as the above connection assembly, and differs in the shape of the contact portion 138 of the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100. Specifically, the sheet of the main part 140 extends continuously, without a cutout or opening, until the front edge 160, which is bent radially toward the outside to form a channel (U-shaped cross section). The front end of the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114 is inserted into the channel, thereby helping to prevent the shielding cage 120 from moving backward relative to the outer housing element 114 parallel to the connection direction A. The retaining device 124 is mounted on the outer housing element 114 so that its flange 128 prevents the shielding cage 120 from moving forward parallel to the connection direction A.

[0068] In order to produce an effective electrical contact between the shielding cage 120 of the connector 100 and the contact portion 138 of the shielding cage 220 of the counter connector 200, the contact portion 138 is provided with a crown 162. This crown 162 has the shape of a metal strip welded to the contact portion 138, for example, along two longitudinal edges 164, between which the fingers 166 are bent radially towards the shielding cage 220 of the counter connector 200. Thus, in the contact portion 138, there is an overlap of two consecutive portions (that is to say, a solid portion without openings) of the respective shielding cages 120, 220 of the connector 100 and the counter connector 200, wherein the crown 162 of the resilient fingers 166 is compressed between the two consecutive portions.

[0069] According to another example of an embodiment ( Fig.10 and Fig.11), the connection assembly is substantially the same as the connection assembly described above, and differs in that the contact portion 138 has fastening tabs 170 (a small number of which, for example, one on each of the side walls 144 of the half-cage 121). Each fastening tab 170 is bent radially toward the outer wall 118 of the outer housing element 114. Each fastening tab 170 has a window 172 configured to cooperate with a tooth 174 extending through an opening 176 formed in the inner wall 116 of the outer housing element 114 toward the front, parallel to the coupling direction A. Once attached to the tooth 174, each fastening tab 170 helps prevent the shielding cage 120 from moving toward the rear, parallel to the coupling direction A. The holding device 124 is mounted on the outer housing element 114 so that its flange 128 prevents the shielding cage 120 from moving toward the front, parallel to the coupling direction A. In addition, the ring 126 interacts with the fastening tab 170 to also prevent this movement. Furthermore, each fastening tab 170 is disposed behind the crown 162 of the resilient finger 166. In other words, since these resilient fingers 166 are configured to contact the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200, each fastening tab 170 is disposed close to a solid and continuous area of ​​the shielding cage 220 of the mating connector 200 on a portion of the shielding cage 220 that does not have an opening or cutout.

Claims

1. A connection assembly (1), comprising a connector (100) and a mating connector (200), wherein the connector (100) and the mating connector (200) are configured to be coupled together parallel to a coupling direction (A), wherein the connector (100) and the mating connector (200) each respectively comprise a shielding cage (120, 220), wherein when the connector (100) is coupled to the mating connector (200), the shielding cages are in electrical contact with each other, and wherein the connector (100) and the mating connector (200) each respectively comprise a housing (110, 210), in, - the housing (110) of the connector has an inner housing element (112) and an outer housing element (114) formed of two separable elements, the outer housing element (114) having an inner wall (116), - the connector (100) has a holding device (124) which is attached to the inner wall (116) by means of fastening means (130), It is characterized in that - the shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) has an attachment device (150) which is formed by deformation of the shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) without forming an opening, and the attachment device is configured to prevent the inner housing element (112) from translating relative to the shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) parallel to the coupling direction (A), and wherein - The shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) is prevented from a translational movement relative to the outer housing element (114) parallel to the coupling direction (A) by means of the retaining device (124).

2. The connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) comprises two half cages (121), each half cage (121) extending parallel to the connection direction (A) between the cable outlet portion (136) and the contact portion (138), wherein a main portion (140) is located between the cable outlet portion (136) and the contact portion (138), wherein the main portion (140) has a channel shape, wherein the channel shape has a bottom (142) extending longitudinally between the cable outlet portion (136) and the contact portion (138) and extending transversely between two side walls (144) parallel to the connection direction (A), and wherein the bottom (142) has no opening or cutout.

3. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) has a crown (162) provided with resilient fingers (166) which are compressed between the respective shielding cages (120, 220) of the connector (100) and the mating connector (200).

4. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) has at least one fastening tab (170) which is bent radially toward the outer wall (118) of the outer housing element (114), each fastening tab (170) having a window (172) which is configured to cooperate with a tooth (174) which extends parallel to the coupling direction (A) through an opening (176) formed in the inner wall (116) of the outer housing element (114).

5. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The retaining device (124) has a flange (128) extending radially towards the interior of the outer housing element (114), the flange (128) cooperating with the cage (120) so as to prevent a movement of the cage (120) that would tend to cause the cage (120) to come out of the outer housing element (114).

6. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The shielding cage (120) of the connector (100) has a front edge (160) that is radially bent toward the outside to form a channel, and the front end of the inner wall (116) of the outer housing element (114) is inserted into the channel, and the retaining device (124) is configured to fix the front edge (160) against the front end of the inner wall (116) of the outer housing element (114).

7. The connection assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The contact portion (138) has flexible tongues (156), and the retaining device (124) has a wall (158) interposed between at least some of the tongues (156) and cooperating with the front end of the inner wall (116).

8. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The attachment means (150) comprises at least one rib (152; 154) formed by deformation of the shielding cage (120).

9. A connector (100) configured to be coupled to a mating connector (200) parallel to a coupling direction (A), the connector (100) comprising a housing (110), a shielding cage (120) and a retaining device (124), the housing (110) having an inner housing element (112) and an outer housing element (114) formed by two separable elements, the outer housing element (114) having an inner wall (116), and the retaining device (124) being attached to the inner wall (116) by means of a fastening device (130), It is characterized in that - the shielding cage (120) has attachment means (150) formed by deformation of the shielding cage without forming openings, these attachment means are configured to prevent translational movement of the inner housing element (112) relative to the shielding cage (120) parallel to the coupling direction (A), and wherein - The shielding cage (120) is prevented from a translational movement relative to the outer housing element (114) parallel to the coupling direction (A) by means of the holding device (124).

10. A method for assembling a connector (100) for use in a connection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the following operations: - inserting the contact with the end of the cable (400) crimped thereon into the unit of the inner housing element (112), - arranging shielding half shells around the inner housing element (112) to form a shielding cage (120), - inserting the inner housing element (112) with the assembled shielding cage (120) through an opening in the outer housing element (114) configured to receive a mating connector (200) until the inner housing element and the shielding cage abut against the bottom of the outer housing element (114), - mounting the holding device (124) on the outer housing element (114) by interposing at least a portion of the shielding cage (120) between the outer housing element (114) and the holding device (124).

11. A method for assembling a connector (100) according to claim 10, comprising the operation of placing a seal (122) around the inner wall (116) of the external housing element (114) so ​​that after the operation of installing the retaining device (124) on the external housing element (114), the seal (122) is prevented from moving between the retaining device (124) and the external housing element (114) parallel to the connection direction.

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