Small coaxial contact assembly for electrical connectors

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of connectors, and more particularly to a small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector. This small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector comprises an insulator, an outer conductor, and a terminal. The terminal and one side of the outer conductor are crimped to the inner conductor of a cable, and the terminal is connected to and secured within the insulator. This small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector can achieve higher transmission frequencies, is smaller in size, facilitates modular assembly for multi-channel integration, and has a simpler production process, enabling mass production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric connector, and in particular to a small coaxial contact assembly for the electric connector. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the automotive industry, the level of autonomous driving is constantly improving. This requires in-vehicle RF (radio frequency) interconnect systems to have more transmission channels and higher frequencies. The traditional automotive "FAKRA" interconnect system, due to its size and frequency range limitations, can no longer meet future requirements. For example, the demands for 360-degree surround view, fatigue driving, 5G communications, GPS, and vehicle-to-machine communication will require more than 10 RF (radio frequency) interconnect systems throughout the vehicle. Using the traditional automotive "FAKRA" interconnect system would require more space and higher costs. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a small coaxial contact component with higher frequencies, smaller size, and easier modular assembly and mass production to adapt to the development of the automotive industry.

[0003] In the prior art, there is a contact component for an electrical connector, wherein the contact component has an outer conductor, an inner conductor and a protective insulator, and the protective insulator extends to the outside of the front end of the outer conductor for closed entry and mating. The defects of its structure are as follows: 1. In the outer conductor contact area and the protective insulator part, the insulator extends outward and is higher than the outer conductor elastic arm, thereby protecting the outer conductor elastic arm. However, due to the structural restrictions and performance matching of the mating terminals, the part of the insulator extending out of the outer conductor can only be made very weak, and the protective part of the insulator can be easily damaged during use; 2. There is no avoidance at the mating point between the two wings of the terminal and the insulator. After the terminal is inserted into the insulator, the two wings are always in a compressed state, and there is a risk that the two wings will collapse and lose elasticity and fail; 3. The installation requires the cable insertion depth and the crimping to control the forward positioning size of the terminal, which is completely dependent on the machine. When the cable is bent under stress, the terminal will bulge. Risk of insulator coming out; 4. Rely on the two metal raised folded edges on the outer sleeve to pierce the two windows of the outer conductor and extend into the annular circumferential groove of the insulator to fix the front and rear relative position relationship of the insulator and the outer conductor. Because the product is small and it is necessary to prevent the product from shaking after installation, the width of the annular groove of the insulator and the window of the outer conductor are very small. It is very difficult to align the two grooves of the insulator and the window of the outer conductor and to accurately insert the two raised folded edges of the outer sleeve. At the same time, the original structure requires the outer sleeve to be crimped onto the outer conductor at the same time when piercing. The process is complicated and requires the use of special mold tooling for production, which is not conducive to mass promotion of products. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned defects and provides a small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector.

[0005] In order to overcome the defects existing in existing products, the technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the technical problems is as follows: this small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector includes an insulator, an outer conductor and a terminal, one side of the terminal is crimped through a crimping area to connect the cable, the terminal is connected and fixed to the insulator, the insulator is plug-connected and fixed to the outer conductor, the front end of the insulator is provided with a connecting end for fixing the insulator in the outer conductor and a fixed end connected to the connecting end, the connecting end includes a column at its front end, the column is provided with at least one raised rib extending rearward from its front end, the fixed end is provided with a rib corresponding to the raised rib, the rear end extension portion of the raised rib includes a recessed portion flush with the rib, and grooves for performance compensation and fixation are formed between the ribs;

[0006] The outer conductor includes a front end portion for connecting an insulator therein, a middle portion for connecting to a U-shaped clamping ring, and a rear end portion for connecting to a fixed support ring and a cable. The front end portion is provided with at least three finger-shaped portions, and at least one clamping groove for clamping the raised rib is formed between the finger-shaped portions. The middle portion is provided with a notch and a window. The U-shaped clamping ring is provided with a V-shaped protrusion and an elastic arm. The V-shaped protrusion is clamped into the inwardly concave window on the middle portion, and the elastic arm is clamped into the notch to pre-snap the U-shaped clamping ring to the middle portion.

[0007] The insulator is provided with an annular groove for matching the two wings on the avoidance terminal;

[0008] The terminal is provided with an upwardly protruding boss which interferes with the insulator for positioning after being inserted into the insulator.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the end edge of the front end portion is further contracted inwardly so that its diameter is smaller than the diameter of the front end portion.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the V-shaped protrusion is further located in the groove so that the insulator can be fixed forward.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the elastic arm is further connected to the notch of the outer conductor, so that the U-shaped clamp can be pre-fixed with the outer conductor before crimping and the U-shaped clamp cannot rotate relative to the outer conductor after crimping.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the insulator further comprises a raised rib tail end that abuts against and connects to a root of the slot so that the insulator can be fixed backward.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the raised ribs, ribs, grooves of the insulator and the slots and recessed windows of the outer conductor further have a specific relative position relationship so that after the insulator is installed in the outer conductor, one groove always corresponds to the window.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, each finger-shaped portion of the outer conductor further includes a contact protrusion protruding upward, and the contact protrusions on two adjacent finger-shaped portions are staggered front to back, so that the contact protrusions on all the finger-shaped portions are divided into two groups, front and back, for contacting in sequence when mating with the same mating end to reduce the insertion force during mating.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: this small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector can achieve a higher transmission frequency, the product volume is smaller, it is convenient for modular assembly to achieve multi-channel integration, and the production process is simpler to achieve mass production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples.

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the exploded view of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the insulator;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the Chinese and foreign conductors;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the other side of the inner and outer conductors;

[0021] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the left view of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 、 6 Schematic diagram of the structure in the AA direction;

[0024] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure in the middle BB direction;

[0025] Wherein: 1. insulator, 2. outer conductor, 3. terminal, 4. support ring, 5. cable, 6. U-shaped clamping ring, 7. cylinder, 8. raised rib, 9. connecting end, 10. recess, 11. end edge, 12. slot, 13. front end, 14. middle part, 15. V-shaped protrusion, 16. boss, 17. finger-shaped part, 18. notch, 19. rear end, 20. annular groove, 21. two wings, 22. elastic arm, 23. fixed end, 24. rib, 25. groove, 26. window. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort based on the embodiments of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] like Figure 1-8 As shown, the figure includes an insulator 1, an outer conductor 2 and a terminal 3, one side of the terminal 3 is connected to the inner conductor of the cable 5 by crimping, and the terminal 3 is connected and fixed to the insulator 1.

[0028] Among them, such as Figure 2 As shown, the insulator 1 is inserted into the outer conductor 2. The insulator 1 does not protrude outside the outer conductor 2, but is completely covered by the outer conductor 2. The outer conductor of this structure can effectively protect the insulator 1. The front end of the insulator 1 is provided with a connecting end 9 for fixing the insulator 1 in the outer conductor 2 and a fixed end 23 connected to the connecting end 9. The connecting end 9 includes a column 7 at its front end, and a raised rib 8 extending backward from its front end is provided on the column 7. The fixed end 23 is provided with a rib 24 corresponding to the raised rib 8. The rear end extension of the raised rib 8 includes a recess 10 flush with the rib 24, and a groove 25 is formed between the ribs 24.

[0029] Among them, such as Figure 3 、 4 As shown, the outer conductor 2 includes a front end portion 13 for connecting the insulator 1 to its interior, an intermediate portion 14 for connecting the U-shaped snap ring 6, and a rear end portion 19 for connecting to the fixed support ring 4. The end face circle of the front end portion is wrapped inward, and its end face diameter becomes smaller, which is more conducive to guiding the insertion during insertion and is not easy to be damaged. At least three finger-shaped portions 17 are provided at the front end portion 13, and at least one, especially three, snap-in grooves 12 for snapping into the raised ribs 8 are formed between the finger-shaped portions 17. A notch 18 and a window 26 are provided on the intermediate portion 14. A V-shaped protrusion 15 and an elastic arm 22 are provided on the U-shaped snap ring 6. The V-shaped protrusion 15 is snapped into the inwardly concave window 26 on the intermediate portion 14. The elastic arm 22 is snapped into the notch 18 so that the U-shaped snap ring 6 is pre-fastened and connected to the intermediate portion 14. The elastic arm 22 also rests on the notch 18 of the outer conductor 2 at the same time, thereby preventing relative rotation between the U-shaped snap ring 6 and the outer conductor 2 after crimping.

[0030] Among them, such as Figure 8As shown, an annular groove 20 is provided in the insulator 1 for cooperating with and avoiding the two wings 21 on the terminal 3. Since the terminal 3 has two wings 21, after being inserted into the insulator 1, the two wings 21 are compressed until the two wings 21 reach the annular groove 20 with which they cooperate. The annular groove 20 can avoid in the entire circumferential direction, so that the two wings 21 are in a freely extended state after the terminal is inserted, thereby preventing the risk of the two wings 21 being crushed and losing elasticity and failing;

[0031] Among them, such as Figure 7 As shown, the terminal 3 is provided with an upwardly protruding boss 16, which interferes with the insulator for positioning after being inserted into the insulator. The terminal 3 interferes with the insulator for positioning after being inserted into the insulator 1, which can ensure the forward positioning size of the terminal 3.

[0032] The end edge 11 of the front end portion 13 shrinks inwardly so that its diameter is smaller than the diameter of the front end portion 13 .

[0033] The V-shaped protrusion 15 is located in the groove 25 . During assembly, the V-shaped protrusion 15 on the U-shaped retaining ring 6 is placed in the window 26 of the outer conductor 2 and in the groove 25 , thereby positioning the forward dimension of the insulator 1 .

[0034] Among them, the elastic arm 22 abuts against the notch 18 connected to the outer conductor 2, so that the U-shaped clamping ring 6 will not rotate relative to the outer conductor 2 after crimping. The U-shaped clamping ring can be pre-buckled onto the outer conductor through the elastic arms on both sides, and then crimped and rounded. It can be achieved by using ordinary crimping tools and processes. It can be produced manually or semi-automatically. At the same time, the simplified production process is more conducive to the development of automated equipment for mass production.

[0035] Among them, the tail end of the raised rib 8 of the insulator 1 is connected to the root of the slot 12. During assembly, the insulator is inserted from the front end of the outer conductor, and the raised rib 8 is inserted into the slot 12 until the tail end of the rib 8 presses against the root of the slot 12, thereby positioning the rearward dimension of the insulator 1.

[0036] The column 7 has one or more, in particular three, raised ribs 8 extending rearward from the front end thereof, which are used to allow the ribs to be inserted into at least one groove 12 of the outer conductor 2 until the root thereof engages and abuts against the outer conductor 2 when the insulator 1 is assembled to the outer conductor 2, thereby positioning the rearward dimension of the insulator 1.

[0037] Among them, such as Figure 6As shown, the number of grooves 12 is greater than or equal to the number of ribs 8, and their positions in the circumferential direction correspond to each other to ensure that the insulator 1 can be inserted into the outer conductor 2; at least three raised ribs 24 are provided on the fixed end 23, and grooves 25 for performance compensation and fixation are formed between the ribs 24. The raised ribs 8, ribs 24 and grooves 25 of the insulator 1 have a specific relative positional relationship with the clamping groove 12 and the concave window 26 of the outer conductor 2, so that after the insulator 1 is installed in the outer conductor 2, one groove 25 always corresponds to the position of the window 26, ensuring that the V-shaped protrusion 15 of the U-shaped clamping ring 6 can extend through the window 26 and be clamped into the groove 25 to position the insulator 1 during assembly.

[0038] Among them, each finger-shaped portion 17 of the outer conductor 2 has an upwardly protruding contact bump, and the contact bumps on two adjacent finger-shaped portions 17 have a front-to-back staggered relationship, so that all contact bumps will be divided into two groups in the circumferential direction. When the same mating ends are mated, the front and back two groups contact one after another. Compared with the traditional design in which all contacts are distributed on the same circumferential surface, it can effectively reduce the insertion and removal force during mating.

[0039] Assembly steps: First, insert the insulator 1 from the front end of the outer conductor 2, so that the raised ribs 8 on the insulator 1 are snapped into the slots 12, and then the U-shaped snap ring 6 is installed on the middle part 14 of the outer conductor 2, and the V-shaped protrusions 15 of the U-shaped snap ring 6 are snapped into the inward concave windows 26 on the middle part 14. At the same time, the U-shaped snap ring 6 is snapped into the notches 18 through the elastic arms 22 on both sides so that the U-shaped snap ring 6 is pre-fastened and connected to the middle part 14, and then crimped and rounded. At this time, the V-shaped protrusions The block 15 is located in the groove 25 formed between the ribs 24 on the insulator 1, and the elastic arm 22 contacts the notch 18 connected to the outer conductor 2. After the U-shaped clamping ring 6 is installed, the cable 5 with the terminal 3 crimped is inserted into the insulator 1, so that the two wings 21 on the terminal 3 enter the annular groove 20 of the insulator 1. The terminal 3 is provided with an upwardly protruding boss 16, which interferes with the insulator after insertion. Finally, the rear end 19 is crimped and enclosed with the shielding layer and sheath of the cable 5.

[0040] The above description is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, who makes equivalent replacements or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A small coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector, comprising an insulator (1), an outer conductor (2) and a terminal (3), wherein one side of the terminal (3) is crimped to a cable (5) through a crimping area, and the terminal (3) is connected and fixed to the insulator (1), characterized in that: The insulator (1) is plug-connected and fixed to the outer conductor (2), and the front end of the insulator (1) is provided with a connection end (9) for fixing the insulator (1) in the outer conductor (2) and a fixed end (23) connected to the connection end (9), the connection end (9) includes a column (7) at its front end, and at least one protruding rib (8) extending backward from its front end is provided on the column (7), and a rib (24) corresponding to the protruding rib (8) is provided on the fixed end (23), and the rear end extension portion of the protruding rib (8) includes a recess (10) flush with the rib (24), and grooves (25) for performance compensation and fixing are formed between the ribs (24); The outer conductor (2) comprises a front end portion (13) for connecting the insulator (1) therein, a middle portion (14) for connecting the U-shaped snap ring (6), and a rear end portion (19) for connecting the fixed support ring (4) and the cable (5), the front end portion (13) being provided with at least three finger-shaped portions (17), at least one slot (12) for snapping in the raised rib (8) being formed between the finger-shaped portions (17), the middle portion (14) being provided with a notch (18) and a window (26), the U-shaped snap ring (6) being provided with a V-shaped protrusion (15) and an elastic arm (22), the V-shaped protrusion (15) being snapped into the inwardly concave window (26) on the middle portion (14), and the elastic arm (22) being snapped into the notch (18) so that the U-shaped snap ring (6) is pre-fastened and connected to the middle portion (14); The insulator (1) is provided with an annular groove (20) for matching the two wings (21) on the avoidance terminal (3); The terminal (3) is provided with an upwardly protruding boss (16) which interferes with the insulator for positioning after being inserted into the insulator.

2. The miniature coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The end edge (11) of the front end portion (13) contracts inwardly so that its diameter is smaller than the diameter of the front end portion (13).

3. The miniature coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The V-shaped protrusion (15) is located in the groove (25) so that the insulator (1) can be fixed forward.

4. The miniature coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The elastic arm (22) is connected to the notch (18) of the outer conductor (2) in abutment, so that the U-shaped clamping ring (6) can be pre-fixed with the outer conductor (2) before crimping and the U-shaped clamping ring (6) cannot rotate relative to the outer conductor (2) after crimping.

5. The miniature coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The rear end of the raised rib (8) of the insulator (1) abuts against and connects to the root of the slot (12), enabling the insulator (1) to be fixed backward.

6. The miniature coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The raised ribs (8), ribs (24), grooves (25) of the insulator (1) and the slots (12) and recessed windows (26) of the outer conductor (2) have a specific relative positional relationship such that after the insulator (1) is installed in the outer conductor (2), one groove (25) always corresponds to the window (26).

7. The miniature coaxial contact assembly for an electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: Each finger-shaped portion (17) of the outer conductor (2) has an upwardly protruding contact convex point, and the contact convex points on two adjacent finger-shaped portions (17) are staggered front to back, so that the contact convex points on all the finger-shaped portions (17) are divided into two groups, front and back, for contacting in sequence when mating with the same mating end, thereby reducing the insertion force during mating.

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