Circular modular pluggable connector

Abstract

A connector system comprises a first pluggable electrical connector (2) and a mating second connector (2'), wherein the first pluggable electrical connector comprises a substantially circular cover (4) and a terminal unit (6') mounted in the cover, wherein the terminal unit comprises a housing (8) and a plurality of terminal modules (10), wherein a module receiving cavity (37) is formed in the housing, wherein the plurality of terminal modules (10) are insertably received in the module receiving cavity (37) in a stacked manner, wherein each terminal module comprises a plurality of contacts (18), wherein the second connector (2') is pluggably connected to and disconnected from the first connector, wherein the mating second connector comprises a substantially circular cover (4') and a terminal unit (6') mounted in the cover, wherein the terminal unit (6') comprises a housing (8') and a plurality of terminal modules (10') mounted in the housing (8') in a stacked manner, wherein each terminal module comprises a plurality of contacts for being pluggably connected to the corresponding plurality of contacts (18) of the first connector. The terminal unit housing (8) of the first connector includes an angular positioning member (5), which cooperates with a complementary angular positioning member (5') on the terminal unit housing (8') of the second connector, and the angular positioning member (5') and the cooperating angular positioning member (5) are configured to allow sliding insertion during the plug-in connection process and are configured to align the terminal units (6, 6') of the first connector and the second connector when they are plugged together.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a circular push-pull modular pluggable electrical connector. Background Art

[0002] A circular high-density pluggable electrical connector with a push-pull latch arrangement of a cover is described in publication No. WO 2019 / 219847. In the publication, it is known to provide a modular electrical connector system having a first connector that is pluggably connected to a second mating connector and latched together by a push-pull mechanism. Each of the first and second connectors has an outer cover that is usually made of metal or plastic, and a terminal unit is installed therein, which has a slot for insertably installing multiple terminal modules in a stacked manner. Each terminal module has a plurality of electrical contacts. The terminal module particularly includes a circuit board on the mating connector, which is inserted into the socket contact of the first connector. Each terminal module is guided in the terminal unit housing, but due to manufacturing tolerances, there may be a slight gap or a tight fit on the contrary, so as to set the precise angular position of each terminal module in the terminal unit. The terminal unit is also installed in the cover and positioned relative to the cover, and here also due to manufacturing tolerances, the angular position of the terminal unit in the cover may vary slightly. The cover of the first and second mating connectors provides the main alignment, rotational positioning and mechanical coupling between the first and second connectors. However, considering the high density of contacts and the slight angles that may vary slightly between the terminal unit and the housing and between the terminal modules within the terminal unit, in general, when the housings of the first and second connectors are pluggably coupled together, further considering the possible differences between the different modules in the stack, the terminals of the first connector may not engage the terminals of the mating connector with sufficient accuracy. This can result in very high insertion and extraction forces and possible damage to the contacts during the plug connection process.

[0003] Another possible disadvantage of the modules and pluggable connectors described in the above publications relates to the connection of the cable to the terminals in the first connector. Normally, the cable will be clamped in the housing, but conventional cable clamps allow the cable to move slightly, which, due to the large number of contacts, can cause the welded or soldered connection between the leads of the cable and the contact pads of the terminal module to move slightly. Therefore, it is necessary to anchor the cable more firmly to the housing. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a modular pluggable connector that can accommodate various contact arrangements including high-density contact arrangements and allow reliable plugging and unplugging with low mating forces, especially for push-pull cover configurations.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular pluggable connector, especially for a push-pull arrangement, with robust and secure cable anchoring.

[0006] Advantageously, a modular pluggable connector with high versatility is provided.

[0007] Advantageously, a high density pluggable electrical connector is provided that is easily interconnected with conductive leads and easily tested and repaired when necessary.

[0008] Advantageously, a high-density pluggable electrical connector is provided that can be easily modified for different uses or requirements.

[0009] Advantageously, a high density pluggable electrical connector is provided that is cost effective to manufacture and assemble.

[0010] It would be advantageous to provide an electrical connector that is versatile and allows for a variety of connection techniques and interconnection possibilities with cables and other conductive lead arrangements.

[0011] Advantageously, a high density pluggable electrical connector is provided that has low insertion and extraction forces with a mating connector while ensuring reliable electrical interconnection.

[0012] The object of the present invention has been achieved by providing a modular pluggable connector according to claim 1 .

[0013] A connector system is disclosed herein, comprising a first pluggable electrical connector, the first pluggable electrical connector comprising a terminal unit and a roughly circular casing, the terminal unit being mounted in the casing, the terminal unit comprising a housing and a plurality of terminal modules, a module receiving cavity being formed in the housing, the plurality of terminal modules being insertably received in the module receiving cavity in a stacked manner. Each terminal module comprises a plurality of contacts. And a mating second connector, the second connector being pluggably connected and disconnected with the first connector. The mating second connector comprises a roughly circular casing and a terminal unit being mounted in the casing, the terminal unit comprising a housing and a plurality of terminal modules, the plurality of terminal modules being mounted in the housing in a stacked manner. Each terminal module comprises a plurality of contacts, the plurality of contacts being used to be pluggably connected to the corresponding plurality of contacts of the first connector.

[0014] The housing includes an angular alignment member configured to angularly align the housings of the first and second connectors relative to each other.

[0015] The terminal unit housing of the first connector includes an angular positioning member, which cooperates with a complementary angular positioning member on the terminal unit housing of the second connector. The angular positioning member and the cooperating angular positioning member are configured to allow sliding insertion during the plug-in connection process and are configured to align the terminal units of the mating first and second connectors with each other when they are plugged together.

[0016] The terminal unit of at least one of the first and second connectors is provided with a slight angular play relative to the cover, which allows the terminal unit to be angularly rotated within a range between 0.5° and 3° relative to the cover.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the angular positioning member comprises a socket and the complementary angular positioning member comprises a tab insertable into the socket.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, each of the first and second connectors comprises a pair of angular positioning members, each of the pair of angular positioning members being arranged on opposite sides of the terminal module housing.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the corner positioning member is formed integrally with the terminal unit housing.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, the angular gap between the terminal unit and the cover is in the range of 0.5° to 2°.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, only one of the first and second connectors has the terminal unit provided with the slight angular gap relative to the cover body, and the terminal unit of the other of the first and second connectors is fixed to the cover body without an angular gap.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, each of the terminal modules within the terminal housing of at least one of the first and second connectors is provided with a slight gap ranging between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm to allow each of the mating terminal modules to self-align with each other, thereby reducing the mating force.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the gap between each terminal module and the terminal housing is in the range of 0.08 mm to 0.15 mm.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one terminal module in the terminal housing has a height H, and at least one second terminal module has an integer multiple of the height H.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the cover of at least the first connector includes a cable clamp sleeve and a cable clamp fastening nut, wherein the cable clamp fastening nut engages with the external threaded portion of the cable clamp sleeve to enable the cable clamp sleeve to be axially displaced, and the cable clamp sleeve includes a plurality of integrally formed clamping arms with serrations at the ends of the clamping arms, the clamping arms being separated by grooves to allow each clamping arm to be elastically bent independently of each other.

[0026] In an advantageous embodiment, there are 4-6 clamping arms and corresponding slots.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, the cover comprises a pair of inner shells mounted around the rear end of the terminal housing, the cable clamping nut abutting against the ends of the inner shells.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, a cam head is provided on the outer peripheral surface of each clamping arm, said cam head engaging a conical cable clamp cam surface on the inner surface of the inner shell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Other objects and advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent from the claims, detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1a and 1b is a perspective view of a pluggable electrical connector system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, showing a second connector ( Figure 1b ) of the first connector ( Figure 1a );

[0031] Figure 1c yes Figure 1a and 1b a cross-sectional view of a mating pluggable connector;

[0032] Figure 1d yes Figure 1a an exploded perspective view of a first connector;

[0033] Figures 2a to 2d They are respectively Figures 1a to 1d Similar variant views;

[0034] Figure 3a and 3b is a perspective view of a terminal unit of a first and a second mating connector provided by an embodiment of the present invention, showing a variation of a terminal module;

[0035] Figure 3c yes Figure 3a a plan view of a rear side of a terminal unit of a second mating connector;

[0036] Figure 4a and 4b is a perspective view of the terminal units of the first and second mating connectors provided by the embodiment of the present invention, showing another variation of the terminal module;

[0037] Figure 5a and 5b 1 is a perspective view of terminal units of first and second mating connectors provided in an embodiment of the present invention, showing another variation of the terminal module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] With reference to the drawings, a high-density pluggable electrical connector system 1 provided by an embodiment of the present invention comprises a high-density pluggable electrical connector 2 and a mating electrical connector 2 ′. The connectors 2 , 2 ′ are pluggably connected and disconnected in an axial direction A.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the high-density pluggable electrical connector 2 is used to terminate to a multi-conductor cable (not shown), and the mating connector 2' is used to be mounted on a panel or device (not shown). In the illustrated example, the mating connector 2' includes locking rings 34', 36', at least one of which is threadedly engaged with the external threads on the cover 4' to secure / lock the connector 2' to the panel or device.

[0040] However, within the scope of the present invention, the mating connector may also be a cable connector, rather than a panel or device mounted connector, for terminating to a multi-conductor cable (not shown) similar to the pluggable cable connector 2 .

[0041] The high-density pluggable electrical connector 2 provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal unit 6 accommodated in a housing 4. The terminal unit 6 includes a dielectric housing 8, and a plurality of terminal modules 10 are inserted and fixed in the dielectric housing. The housing 4 and the terminal unit 6 have plug-in interfaces 31, 30 for coupling to complementary plug-in interfaces 31', 30' of the mating connector 2'.

[0042] The mating connector 2' provided in the embodiment of the present invention may further include a terminal unit 6' housed in the cover 4'. The terminal unit 6' includes a dielectric housing 8', and a plurality of terminal modules 10' are inserted and fixed in the dielectric housing. The cover 4' and the terminal unit 6' have plug-in interfaces 31', 30' for coupling to the plug-in interfaces 31, 30 of the high-density pluggable electrical connector 2.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment of the pluggable high-density cable connector 2, the housing 4 of the connector 2 extends axially from the cable outlet end 29 to the plug-in interface 30, and includes an inner shell 32 mounted around the rear end of the terminal unit 6 and an outer shell 36, 34 mounted around the terminal unit 6 and the inner shell 32. The outer shell includes a mating end ring shell 36 inserted on the plug-in end of the terminal unit and a cable end ring shell 34 mounted on the cable outlet end of the inner shell. A cable outlet sleeve 28 coupled to the cable end ring shell may also be provided. The inner shell 32 may be, for example, in the form of a half shell that can be assembled around the rear end of the terminal unit 8, and the inner shell and the terminal unit are provided with mutually engaging positioning and locking means, such as complementary protrusions and recesses 39a, 39b, which firmly lock the terminal unit to a fixed angle and axial position of the inner shell.

[0044] The mating end ring shell 36 is axially slidable relative to the inner shell layer 32 and has an inner cam surface 15, which is used to engage with the cam surface 17 of the resilient latch arm 13 when axially pulled away from the mating connector 2'. This provides an unlocking function in the "pull" direction to disconnect the connectors 2, 2', whereby the latching shoulder of the latching arm 13 is released from the latching shoulder 19' on the mating connector 2'.

[0045] The housing 4, 4' of the connector 2, 2' can be made of a variety of materials, including, for example, polymers, reinforced polymers, and metals, to provide a durable connector. Optionally, the metal housing can also be connected to an electrical ground connection for electrically shielding the terminal unit 6, 6' mounted therein. In a variation, the housing can also include magnetic shielding material to provide shielding against strong magnetic fields for applications where the connector is subjected to strong magnetic fields, such as in MRI or other applications.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the cable outlet end is axially aligned with the plugging direction A, however, it is understood that various cable outlet directions are possible, such as right angles or any oblique angles. In addition, the shape of the cable can be round or have various other shapes, such as generally rectangular and flat. Therefore, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the cable outlet end can have the above-mentioned various configurations.

[0047] The cover plug interface 30 includes guiding and locking elements for guiding and locking the connector to the mating connector.

[0048] The inner shell 32 consists of two inner shell parts which are transversely mounted around the rear end of the terminal unit 6 so that the terminal unit can be connected to the cable leads inserted into the cable outlet sleeve 28 and the cable end locking ring 34 without interference from other cover parts and the terminal unit can be easily repaired or modified by completely removing the cover locking rings 34, 36 and the inner shell parts 32. Such cover construction is known per se and does not require further description.

[0049] The housing 8 of the terminal unit includes a module receiving chamber 37 in which a plurality of terminal modules 10 are insertably received in a stacked manner.

[0050] The housing 8 ′ of the terminal unit of the mating connector 2 ′ may also include a module receiving cavity 37 ′ in which a plurality of terminal modules 10 ′ may be insertably received in a stacked manner.

[0051] Each terminal module 10 of the high-density pluggable electrical connector 2 can be advantageously provided with an insertion guide rail 14 which cooperates with a complementary guide member 14a in the module receiving cavity 37 of the housing 8 to allow the terminal module to be axially inserted into the housing at a defined level in a stack of multiple terminal modules 10 .

[0052] Each terminal module can advantageously have a ratio H / W between the total height H and the total width W in the stacking direction Z, which is less than 30%, preferably in the range of 20% to 30%. The above ratio provides an advantageous distribution of the electrical contacts, in particular for facilitating interconnection with the conductors of a cable while providing a high connection density.

[0053] The terminal modules 10, 10' are arranged so that they can be removed individually from the terminal housing 8, 8' in order to replace or repair the terminal modules, for example in the case of defective plug contact parts or in the case of defective interconnections with cable conductors connected to the connectors 2, 2'.

[0054] The terminal modules 10, 10' may have a configuration known per se from publication No. WO 2019 / 219847. According to one aspect of the present invention, a terminal module having a height H or an integer multiple thereof, such as 2H, 3H, 4H, may be inserted into the module receiving cavity 37 of the terminal unit housing 8, 8'. Terminal modules of different configurations may be inserted into the module receiving cavity, for example:

[0055] -like Figures 3a to 3c The stacking of terminal modules 10 shown corresponds to the configuration found in WO 2019 / 219847, or

[0056] - different terminal modules with different types of contacts 10a, 10b, 10c, 10a', 10b', 10c', e.g. Figures 4a to 4b As shown or Figures 5a to 5b shown.

[0057] Therefore, a single cover design and terminal unit housing design can be provided, into which various terminal modules with heights ranging from H to integer multiples of H, such as 4H, can be inserted, providing connection interfaces of different structures in an economical manner.

[0058] According to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal unit housing 8 of the first connector includes an angular positioning member 5 that cooperates with a complementary angular positioning member 5' on the terminal unit housing 8' of the second connector. In the illustrated embodiment, the angular positioning member includes a socket, and the complementary angular positioning member includes a lug that can be inserted into the socket. Each connector terminal unit may include a lug and a socket, or, as shown in the figure, the terminal unit 6' of one connector may include a lug 5' and the other terminal unit 6 includes a socket 5. Preferably, the terminal unit 6' of the connector including a male contact protruding from the front surface of the terminal unit includes a lug 5', and the terminal unit 6 of the connector including a female contact includes a socket 5. Therefore, the male contact is additionally protected by the lug located on the side of the contact.

[0059] One of the connectors has a housing 4' including a mating portion, which forms a socket that pluggably receives the mating portion of the housing 4 of the other connector. In a preferred embodiment, the connector including male contacts has a housing 4' defining a socket that receives the mating portion of the housing 4 of the connector including female contacts.

[0060] However, in a modification, the terminal unit 6' of the second connector may include female contacts, and the terminal unit 6 of the first connector may include male contacts, or each terminal unit may include male contacts and female contacts.

[0061] The angular positioning lugs 5' and the mating angular positioning sockets 5 are used to allow sliding insertion during the plug-in connection process and to align the terminal units 6, 6' of the mating first and second connectors with each other when they are plugged together. In particular, the mating angular positioning lugs and sockets 5', 5 ensure the precise angular position of the terminal units 6, 6' relative to each other before the electrical contacts are plugged together.

[0062] Preferably, each of the first connector and the second connector includes a pair of corner positioning members as shown in the figures, each of the pair of corner positioning members being arranged on opposite sides of the terminal module housing.

[0063] The angular positioning member may advantageously be formed integrally with the terminal unit housing, which may advantageously be an injection-moulded component.

[0064] In these configurations one or both terminal units 6, 6' are provided with a slight angular clearance relative to their respective cages 4, 4' to allow them to align with each other during mating.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, only one terminal unit 6 is provided with a slight angular gap relative to its housing 4, and the other terminal unit 6' is fixed to its housing 4' without any angular gap relative to its housing 4'. This ensures that one of the connectors forms a fixed angle reference between the housing and the terminal unit adapted by the other connector.

[0066] The slight angular gap is used to allow the terminal unit to rotate relative to the cover body in an angular range between 0.5° and 3°. Preferably, the angular gap between the terminal unit and the cover body is in a range between 0.5° and 2°.

[0067] In addition, the terminal modules 10, 10' in the terminal housings 8, 8' are provided with a slight gap to allow each mating terminal module to align with each other, thereby reducing the mating force. One or both of the first and second connectors are provided with a slight gap in the mating between the terminal module and the cavity in the terminal housing, especially in the mating between the guide rail 14 on the terminal module and the complementary guide member 14a in the terminal housing, ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, to allow each mating terminal module to align with each other, thereby reducing the mating force.

[0068] Preferably, the gap between each terminal module and the terminal housing, especially the gap in the cooperation between the guide rail 14 on the terminal module and the complementary guide member 14a in the terminal housing, may be in the range of 0.08 mm to 0.15 mm.

[0069] Thus, although angular alignment occurs between the hoods of the respective first and second connectors due to the angular alignment members 7, 7' provided on the hoods, the internal terminal units 6, 6' are allowed to self-align with respect to each other independently of at least one hood to adjust the hood alignment. This further allows the terminal modules within the terminal unit housing 8, 8' to have a slight clearance for optimal adjustment during the plugging process, thereby obtaining optimal electrical contact and lower insertion force. The hood alignment members 7, 7' may include a protrusion 7 on one of the hoods that engages in an axially extending groove in the other hood.

[0070] According to an embodiment, the housing 4 comprises a cable clamp 50, which comprises a cable clamp sleeve 51 mounted on the cable end of the inner shell 32. The cable clamp 50 comprises a cable clamp sleeve 51 and a cable clamp fastening nut 57 engaged with an external threaded portion 56 of the cable clamp sleeve 51, for enabling the cable clamp sleeve to be axially displaced. The cable clamp fastening nut 57 abuts against the end of the inner shell 32. The cable clamp sleeve 51 comprises a plurality of clamping arms 52, which are integrally formed with the cable clamp sleeve 51 separated by slots 55, so as to allow each clamping arm 52 to be elastically bent independently of each other. In an advantageous embodiment, there may be, for example, 2 to 6 clamping arms 52 and a corresponding number of slots 55, preferably 4 to 6 clamping arms and corresponding slots.

[0071] At the free end of the clamping arm 52, a serration 53 is provided on the inner surface thereof, and a cam head 54 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of each clamping arm 52, which engages the cable clamp cam surface 49 on the inner surface of the inner shell 32. When the cable clamp tightening nut 57 is rotated in the tightening direction, the cable clamp sleeve 51 is pulled toward the cable outlet in the axial direction, so that the cam head 54 engages the conical cam surface 49 and presses the serration 53 of the clamping arm radially inward to clamp the cable.

[0072] List of reference symbols used

[0073] First connector 2

[0074] Cover 4

[0075] Cable outlet 29

[0076] Plug interface 30

[0077] Cover angle alignment member 7

[0078] Inner shell 32

[0079] Cable clamp cam surface 49

[0080] Outer shell 34, 36

[0081] Matching end ring shell 36

[0082] Inner cam surface 15

[0083] Cable end ring shell 34

[0084] Cable clamp 50

[0085] Cable clamp sleeve 51

[0086] Clamping arm 52

[0087] Sawtooth 53

[0088] Cam head 54

[0089] Slot 55

[0090] Threaded portion 56

[0091] Cable clamp fastening nut 57

[0092] Cable outlet sleeve 28

[0093] Terminal unit 6

[0094] Plug interface 31

[0095] Shell 8

[0096] Cover positioning / locking elements 39a, 39b

[0097] Module storage cavity 37

[0098] Side wall 46

[0099] Guide member 14a

[0100] Corner positioning member 5

[0101] Resilient latch arm 13

[0102] Cam surface 17

[0103] Terminal module 10

[0104] Mating second connector 2'

[0105] Cover body 4'

[0106] Plug interface 30'

[0107] Cover angle alignment member 7'

[0108] Panel front locking ring 34'

[0109] Panel rear locking ring 36'

[0110] Terminal unit 6'

[0111] Plug interface 31'

[0112] Housing 8'

[0113] Module storage chamber 37'

[0114] Side wall 46'

[0115] Guide member 14a'

[0116] Corner positioning member 5'

[0117] Latch arm 19'

[0118] Terminal module 10'

[0119] Connecting direction A

[0120] Terminal module height H

[0121] Terminal module width W

Claims

1. A connector system, comprising a pluggable electrical first connector (2) and a mating second connector (2'), wherein the first connector comprises a substantially circular cover (4) and a terminal unit (6) mounted in the cover, wherein the terminal unit comprises a housing (8) and a plurality of terminal modules (10), wherein a module receiving cavity (37) is formed in the housing, wherein the plurality of terminal modules (10) are insertedly received in the module receiving cavity (37) in a stacked manner, wherein each terminal module comprises a plurality of contacts (18), wherein the second connector (2') is pluggably connected to and disconnected from the first connector, and wherein the first connector is electrically connected to the second connector and electrically connected to the first connector. The mating second connector comprises a substantially circular cover (4') and a terminal unit (6') mounted in the cover, the terminal unit (6') comprising a housing (8') and a plurality of terminal modules (10') mounted in the housing (8') in a stacked manner, each terminal module comprising a plurality of contacts for pluggably connecting to the corresponding plurality of contacts (18) of the first connector, the cover comprising an angle alignment member (7, 7'), the angle alignment member (7, 7') being configured to angularly align the covers of the first connector and the second connector relative to each other, characterized in that The terminal unit housing (8) of the first connector includes an angular positioning member (5), which cooperates with a complementary angular positioning member (5') on the terminal unit housing (8') of the second connector, and the angular positioning member (5') and the cooperating angular positioning member (5) are configured to allow sliding insertion during the plug-in connection process and are configured to align the terminal units (6, 6') of the first connector and the second connector when they are plugged together, wherein the terminal unit (6, 6') of at least one of the first connector and the second connector is provided with a slight angular gap relative to the cover body (4, 4'), which allows the terminal unit to be angularly rotated relative to the cover body within a range between 0.5° and 3°.

2. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein: The angular positioning member (5) comprises a socket and the complementary angular positioning member comprises a tab insertable into the socket.

3. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the first connector and the second connector includes a pair of corner positioning members, each of which is arranged on opposite sides of the terminal unit housing.

4. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein: The corner positioning member is integrally formed with the terminal unit housing.

5. The connector system of claim 1, wherein: The angular gap between the terminal unit and the cover body is in the range of 0.5° to 2°.

6. The connector system of claim 1, wherein: Only one of the first connector and the second connector has the terminal unit provided with the slight angular gap relative to the cover body, and the terminal unit of the other of the first connector and the second connector is fixed on the cover body without the angular gap.

7. The connector system of claim 1, wherein: Each of the terminal modules (10, 10') in the terminal unit housing (8, 8') of at least one of the first connector and the second connector is provided with a slight gap ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm to allow each of the mating terminal modules to self-align with each other, thereby reducing the mating force.

8. The connector system of claim 7, wherein: The gap between each terminal module and the terminal unit housing is in the range of 0.08 mm to 0.15 mm.

9. The connector system of claim 1, wherein: At least one terminal module (10, 10') in the terminal unit housing (8, 8') has a height H, and at least one second terminal module has an integral multiple of the height H.

10. The connector system of claim 1, wherein: At least the housing of the first connector comprises a cable clamp sleeve (51) and a cable clamp fastening nut (57), wherein the cable clamp fastening nut (57) is engaged with an external threaded portion (56) of the cable clamp sleeve to enable the cable clamp sleeve to be axially displaced, wherein the cable clamp sleeve comprises a plurality of integrally formed clamping arms (52) having serrations (53) at the ends of the clamping arms, and the clamping arms are separated by grooves (55) to allow each clamping arm to be elastically bent independently of each other.

11. The connector system of claim 10, wherein: There are six clamping arms and corresponding slots.

12. The connector system of claim 10, wherein: The cover body includes a pair of inner shell layers (32) which are mounted around the rear end of the terminal unit housing, and the cable clamp fastening nut abuts against the ends of the inner shell layers.

13. The connector system of claim 12, wherein: A cam head (54) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of each clamping arm, and the cam head engages a conical cable clamp cam surface (49) on the inner surface of the inner shell.

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