HALF-SHELL CLAMPING SLEEVE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a half-shell clamping sleeve, a circular connector and a plug-in system with a circular connector and a complementary plug-in element.

[0002] The invention lies in the field of connector technology, in particular in the field of circular connectors for a push-pull connector system. In a circular connector for a connector system, the circular connector often has a shielding element for the part of the circular connector where, due to the contacting of cable cores to a connection element of the circular connector, no longer has a braided shield of the cable over the cable cores. Particularly for circular connectors used for high-frequency applications, complete electrical shielding of all cable areas, the cable contact areas, and the plug-in areas is an important prerequisite for ensuring trouble-free operation.

[0003] In the configuration of conventional circular connectors, the circular connector often has a hollow cylindrical shielding element for the area to be shielded, which is firmly connected to a connection element of the circular connector and arranged around the cable area to be shielded. Secure contact between the cable's braided shield and the shielding element of the circular connector is often problematic, as the shielding element is usually a rigid metal cylinder, and contact with the cable's braided shield can be unintentionally broken by movement of the cable in the area of ​​the circular connector.One option for more reliable shielding is a configuration in which two metallic half-shells for electrical shielding are each aligned on the connection element of the circular connector and arranged around the cable. In addition, a metallic clamping sleeve is aligned on the side of the metallic half-shells opposite the connection element. The cable's braided shield is clamped between the metallic half-shells and the clamping sleeve. By screwing a circular connector housing together with a sealing cap, the two aligned half-shells and the clamping sleeve are fixed in their arrangement. In addition, the clamping sleeve closes around the cable insulation when screwed together, forming a secure connection between the circular connector and the cable.

[0004] Mounting such a circular connector with a cable is difficult because both the two half-shells on the connection element and the clamping sleeve on the half-shells must be aligned and, in addition, the shielding braid must not slip out between the half-shells and the clamping sleeve during assembly in order to ensure electrical shielding.

[0005] US 4 611 878 A describes a plug-type electrical connector having a dielectric housing member and contact portions of the electrical terminals secured therein, with metal shells mounted on the housing member and on the shield of a shielded cable for shielding.

[0006] US 2002 / 028607 A1 describes a connector for use in measurement technology, in particular in environmental measurement technology, wherein the connector is equipped with a coupling and a plug, and wherein a housing on the plug and a housing on the coupling are provided with a wedge and a channel on their inner and outer surfaces, respectively.

[0007] US 5 895 291 A describes a shielded cable connector having a terminal portion and a cable portion, wherein the cable portion comprises support shells that can be mounted over the shield of the cable.

[0008] EP 2 731 201 B1 describes a push-pull connector comprising at least two identical shell elements, a cable termination device with at least one contact element with which an associated electrical line of a cable can be electrically contacted and at least two arrangement regions to which an associated shell element can be fastened, whereby together at least one shell can be formed around the cable termination device, as well as a corresponding assembly method.

[0009] US 2002 / 146930 A1 describes a device for connecting a plurality of conductors in a cable to a corresponding counterpart and comprises a plurality of crimp contacts, a plastic nose insert, an elastomer nose and a pair of plastic housings which are fastened to one another in the manner of a clamshell and in which the conductors are contained and secured.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simplified shielding element as well as a simplified configuration and assembly of the electrical shielding of a circular connector, which enable a secure electrical shielding of a contact between a circular connector and a cable.

[0011] The claimed invention is defined by the independent claims, while preferred embodiments form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0012] A first aspect of solving the problem relates to a half-shell clamping sleeve for electrically shielding a cable in a circular connector, comprising a hollow, metallic half-cylinder; wherein a groove is formed on a first end face of the half-cylinder in the longitudinal axis direction of the half-cylinder; wherein a second, opposite end face of the half-cylinder is designed as a clamping sleeve; and wherein the half-shell clamping sleeve is designed such that, in an assembled state in a circular connector, the first end face of the half-cylinder can be aligned in a form-fitting manner with a connection element of the circular connector, a cable connected to the connection element can be mechanically fixed by means of the clamping sleeve, and the clamping sleeve can be electrically connected to a shielding braid of the cable.

[0013] For the purposes of the present invention, an assembled state is understood to mean a state in which a circular connector, which has at least one half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention, is electrically connected to a cable. At least one half-shell clamping sleeve is arranged in the circular connector and is positively aligned with a connection element of the circular connector. The clamping sleeve of the half-shell clamping sleeve mechanically secures the cable and is electrically connected to the cable's braided shield.

[0014] The half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention, intended for electrically shielding a cable, replaces one of the half-shells and one half of the clamping sleeve arranged in a conventional circular connector for shielding a cable, as described above. Two half-shell clamping sleeves thus replace the conventional two half-shells and the clamping sleeve required to configure a shielded circular connector.

[0015] Electrical shielding is a closed enclosure made of an electrical conductor, e.g., a wire mesh and / or a metal cylinder, around an object, also known as a Faraday cage. This electrical shielding creates a field-free zone within the closed enclosure, even in the presence of external static electric fields caused by induction. A closed enclosure made of an electrical conductor also shields high-frequency alternating fields because eddy currents are induced on the surface of the shield, counteracting the external field according to Lenz's law. In this case, however, the shielding effect is not ideal, but rather characterized by finite shielding attenuation and penetration depths into the shield.Due to their finite conductivity, shielding made of non-ferromagnetic metal shields shield high-frequency alternating fields when the metal layer is significantly thicker and / or greater than the penetration depth of the induced currents. The shielding effect is not tied to a specific shape. Static or slowly varying magnetic fields, such as the Earth's magnetic field, are not shielded by electrical shielding.

[0016] A cable is a single- or multi-core assembly of cable cores and / or individual wires sheathed with insulating materials, used to transmit energy and / or information. Various plastics are typically used as insulating materials to surround the conductor cores and insulate them from each other. Electrical conductors are usually made of copper, less frequently of aluminum or suitable metal alloys. Viewed three-dimensionally, the cable generally follows a cylindrical or similar geometry and may contain additional sheath layers of insulating material, metallic foils, and / or braided shields for electromagnetic shielding and / or mechanical protection.

[0017] The circular connector can be designed as a male or a female connector. In particular, the connector can be designed as a socket or a socket. The circular connector can be connected in a plug-in area to a complementary plug-in element and / or a complementary connector, in particular a female or male circular connector. When plugged in, the plug-in area of ​​the circular connector overlaps with the plug-in area of ​​the complementary plug-in element and / or complementary connector in a common plug-in area. If the circular connector is, for example, a male circular connector, it can be connected to a complementary female connector. If the circular connector is, for example, a female circular connector, it can be connected to a complementary male connector.

[0018] For the purposes of the present invention, a plugged-in state is understood to mean a state in which the connector is electrically and mechanically connected to a complementary plug element.

[0019] The term "connecting" is understood to mean, in particular, a mechanical connection and / or joining of structural components, and, in particular, an electrical connection and / or contacting of electrical components.

[0020] When plugged in, the circular connector and the complementary plug element form a circular connector connection. A circular connector connection is defined as a shared plug-in area having a cylindrical and / or approximately cylindrical shape. The plug-in surfaces of the circular connector and the complementary circular connector, i.e., the two surfaces that initially directly oppose and / or overlap during the plug-in process, each form a circular surface orthogonal to the plug-in direction. All surfaces parallel to the plug-in surfaces are hereinafter referred to as cross-sectional surfaces of the circular connector and the complementary circular connector. The central axis and / or longitudinal axis of the circular connector and the complementary plug element runs parallel to the plug-in direction through the center point of the two circular surfaces.The insertion surface is located at the plug-in end of the circular connector and represents a virtual surface.

[0021] The hollow metallic half-cylinder of the half-shell clamping sleeve is intended as electrical shielding for the cable section that is not surrounded by the cable braid when the circular connector is assembled. When assembled, two hollow metallic half-cylinders are arranged to form a hollow cylinder, thus creating a closed shield around the cable. The wall thickness of the half-cylinder, i.e., the area between the inner and outer surfaces of the half-cylinder, can be designed to at least exceed the penetration depth of the expected induced currents. The wall thickness to be used can therefore depend on the frequency range of the radiating electromagnetic components located in the vicinity of the shield. The wall thickness is preferably designed to enable shielding against high-frequency electromagnetic waves.High frequency is understood to mean a frequency range from 3 MHz to 30 THz, and in particular the shortwave range from 3 MHz to 30 MHz, the VHF (ultra-short wave) and / or VHF (very high frequency) range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, the UHF (ultra-high frequency) range for 300 MHz to 3 GHz, the SHF (super high frequency) range for 3 GHz to 30 GHz, the EHF (extremely high frequency) range for 300 GHz to 3 THz and the THF (tremendously high frequency) range for 3 THz to 30 THz.

[0022] Two long sides of the half-cylinder are arranged parallel to a virtual longitudinal axis of the half-cylinder. The virtual longitudinal axis of the half-cylinder is to be understood as the cylinder axis of a solid cylinder composed of two half-cylinders. The longitudinal axis of the half-cylinder is designed, in the assembled state, to overlap the longitudinal axis of the circular connector and / or to be arranged parallel to it or approximately parallel to it. The two long sides each form a surface between an outer surface and an inner surface of the half-cylinder. These surfaces of the long sides can be designed to align two half-cylinders with one another in a form-fitting manner and to form a hollow solid cylinder for electrical shielding.The two surfaces on the longitudinal sides can have a groove and / or a bulge complementary thereto along the longitudinal axis direction and / or in the radial direction and / or in the circumferential direction in order to be designed to engage with a complementary longitudinal side of a second half-cylinder.

[0023] The first and second end faces of the half-cylinder can be formed as a semicircular and / or approximately semicircular and / or approximately elliptical side. The first and second end faces each form a surface between the semicircular outer surface and the semicircular inner surface of the half-cylinder. The end faces delimit the half-cylinder in the longitudinal axis direction.

[0024] The surface of the first end face is designed to be form-fittingly aligned with the connection element of the circular connector when assembled. The surface of the first end face of the half-cylinder is aligned with a side opposite the insertion surface of the connection element. The side opposite the insertion surface of the connection element can be designed as a solid cylinder made of an electrically insulating material, e.g. ceramic and / or polyethylene. This solid cylinder of the connection element can have a groove along the outer radius into which the first end face of the half-cylinder can engage and be form-fittingly aligned when assembled. The surface of the first end face and the groove on the outer radius of the connection element can be designed as a smooth cross-sectional surface and / or form bulges in and / or opposite to the longitudinal axis.

[0025] The first end face of the half-cylinder additionally has a groove in the longitudinal axis direction of the half-cylinder. The longitudinal axis direction of the half-cylinder is a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, i.e., the cylinder axis, of a virtual solid cylinder of the half-cylinder. The side walls of the groove, i.e., the walls between the outer surface and inner surface and the longitudinal axis direction of the half-cylinder, can preferably be arranged at least partially approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the side walls can also take on a shape that tapers in the longitudinal axis direction. The groove can be round at the groove base and / or approximately round and / or approximately parallel to a circumferential direction of the first end face. The groove is shaped such that it is complementary to a bulge with which it is designed to engage in the assembled state.

[0026] The groove is shaped so that, when installed, a complementary bulge secures the half-cylinder against displacement along its longitudinal axis. The locking mechanism is provided by a bulge in the groove extending circumferentially along the half-cylinder. When installed, the complementary bulge engages with the bulge in the groove.

[0027] The groove can also be widened in the circumferential direction on the front side compared to the complementary bulge in order to enable simplified insertion of the bulge during assembly of the half-shell clamping sleeve.

[0028] The second end face of the half-cylinder is arranged opposite the first end face of the half-cylinder and, in the assembled state of the circular connector, forms a transverse surface of the circular connector in the longitudinal axis direction, wherein the transverse surface is formed at the end of the circular connector which is opposite the insertion surface of the circular connector.

[0029] The second end face of the half-cylinder is designed as a clamping sleeve. A clamping sleeve is a region of the half-cylinder which, when the circular connector is assembled, is elastically movable radially towards the longitudinal axis and on which the half-cylinder has a narrowed inner circumference for clamping an outer circumference of the cable. The region of the clamping sleeve extends at least partially in the circumferential direction and partially in the longitudinal axis direction from the second end face of the half-cylinder towards the first end face of the half-cylinder. The clamping sleeve can be movable and / or narrowed to varying degrees in the radial direction along the longitudinal axis. For example, the clamping sleeve can be maximally movable in the radial direction on the end face and minimally movable and / or not movable at all on the side of the clamping sleeve closest to the first end face.By narrowing the inner radius on the second end face of the half-cylinder down to the outer radius of the cable, the half-cylinder is firmly connected to the cable in the assembled state and / or mechanically fixed against relative movements of the two components in the longitudinal axis direction, in the radial direction and / or in the circumferential direction.

[0030] The clamping sleeve of the half-shell clamping sleeve is designed such that, when installed, the cable's braided shield can be mechanically and electrically connected. During installation, the insulating outer sheath of the cable is removed for an area that is located beneath the half-cylinder when installed. This means that the braided shield in this area of ​​the cable is freely accessible to the outside. During installation, the braided shield can also be folded back in the opposite direction to the insertion direction and positioned over the insulating outer sheath of the cable. The half-cylinder and / or the clamping sleeve of the half-shell clamping sleeve can be connected to the freely accessible braided shield and / or to the folded-back braided shield. Preferably, the clamping sleeve is electrically connectable to the braided shield, and particularly preferably, a portion of the clamping sleeve is adjacent to the second end face of the half-cylinder.The partial area of ​​the clamping sleeve configured for connection preferably occupies approximately half and / or 0.7 mm of the clamping sleeve in the longitudinal axis direction and more preferably approximately one third and / or 0.5 mm of the clamping sleeve.

[0031] The inner side of the half-cylinder can have sections with different inner radii. The sections with a smaller inner radius can be connected to the outer radius of the cable and / or braided shield when assembled and can be designed as additional electrical contact areas and / or as spacers and / or to stiffen the half-cylinder. The inner radius of these sections is preferably 2 mm smaller, and particularly preferably 1 mm smaller, than the inner radius of the other sections of the inner side.

[0032] The outer side of the half-cylinder can have sections with different outer radii. The sections with a larger outer radius can be mechanically connected to a circular connector housing when assembled and can be designed as an additional stop in the longitudinal direction of the circular connector and / or as a spacer to the circular connector housing and / or to stiffen the half-cylinder. The outer radius of these sections is preferably 2 mm larger, and particularly preferably 1 mm larger, than the outer radius of the other sections of the outer side.

[0033] The longitudinal axis extension of the half-cylinder from the first end face to the second end face along the longitudinal axis is designed to be alignable in a form-fitting manner between the connection element and a closure cap of the circular connector in an assembled state. The radial extension of the inside of the half-cylinder can be designed to be alignable in a form-fitting manner and / or approximately form-fitting manner with the outside of the (stripped) cable in an assembled state. The radial extension of the outside of the half-cylinder can be designed to be alignable in a form-fitting manner and / or approximately form-fitting manner with the inside of the circular connector housing in an assembled state.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the half-shell clamping sleeve, the half-shell clamping sleeve is formed as a single piece. The clamping sleeve of the half-shell clamping sleeve is thus inseparable from the half-cylinder of the half-shell clamping sleeve. When assembling the circular connector, the half-shell clamping sleeve can thus only be aligned with the connection element of the circular connector on the first end face and fixed with the end cap of the circular connector on the second end face. Aligning the half-cylinder and the clamping sleeve, as is required when assembling a conventional shield of the circular connector, is no longer necessary.

[0035] In a further preferred embodiment of the half-shell clamping sleeve, the clamping sleeve has at least one clamping arm and the part of the at least one clamping arm which forms the second end face of the half-cylinder is radially elastically movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the half-cylinder.

[0036] The at least one clamping arm can be spaced apart in the circumferential direction from an adjacent clamping arm and have two long sides. Long sides of the at least one clamping arm can be formed at least partially parallel to the long sides of the half-cylinder. The long sides of the at least one clamping arm each have a minimum distance in the circumferential direction from another clamping arm of the half-shell clamping sleeve and / or from a second half-shell clamping sleeve. The minimum distance in the circumferential direction can preferably be 1 mm and particularly preferably 0.5 mm. The minimum distance in the circumferential direction can be designed such that, when the circular connector is mounted on the second end face of the half-cylinder, the at least one clamping arm can be aligned in the circumferential direction with no and / or almost no distance from another clamping arm of the half-shell clamping sleeve and / or from a second half-shell clamping sleeve.

[0037] The portion on the inside of the clamping sleeve that can be connected to the braided shield of the cable can have at least one fixing element. In the assembled state of the circular connector, the at least one fixing element is designed to fixably connect the half-shell clamping sleeve and the cable and thus prevent any relative movement of the half-shell clamping sleeve and / or any relative movement of the circular connector to the cable. The at least one fixing element can be designed as a latching hook that can engage in the braided shield of the cable. The connectable portion on the inside of the clamping sleeve preferably has at least two latching hooks, particularly preferably at least three, and most preferably at least five latching hooks.

[0038] An outer side of the clamping sleeve in the radial direction can have at least one groove and / or at least one bulge into which an inner side of the closure cap of the circular connector can engage and / or be aligned in a form-fitting manner in the assembled state.

[0039] In a further preferred embodiment of the half-shell clamping sleeve, the clamping sleeve has at least two clamping arms and the at least two clamping arms are spaced apart from one another.

[0040] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the clamping sleeve has at least three clamping arms and in a most preferred embodiment, the clamping sleeve has at least four clamping arms.

[0041] In a further preferred embodiment of the half-shell clamping sleeve, the wall thickness of the half-shell clamping sleeve is in a range from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm. The wall thickness of the half-shell clamping sleeve is designed to be greater than the penetration depth of induced currents from external, high-frequency alternating electromagnetic fields.

[0042] A further aspect for solving the problem relates to a circular connector for connecting to a complementary plug-in element, comprising at least one half-shell clamping sleeve according to one of the preceding embodiments; a connection element for connecting to a complementary connection element of the complementary plug-in element; a circular connector housing and a closure cap for fixing the cable; wherein the connection element is arranged within the circular connector housing and is firmly connected to the circular connector housing; wherein the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve is arranged within the circular connector housing; and wherein the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve is fixed between the connection element and the closure cap.

[0043] A connection element is arranged as a sub-element of the circular connector, extending from the mating surface, or mating side, of the circular connector in the opposite direction to the mating direction, i.e., from the mating surface along the longitudinal axis of the circular connector. The connection element can have an insertion area, a contact element holding area, and a cable contact area along the longitudinal axis.

[0044] The insertion area of ​​the connection element can be located within the plug-in area of ​​the circular connector and extend approximately concentrically around the longitudinal axis. For a male circular connector, the connection element can form a hollow cylinder around the longitudinal axis in the insertion area. This hollow cylinder is designed to accommodate a female plug-in area of ​​a complementary connection element of the complementary plug-in element, which can be designed as a solid cylinder. For a male circular connector, however, a hollow cylinder does not have to be present in the plug-in area of ​​the connection element. For a female circular connector, the connection element can be designed as a solid cylinder up to a maximum radial extension relative to the longitudinal axis in the insertion area.This solid cylinder is designed to be inserted into a male insertion area of ​​a complementary connection element of the complementary plug-in element, which can be designed as a hollow cylinder. Both the hollow cylinder in a male circular connector and the solid cylinder of the female circular connector are made of an electrically insulating material. In a male circular connector, at least one metallic, electrically conductive contact element for making electrical contact and / or at least one contact pin protrudes in the insertion direction from the contact element holding area into the insertion area. In a female circular connector, at least one metallic contact element for making electrical contact and / or at least one contact sleeve protrudes in the insertion direction from the contact element holding area into the insertion area and runs completely through the solid cylinder in the insertion direction.

[0045] In the contact element holding area of ​​the connection element, the at least one contact element is arranged and / or mounted through the cable contact area, wherein the solid cylinder consists of an electrically insulating material.

[0046] In the cable contact area of ​​the connecting element, the at least one contact element also protrudes through the solid cylinder made of an electrically insulating material to a side of the connecting element opposite the insertion side of the connecting element. The at least one contact element forms a contact sleeve in the cable contact area, which is designed for contacting a cable.

[0047] The at least one half-shell clamping sleeve can at least partially surround the cable contact area along the longitudinal axis, or completely surround the cable contact area and at least partially surround the contact element holding area. In the assembled state, the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve is positively aligned with the connection element and designed to surround the uninsulated area of ​​the cable along the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve is electrically connected to the cable's braided shield in the assembled state.

[0048] The circular connector housing is arranged around the connection element and, along the longitudinal axis, surrounds the insertion area, the contact element holding area, and the cable contact area of ​​the connection element. Furthermore, the circular connector housing is arranged partially around the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve along the longitudinal axis. The circular connector housing can have a thread on a side opposite the insertion side of the circular connector, which thread is arranged on the outside of the circular connector housing in the insertion direction.

[0049] The end cap surrounds the portion of the half-shell clamping sleeve along the longitudinal axis that is not surrounded by the circular connector housing. The end cap can have a thread on the inside in the insertion direction that complements the thread of the circular connector housing. The thread of the circular connector housing and the complementary thread of the end cap can be designed to engage. When assembled, the thread of the circular connector housing can engage the complementary thread of the end cap, and the end cap fixes the half-shell clamping sleeve in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, when assembled, the clamping sleeve of the half-shell clamping sleeve fixes the cable and electrically connects the cable's braided shield.

[0050] In the assembled state, the circular connector can have exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention and exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve not according to the invention. The half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention and the half-shell clamping sleeve not according to the invention are designed to completely surround the uninsulated area of ​​the cable along the longitudinal axis.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment of the circular connector, the circular connector comprises a first and a second half-shell clamping sleeve. The two half-shell clamping sleeves according to the invention are designed to completely surround the uninsulated area of ​​the cable along its longitudinal axis.

[0052] In a further preferred embodiment of the circular connector, the groove of the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve is engaged with a bulge of the circular connector housing that is complementary to the groove, and / or the groove of the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve is engaged with a bulge of the connection element that is complementary to the groove.

[0053] In the assembled state, the circular connector can have exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention and exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve not according to the invention, or two half-shell clamping sleeves according to the invention. The two half-shell clamping sleeves are each designed to completely surround the uninsulated area of ​​the cable along the longitudinal axis.

[0054] In a further preferred embodiment of the circular connector, the groove of the first half-shell clamping sleeve engages with a bulge of the circular connector housing that complements the groove, and the groove of the second half-shell clamping sleeve engages with a bulge of the connecting element that complements the groove. The two half-shell clamping sleeves according to the invention are designed to completely surround the uninsulated area of ​​the cable along the longitudinal axis.

[0055] In a further preferred embodiment of the circular connector, the circular connector has a first and a second half-shell clamping sleeve and the first and second half-shell clamping sleeve are firmly connected to one another and form a hollow-shaped metallic cylinder.

[0056] Thanks to the two firmly connected half-shell clamping sleeves according to the invention, no alignment of the two half-shell clamping sleeves is necessary during assembly of the circular connector. The hollow metal cylinder can be pulled over the section of the cable without insulation, and the first end face of the half-shell clamping sleeves can then be aligned together with the connection element.

[0057] In a further preferred embodiment of the circular connector, the circular connector housing has a fixing body for releasably fixing with a complementary fixing body of the complementary plug element and the fixing body has a locking means and / or a screw means.

[0058] The connection element of the circular connector is arranged in sections within the fixing body. The fixing body extends from the insertion surface along the longitudinal axis of the circular connector over the entire length of the insertion area and at least partially over the contact element holding area. The fixing body can also be arranged over the entire length around the contact element holding area and at least partially around the cable contact area. The fixing body can consist of several components.

[0059] The locking means can be designed, for example, as a locking means of a push-pull circular connector and the screw means can be designed, for example, as a threaded ring.

[0060] In a further preferred embodiment of the circular connector, the circular connector additionally has a metal cylinder, wherein the metal cylinder is designed such that the cable can be firmly mechanically connected to the metal cylinder and the braided shield of the cable can be electrically connected, and wherein the metal cylinder is designed such that the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve can be firmly connected to the metal cylinder.

[0061] A further aspect for solving the problem relates to a plug-in system with a circular plug-in connector according to one of the preceding embodiments and a complementary plug-in element, wherein the complementary plug-in element has a complementary connection element that can be connected to the connection element of the circular plug-in connector.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment of the plug-in system, the complementary plug-in element has a complementary fixing body which can be engaged with the fixing body of the circular plug-in connector.

[0063] In a further preferred embodiment of the plug-in system, the plug-in system is designed as a push-pull plug-in system.

[0064] In particular, the complementary plug element can be electrically and mechanically connected and / or fixed to the circular connector along a plug-in direction by applying a predetermined force, which in particular depends on and / or is predetermined by the elastic properties of the complementary locking means and / or spring element. Accordingly, the complementary plug element can be released from the connector counter to the plug-in direction by applying a predetermined force, which in particular depends on and / or is predetermined by the elastic properties of the complementary locking means and / or spring element, i.e., a fixation existing between the circular connector and the complementary plug element in the assembled state can thereby be removed.

[0065] Optionally, the circular connector and / or the complementary plug-in element can comprise further components and / or the plug-in system can comprise further optional additional modules, such as a seal and / or one or two retaining rings that prevent and / or reduce unintentional loosening of the plug-in connection.

[0066] The above-mentioned further independent aspects and in particular the related preferred embodiments are also subject to the above-mentioned or below statements regarding the embodiments of the first aspect. In particular, the above-mentioned and below statements regarding the embodiments of the respective other independent aspect also apply to an independent aspect of the present invention and the related preferred embodiments.

[0067] In the following, individual embodiments for achieving the object are described by way of example with reference to the figures. In some cases, the individual embodiments described have features that are not absolutely necessary to carry out the claimed subject matter, but which provide desired properties in certain applications. Thus, embodiments that do not have all the features of the embodiments described below are to be regarded as falling within the scope of the described technical teaching. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary repetition, certain features are only mentioned in relation to individual embodiments described below. It is pointed out that the individual embodiments should therefore not only be considered in isolation, but also in conjunction with one another.Based on this overview, those skilled in the art will recognize that individual embodiments may also be modified by incorporating one or more features of other embodiments. It is noted that a systematic combination of the individual embodiments with one or more features described with reference to other embodiments may be desirable and useful and should therefore be considered and considered to be encompassed by the description. Short description of the drawings

[0068] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the outside of a half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the inside of a half-shell clamping sleeve according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the circular connector according to a preferred embodiment from a front view; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the circular connector according to a preferred embodiment from a rear view; Figure 5 shows a perspective exploded view of the circular connector according to a preferred embodiment from a rear view. Detailed description of the drawings

[0069] The positional information chosen in this description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the figure directly described and illustrated and, in the event of a change in position, is to be transferred accordingly to the new position.

[0070] The Figures 1 and 2 each show a perspective view of a half-shell clamping sleeve 100 according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment. Figure 1 shows the half-shell clamping sleeve 100 from its outside and Figure 2 shows the half-shell clamping sleeve 100 from its inside. The half-shell clamping sleeve 100 is formed as a single piece.

[0071] The basic shape of the half-shell clamping sleeve 100 is designed as a hollow metallic half-cylinder 110. The two longitudinal sides 140 of the half-cylinder 110 run parallel to a virtual cylinder axis of the half-cylinder 110 and, in the assembled state of a circular connector 200, run parallel to an insertion direction E. A longitudinal surface extends radially between the outer side and the inner side of the half-cylinder 110 and in the longitudinal axis direction between two end faces 150, 160 of the half-cylinder 110. The wall thickness of the half-cylinder 110 corresponds to a radial extension of the longitudinal side 140, and the length of the half-cylinder 110 corresponds to the extension of the longitudinal side 140 in the longitudinal direction.

[0072] The two end faces 150, 160 of the half-cylinder 110 deviate from the basic shape of a half-cylinder. The first end face 150 is a side that, when a circular connector 200 is assembled, faces a plug-in side. The first end face 150 of the half-cylinder 110 is approximately semicircular. A first end face extends radially between the outer radius and the inner radius of the half-cylinder 110 and circumferentially between the two longitudinal sides of the half-cylinder 110.

[0073] The first end face 150 of the half-cylinder 110 has a groove 120 in the longitudinal axis direction of the half-cylinder 110. The groove 120 can be U-shaped and / or V-shaped and / or rectangular and / or trapezoidal from the first end face 150 between the outer and inner sides of the half-cylinder 110. The shape of the groove 120 is aligned with the complementary bulge with which it is designed to engage in the assembled state. The groove 120 can also take on a shape in which a complementary bulge is secured against displacement in the longitudinal direction in the assembled state. The securing can be designed by a bulge of the groove 120 in the circumferential direction of the half-cylinder 110. In the assembled state, the complementary bulge engages with the bulge of the groove 120.The groove 120 can also be widened in the circumferential direction on the end face relative to the complementary bulge in order to enable simplified insertion of the bulge during assembly and / or alignment of the half-shell clamping sleeve 100.

[0074] The second end face 160 of the half-cylinder 100 is a side that, when a circular connector 200 is assembled, faces away from a plug-in side. The second end face 160 of the half-cylinder 110 is approximately semicircular. A second end face extends radially between the outer and inner sides of the half-cylinder 110 and circumferentially between the two longitudinal sides 140 of the half-cylinder 110.

[0075] The second end face 160 of the half-cylinder 110 is designed as a clamping sleeve 130. The clamping sleeve 130 is elastically movable radially to the longitudinal axis. The region of the clamping sleeve 130 can extend at least partially in the circumferential direction and partially in the longitudinal axis direction from the second end face 160 of the half-cylinder 110 toward the first end face 150 of the half-cylinder 110. The clamping sleeve 130 can be movable to varying degrees in the radial direction along the longitudinal axis, e.g., maximally movable on the second end face 160 and minimally movable on the opposite side of the clamping sleeve 130.

[0076] The clamping sleeve 130 may have one or more clamping arms 132. The at least one clamping arm 132 may be spaced apart in the circumferential direction and have two parallel longitudinal sides in the longitudinal axis direction.

[0077] The portion of the clamping arm 132 that can be connected to the braided shield of a cable on the inside of the clamping sleeve 130 can have one or more fixing elements, e.g., locking hooks. The fixing elements are designed to fix the clamping sleeve 130 to the braided shield of the cable.

[0078] The inner surface, i.e., the inside, and the outer surface, i.e., the outside, of the half-cylinder 110 can have subregions with different inner and outer radii. These subregions can be designed as additional electrical contact areas and / or as spacers and / or locking means and / or to stiffen the half-cylinder 110.

[0079] The Figures 3 and 4 each show a perspective view of the circular connector 200 according to a preferred embodiment. Figure 3 shows the circular connector 200 from a front view and Figure 4 shows the circular connector from a rear view.

[0080] The circular connector 200 has, from a plug-in side opposite the plug-in direction E and along the longitudinal axis of the circular connector 200, a connecting element 210 and two half-shell clamping sleeves 100. The connecting element 210 and the two half-shell sleeves 100 are arranged within a circular connector housing 220 and are fixed in the longitudinal direction on a side of the circular connector 200 opposite the plug-in side by the circular connector housing 220 and a closure cap 230. In an assembled state, an internal thread of the closure cap 230 engages an external thread of the circular connector housing 220.

[0081] The circular connector housing 220 can have a fixing body 222 for releasably fixing it to a complementary fixing body of a complementary plug-in element. The fixing body can be configured as a locking means 224 and / or a screwing means. The locking means 224 can be configured, for example, as a locking means of a push-pull circular connector 200, and the screwing means can be configured, for example, as a threaded ring.

[0082] A male circular connector 200 may have one or more contact pins in the insertion direction in the insertion area and a female circular connector 200 may have one or more contact sleeves in the insertion direction E in the insertion area.

[0083] The Figure 5shows a perspective exploded view of the circular connector according to a preferred embodiment from a rear view. The connecting element 210, two half-shell clamping sleeves 100, the circular connector housing 220 with its fixing body 222 and its locking means 224, and the closure cap 230 are shown as individual components in an unassembled state.

[0084] The connection element 210 can have a plug-in area with contact pins and / or contact sleeves, a contact element holding area, and a cable contact area along the longitudinal axis. The contact pins or contact sleeves are arranged in the contact element holding area such that they are guided from the plug-in side parallel to the longitudinal axis by a solid cylinder made of an electrically insulating material. In the cable contact area of ​​the connection element 210, the contact pins or contact sleeves are arranged such that they can be contacted with the cable wires of a cable.

[0085] The first end face 150 of a half-shell clamping sleeve 100 can be designed to be positively aligned with the connecting element 210 of the circular connector 200 in the assembled state. The surface of the first end face 150 of the half-cylinder 110 is aligned with a side opposite the insertion surface of the connecting element 210. The side of the connecting element 210 opposite the insertion surface can be designed as an insulating solid cylinder. This solid cylinder of the connecting element 210 can have a groove on its outer surface, into which the first end face 150 of the half-cylinder 110 can engage and be positively aligned in the assembled state. The surface of the first end face 150 and the groove on the outer radius of the connecting element 210 can be formed as a smooth cross-sectional surface and / or as bulges in and / or opposite to the longitudinal axis.

[0086] The two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 can be designed to at least partially completely surround the cable contact area and at least partially surround the contact element holding area along the longitudinal axis. In the assembled state, the two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 are designed to be positively aligned with the connection element 210 and to surround the uninsulated area of ​​the cable along the longitudinal axis. In the assembled state, the half-shell clamping sleeves 100 are electrically connectable to the braided shield of the cable.

[0087] When assembled, the thread of the circular connector housing 220 engages the complementary thread of the end cap 230, and the end cap 230 secures the two half-shell clamping sleeves in the longitudinal direction. In addition, when assembled, the clamping sleeves 130 of the two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 secure the cable and electrically connect the cable's braided shield.

[0088] In the assembled state, the circular connector 200 can have exactly two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 according to the invention or only exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve 100 according to the invention and exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve not according to the invention. A half-shell clamping sleeve not according to the invention can, for example, have no groove 120 and / or no clamping sleeve.

[0089] In the case of only exactly one half-shell clamping sleeve 100 according to the invention, in an assembled state, the groove 120 of the half-shell clamping sleeve 100 according to the invention can be brought into engagement with a bulge of the circular connector housing 220 complementary to the groove 120 or with a bulge 212 of the connection element 210 complementary to the groove 120.

[0090] In the case of exactly two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 according to the invention, in an assembled state, the groove 120 of a first half-shell clamping sleeve 100 according to the invention can be brought into engagement with a bulge of the circular connector housing 220 that is complementary to the groove 120, and the groove 120 of a second half-shell clamping sleeve 100 according to the invention can be brought into engagement with a bulge 212 of the connection element 210 that is complementary to the groove 120.

[0091] The two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 are each designed to completely surround the non-insulated area of ​​the cable along the longitudinal axis.

[0092] The two longitudinal surfaces of the respective half-shell clamping sleeves 100 can be designed to positively align the half-cylinders 110 of two half-shell clamping sleeves 100 with one another and to form a hollow, solid cylinder for electrical shielding. The longitudinal sides 140 can be designed as smooth surfaces without deviation in a circumferential direction. However, the two longitudinal sides 140 can also have grooves and / or bulges along the longitudinal axis direction and / or in the radial direction and / or in the circumferential direction. These grooves and / or bulges can be designed to engage with a complementary bulge of a second half-shell clamping sleeve 100.

[0093] By narrowing the inner radius on the second end face 160 of the half-cylinder 110 of the half-shell clamping sleeve 100, i.e. in the area of ​​the clamping sleeve 130, up to the outer radius of the cable, the half-shell clamping sleeve 100 is firmly connected to the cable and / or mechanically fixed against relative movements of the two components in the longitudinal direction, in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction.

[0094] The outer side of the clamping sleeve 130 can have at least one groove and / or at least one bulge into which an inner side of the closure cap 230 of the circular connector 200 can engage and / or be positively aligned in the assembled state. List of reference symbols

[0095] 100Half-shell clamping sleeve 110Half-cylinder 120Groove 130Clamping sleeve 132Clamping arm 140Long side 150First end face 160Second end 200Circular connector 210Connecting element 212Bump of the connecting element 220Circular connector housing 222Fixing body 224Locking means 230Closing cap ELapplication direction

Claims

1. Half-shell clamping sleeve (100) for electrically shielding a cable in a round plug connector (200), comprising: a hollow, metal semi-cylinder (110); wherein a groove (120) is formed on a first end face of the semi-cylinder (110) in the longitudinal axis direction of the semi-cylinder (110); wherein a second, opposite end face of the semi-cylinder (110) is formed as a clamping sleeve (130); wherein the clamping sleeve (130) has at least one clamping arm (132), and wherein the part of the at least one clamping arm (132), which forms the second end face of the semi-cylinder (110), is elastically movable radially to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the semi-cylinder (110); and wherein the half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is configured in such a way that, when assembled in a round plug connector (200), the first end face of the semi-cylinder (110) can be oriented form-fittingly with a connection element (210) of the round plug connector (200), a cable connected to the connection element (210) is mechanically fixable by means of the clamping sleeve (130) and the clamping sleeve (130) is electrically connectable to a shielding braid of the cable, characterised in that the groove (120) has a projection in the circumferential direction of the semi-cylinder and a complementary projection (212) is latchable with the projection of the groove.

2. Half-shell clamping sleeve (100) according to claim 1, wherein the half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is formed in one piece.

3. Half-shell clamping sleeve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping sleeve (130) has at least two clamping arms (132) and the at least two clamping arms (132) are distanced from one another.

4. Half-shell clamping sleeve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall thickness of the half-shell clamping sleeve (100) lies in a range of from approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm.

5. Round plug connector (200) for connection to a complementary plug element, comprising: at least one half-shell clamping sleeve (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; a connection element (210) for connecting to a complementary connection element of the complementary plug element; a round plug connector housing (220); and a closure cap (230) for fixing the cable; wherein the connection element (210) is arranged within the round plug connector housing (220) and is fixedly connected to the round plug connector housing (220); wherein the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is arranged within the round plug connector housing (220); and wherein the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is fixed between the connection element (210) and the closure cap (230).

6. Round plug connector (200) according to claim 5, wherein the round plug connector (200) has a first and a second half-shell clamping sleeve (100).

7. Round plug connector (200) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the groove (120) in the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is brought into engagement with a projection of the round plug connector housing (220) complementary to the groove (120), and / or wherein the groove (120) in the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is brought into engagement with a projection (212) of the connection element (210) complementary to the groove (120).

8. Round plug connector (200) according to claim 6, wherein the groove (120) in the first half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is brought into engagement with a projection of the round plug connector housing (220) complementary to the groove (120), and wherein the groove (120) in the second half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is brought into engagement with a projection (212) of the connection element (210) complementary to the groove (120).

9. Round plug connector (200) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the round plug connector (200) has a first and a second half-shell clamping sleeve (100), and wherein the first and second half-shell clamping sleeve (100) are fixedly connected to one another and form a hollow metal cylinder.

10. Round plug connector (200) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the round plug connector housing (220) has a fixing body (222) for releasable fixing to a complementary fixing body of the complementary plug element, and wherein the fixing body (222) has a detent means (224) and / or a screw means.

11. Round plug connector (200) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the round plug connector (200) additionally has a metal cylinder; wherein the metal cylinder is configured in such a way that the cable is fixedly mechanically connectable to the metal cylinder and the shielding braid of the cable is electrically connectable; and wherein the metal cylinder is configured in such a way that the at least one half-shell clamping sleeve (100) is fixedly connectable to the metal cylinder.

12. Plug system comprising a round plug connector (200) according to any one of claims 5 to 11 and a complementary plug element, wherein the complementary plug element has a complementary connection element which can be connected to the connection element (210) of the round plug connector (200).