Circular connector and method for manufacturing a circular connector

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a circular connector and a method for manufacturing a circular connector.

[0002] The invention lies in the field of connector technology, particularly in the field of circular connectors, i.e., connectors with a thread for securing the connection, e.g., with an M12, M8, M23, or 7 / 8" thread. Such connectors, especially M12 connectors, are used, for example, for electrical contacting and / or connecting industrial Ethernet. Furthermore, such connectors are often subjected to mechanical stresses, such as those caused by connected machinery. Therefore, these connectors are often designed for mechanical loads and may have a thread with which a connection can be screwed and / or secured.

[0003] Circular connectors are typically located at one end of a cable and serve to connect a complementary mating connector, such as a receptacle connector and / or a receptacle socket. Circular connectors can have multiple functions. For example, they can provide electrical contact, mechanical locking, water and / or dust resistance, insulation, and / or shielding. To enable this range of functionalities, circular connectors are usually constructed in multiple parts. One challenge lies in providing a secure and easy-to-assemble shield for the circular connector.

[0004] Document US 2012 / 258622 A1 discloses a radial clamp for a connector with a split ring clamp body having a first and a second end that are opposite each other. Fingers extend from the first and second ends. The fingers have outer surfaces that follow a curvature of the clamp body of the radial clamp. The fingers have tool engagement surfaces configured to be gripped and actuated by a tool. The clamp body expands when the tool engagement surfaces are actuated by the tool.

[0005] Document US 5,267,878 A discloses a connector at the end of a shielded cable, comprising a braided wire that surrounds individual insulated wires. The connector allows the braided wire to be held in a folded-back position to expose the individual wires. In one embodiment, the braided wire is folded back over a tapered section and held in pressure contact over this section. In another embodiment, the braided wire is guided over threads on a tubular body that surrounds an outer insulating layer of the shielded cable and is held there by a tubular connector with internal threads.

[0006] Document US 4,842,544 A discloses a connector and termination method for small-dimension, high-speed signal cables. The connector features a plastic cable guide into which the fine signal and ground wires of a cable are inserted and folded back at a precise point to form an assembly. This assembly has a geometry that facilitates easy handling and alignment when inserted into the rear portion of the connector, with the wires sliding into engagement with slotted blade sections to ensure proper assembly. The blade sections are pressed radially inward to cause the wires to be caught in slots within them and additionally joined by soldering.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of enabling a circular connector with improved shielding, in particular reliable and / or easy-to-install shielding.

[0008] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments describe the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] One aspect concerns a circular connector with a plug end designed for making a connection and a cable end from which a shielded cable exits the connector in a specific direction. The circular connector also features a shield connection that mechanically and / or electrically contacts the shielding of a cable section located inside the connector. This shield connection includes at least one slot through which the shielding of the cable section is at least partially routed.

[0010] The circular connector can be designed as a circular connector of the type mentioned above, i.e., as a circular connector with a thread for securing the connection, e.g., with an M12, M8, M23, or 7 / 8" thread. The connector end, viewed in the insertion direction, can be approximately circular and / or have a screwable thread.

[0011] The plug end can be formed at a first end of the circular connector, at which a connection can be made in one plug direction with a complementary mating connector, such as a mating circular connector and / or a mating circular connector socket. This plug connection can effect a mechanical and / or electrical contact with the mating connector.

[0012] The cable end is formed at a second end of the circular connector and can be positioned facing away from the plug end. The circular connector is designed to establish an electrical connection between conductors routed along and / or within the cable(s) and the complementary mating connector.

[0013] The plug end and / or the cable end can each be designed as one end of a housing of the circular connector in and / or against the cable routing direction.

[0014] The cable exits the cable end in the direction of cable routing. With a straight circular connector, the cable routing direction can be approximately or exactly opposite to the insertion direction of the circular connector.

[0015] The cable has a cable shield that electrically protects the conductors inside the cable. The cable shield can be metallic, for example, made of a foil and / or wires and / or a wire braid. The cable shield can radially surround the conductors inside the cable, particularly along the cable section, preferably substantially along the entire length of the cable. The cable shield can be surrounded by insulation.

[0016] At least the cable section is located inside the circular connector, for example, on a section of the cable adjacent to the connector end. The shield connection can at least partially surround this cable section, preferably in all radial directions around the cable routing direction. For this purpose, the shield connection can be essentially collar-shaped and / or ring-shaped, i.e., as a kind of collar that at least partially surrounds the cable section. The shield connection can be configured to electrically contact the cable shield directly and / or indirectly with a (e.g., metallic) housing of the circular connector, so that the housing, the shield connection, and the cable shield are all connected to, for example, electrical ground.

[0017] The shield connection has at least one receiving slot. This receiving slot can be configured as an opening, a gap, or a recess in the shield connection. The receiving slot can penetrate the shield connection completely in at least one direction, e.g., radially. The receiving slot can be designed to receive at least a portion of the cable shield. This receiving function can involve the cable shield of the cable section being at least partially unwound from the cable section and passed through the receiving slot(s). The receiving slot can also be designed to hold and / or position the cable shield inside the circular connector. This positioning function can involve the cable shield of the cable section being securely held in the receiving slot in such a way that contact is established between the shield connection and the cable shield.

[0018] The insulation may be stripped from the cable section. The cable shield of the cable section may be exposed. The cable shield of the cable section is at least partially displaced from its original shielding position and instead routed through the at least one receiving slot. The cable shield of the cable section may also be divided into two or more parts, and these two or more parts of the cable shield may each be routed through two or more receiving slots of the shield connection. In this case, the cable shield makes mechanical and electrical contact with the shield connection, thus providing, in particular, an electrical connection between the shield connection and the cable shield of the cable.

[0019] The receiving slot is preferably not continuous, but rather a slot extending from one end of the shield connection into the shield connection, but not completely through it. The receiving slot can thus terminate at one end and / or a stop. This ensures that the cable shield is securely held at the shield connection, e.g., at the end of the slot and / or a stop at the end of the slot.

[0020] The shield connection can be made to the cable shield without crimp sleeves or similar force-fit connections. The cable shield can, for example, be connected to the shield connection solely by positive locking, specifically without spring tension or crimping. The cable shield of the cable section can simply be held in at least one receiving slot, thus enabling easy assembly of the shield connection to the cable shield. The elimination of crimping the cable shield significantly simplifies assembly.

[0021] The at least one slot for the shield connection can still enable secure contact and thus a reliable connection of the cable shield to the circular connector.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the receiving slot is configured at least partially approximately parallel to the cable routing direction of the circular connector. Here, the receiving slot can be configured as a slot in the collar-shaped shield connection, and this slot can be configured approximately parallel to the cable routing direction through the shield connection. This can apply either to a section of the receiving slot or to the entire receiving slot. This orientation of the receiving slot can simplify the assembly of the circular connector, since the cable exits the circular connector in the cable routing direction and is therefore typically inserted into the housing of the circular connector against this direction.This means that the orientation of the receiving slot coincides, at least in part, with a preferred mounting direction and also with a relevant direction of the assembled circular connector, which can be statically advantageous both during assembly and on the assembled circular connector. This orientation of the receiving slot can thus particularly effectively prevent the cable from slipping out of the shield connection, both during assembly and on the assembled circular connector.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the receiving slot extends from an inner shield end of the shield connection towards an outer shield end of the shield connection facing the cable and / or the cable routing direction. The inner shield end can, for example, face the plug end of the circular connector and / or point in the plug-in direction. This means that a normal to the inner shield end points approximately against the plug-in direction. The outer shield end can face the cable end of the circular connector and point in the cable routing direction. This means that a normal to the outer shield end points against the cable routing direction. In this case, the receiving slot can extend from the inner shield end in the cable routing direction towards the cable end without reaching the outer shield end. Thus, the inner shield end can be slotted and the outer shield end unslotted, i.e.,The slot must be solidly constructed. The receiving slot is therefore not continuous through the shield connection but finite, for example, with a stop at the slot end. In this embodiment, the cable shielding passing through the receiving slot is held at the outer shield end by the slot end when the shield connection moves against the cable direction, particularly during installation. This simplifies installation, as it reduces the risk of the cable shielding slipping out of the receiving slot.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the shield connection has at least two receiving slots, through each of which portions of the cable shielding of the cable section are passed. The two receiving slots can, for example, be located on approximately opposite sides of the cable shielding. The provision of at least two receiving slots improves the mechanical and thus also the electrical connection between the cable shielding and the shield connection, making it more reliable. Furthermore, the cable shielding of the cable section does not need to pass entirely through a single receiving slot; instead, the cable shielding can be divided between the at least two receiving slots. Two receiving slots, through which approximately equal portions of the cable shielding pass, have proven to be an optimal solution, balancing secure retention and / or contact on the one hand with a simple division of the cable shielding on the other.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the cable shielding, viewed in the direction of cable routing, is guided through the at least one receiving slot from radially inward to radially outward. The cable shielding of the cable section thus protrudes radially from the cable, specifically through the receiving slot. At a radially outer end, i.e., after passing through the receiving slot in the radial direction, the cable shielding may be bent and / or deflected from its radial direction of extension. For example, after passing through the receiving slot, the cable shielding may be wrapped around the cable shielding from the outside. This can ensure a secure connection of the cable shielding to the shield termination.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the at least one receiving slot has a bearing extension through which the cable shielding passes. The bearing extension can ensure a predetermined positioning and / or seating of the cable shielding within the receiving slot. The bearing extension is preferably located at one end of the receiving slot. When connecting the cable shielding to the shield connection, the cable shielding can then be pushed into the receiving slot along approximately its entire length up to the bearing extension. The bearing extension can prevent and / or reduce the cable shielding from slipping out of the receiving slot against its insertion direction (i.e., against the cable routing direction). Furthermore, the bearing extension can allow the cable shielding to be deflected with some freedom of movement and wound relatively precisely around the outer circumference of the shield connection.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the cable shielding of the cable section is twisted into at least one braid and guided through the receiving slot. During assembly, the cable shielding of the cable section can first be twisted into at least one braid and then inserted into the receiving slot as a braid.

[0028] Preferably, the cable shielding can be twisted into two approximately opposite braids, which are inserted into two opposing receiving slots. At least one braid can be inserted, for example, up to a widening of the receiving slot. Twisted into a braid, the cable shielding, which can be designed, for example, as a foil and / or a wire mixture, can be inserted particularly securely and essentially completely into the receiving slot(s). This prevents and / or reduces the protrusion of additional cable shielding. Furthermore, a braid is more compact than individual wires and / or foils, which is why a braid, in its compact form, can be reliably pressed and / or brought into a desired position.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the shield connection has at least one bearing groove in which a portion of the cable shield, passing through the receiving slot, is supported. The bearing groove can be configured approximately perpendicular to the cable routing direction; for example, it can extend approximately perpendicular to the cable routing direction around the shield connection, e.g., along an outer circumference of the shield connection. The bearing groove can be limited in and / or against the cable routing direction by at least one raised section. The at least one raised section and / or the shape of the bearing groove can ensure secure support of the cable shield of the cable section in the bearing groove and / or reduce unintentional displacement of the cable shield out of the bearing groove in or against the cable routing direction. This is particularly relevant during the assembly of the circular connector.Thus, the bearing groove provides a way to securely and reliably position and / or support the portion of the cable shielding that passes through the receiving slot. The same applies to the adjacent portion of the cable shielding, i.e., the part located in the receiving slot, as this is connected to the portion of the cable shielding supported in the bearing groove. The bearing groove can be sufficiently spacious to support the cable shielding in a twisted, braided state.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the cable shield of the cable section is pressed against the housing of the circular connector. This can particularly affect the part of the cable shield located in the bearing groove. Pressing the cable shield against the housing can, on the one hand, ensure reliable mechanical and / or electrical contact between the cable shield and the housing. On the other hand, the cable shield can also be securely pressed against the shield connection. This is especially true if the cable shield is arranged in a press fit between the housing (from the outside) and the cable shield (from the inside). This ensures reliable electrical contact between the housing, the cable shield, and the shield connection. Thus, all these components can be reliably connected to the same electrical potential, e.g., electrical ground and / or earth.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the shield connection is approximately cylindrical and / or metallic. A metallic shield connection provides particularly reliable electrical shielding. The cylindrical shape can be arranged as a collar and / or ring around the cable section. The axis of the cylinder can essentially coincide with the cable axis and / or the cable routing direction. Thus, the shield connection can be designed as an approximately cylindrical sleeve and / or a collar that reliably surrounds the cable section essentially completely (e.g., except for the receiving slot(s)) and thus provides shielding.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the circular connector has an insulator in which electrical contacts are arranged and which is pressed into a housing of the circular connector. Insulators can be made of, for example, plastic and / or ceramic and securely hold and / or support the electrical contacts, which may be connected to electrical conductors of the cable. The insulator can hold the contacts so that they make contact with complementary contacts of the mating connector and / or socket when the circular connector is plugged in.

[0033] In this further development, the shield connection features a connecting element to which the insulator is attached. This connecting element can be, for example, a clip connection and / or a plug connection. The connecting element can be located at the inner shield end of the connection, facing the insulator and / or the plug end of the circular connector. This connecting element allows the insulator to be attached to the shield connection even before the circular connector is fully assembled. Thus, the insulator can be inserted into the housing together with the shield connection, which can simplify the assembly of the circular connector. Alternatively, the insulator itself can incorporate the connecting element, thereby providing the means for attaching the shield connection to the insulator.In general, both the insulator and the shield connection can be designed to be attached to each other in a pre-assembled state.

[0034] InIn an additional or alternative design, the shield connection has a stop surface by means of which the insulator is pressed into the housing. The stop surface can be located, for example, at (or adjacent to) an end of the shield connection facing the insulator, such as at its inner shield end. The stop surface allows force to be exerted from the shield connection onto the insulator when the insulator and / or the shield connection is inserted into the housing, ensuring that the insulator is securely pressed into the housing. The stop surface thus serves to transmit force from the shield connection to the insulator and / or vice versa. In particular, the stop surface can be designed to be approximately perpendicular to the cable routing direction and to point towards the insulator opposite to the cable routing direction.

[0035] Alternatively, the insulator can have a correspondingly oppositely oriented contact surface. This can also be designed in addition to the contact surface of the shield connection, so that the two contact surfaces come into secure contact and contribute to a reliable force.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the shield connection has a coding element.

[0037] This coding can apply to the insulator and / or the housing, so that, for example, the insulator can only be arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to the shield connection, particularly in a partially assembled state where the shield connection is attached to the insulator via a connecting element. The coding enables a reliable assignment of the contacts of the circular connector to the corresponding and / or associated conductors of the shielded cable.

[0038] One aspect concerns a procedure for creating a plug connection between the aforementioned circular connector and a cable, comprising the following steps: Providing a circular connector with a plug end designed for making a plug connection; providing a cable end; arranging a cable with a cable shield on the circular connector such that it is led out of the circular connector at the cable end in a cable routing direction; mechanically and / or electrically contacting the cable shield of a cable section arranged inside the circular connector by means of a shield connection; and at least partially passing the cable shield of the cable section through at least one receiving slot of the shield connection, wherein the receiving slot is designed at least partially approximately parallel to the cable routing direction of the circular connector.

[0039] The method can be used, in particular, to manufacture a circular connector according to the aspect described above. Therefore, the statements regarding the circular connector also apply to the method, and vice versa. The circular connector can additionally be potted; in particular, the shield connection, including the portion of the cable shielding that passes through it, can be potted, for example, to a housing of the circular connector.

[0040] The method may include a step in which the cable shielding, passed through the receiving slot, is folded over, in particular approximately perpendicular to the cable routing direction and / or into a bearing groove. This may involve the cable portion of the shielding that passes through the shield connection from radially inside to radially outside and can thus be wrapped and / or laid radially outside around the shield connection.

[0041] Within the scope of this invention, the terms "essentially" and / or "approximately" may be used to include a deviation of up to 5% from a numerical value following the term, a deviation of up to 5° from a direction following the term and / or from an angle following the term.

[0042] The description refers to a radial direction, which may refer to the cable routing direction and may point outwards away from a cable axis.

[0043] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Here, identical or similar reference numerals may denote identical or similar features of the embodiments. Individual features shown in the figures may be implemented in other exemplary embodiments. The figures show: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an unencapsulated circular connector; Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the Figure 1 shown circular connector; Figure 3 a perspective view of a shield connection of the circular connector; Figure 4 a perspective sectional view of the shield connection of the circular connector; and Figure 5 a side sectional view through the circular connector.

[0044] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a circular connector 1 in its unencapsulated state. The circular connector 1 extends in the cable routing direction K from a plug end 10 to at least one cable end 20.

[0045] At cable end 20, a cable 100 is led out of the circular connector 1 in cable routing direction K. The cable routing direction K can coincide with a central cable axis of the cable 100 and point away from the circular connector 1 along the cable 100.

[0046] Inside, the circular connector has an insulator 50 (see e.g. Fig. 2 ) in which contacts of the circular connector 1 are mounted (not shown in the figures). These electrical contacts connect, on the one hand, conductors 103 of the cable 100 (see, e.g., Fig. 2 ) and, on the other hand, can be contacted at the end of the plug by corresponding contacts of a mating connector.

[0047] The insulator 50 is arranged inside a housing 40. The housing 40 is approximately round and / or tubular and can, for example, be made of metal. At the plug end 10, it has a plug-in lug by means of which it can be plugged into a complementary mating connector and / or a complementary mating socket (not shown in the figures). The housing 40 can extend from the plug end 10 to the cable end 20. Insertion can occur in a direction opposite to the cable routing direction K.

[0048] Furthermore, the circular connector 1 can have a thread of a predetermined size and / or a screw ring by means of which it can be screwed firmly onto and / or secured to the complementary mating connector (i.e. the complementary mating connector or a mating socket).

[0049] The circular connector 1 can have an internal thread on the housing 40, for example, adjacent to the plug end 10, with which the connection can be screwed in and thus secured. The circular connector 1 can be designed as a circular connector with a metric thread and / or with an imperial thread, for example, as an M12 or M8 connector. The circular connector 1 can be designed as a shortened circular connector, i.e., a circular connector with a short overall length in the cable routing direction K from plug end 10 to cable end 20. The circular connector 1 can thus be optimized for the shortest possible overall length without compromising its functionality (such as screw-in capability, shielding function, and / or robustness).

[0050] The circular connector 1 can be assembled into its Fig. 1The assembled state shown is potted with a potting compound, which is not shown in the figures. The potting compound can be used to seal and / or stabilize the circular connector 1, especially at the cable end 20.

[0051] Figure 2 shows the in Figure 1 The circular connector 1 shown is depicted in a perspective exploded view. Inside cable 100 are the conductors 103, whose plug-side ends are in Figure 2 are stripped and protrude both from the insulation of the cable 100 and from the individual insulation of the individual conductors 103. These free ends of the conductors 103 are designed to contact contacts inside the insulator 50.

[0052] One end of the cable 100 is configured as a cable section 101, which, in the assembled state, is contacted and / or surrounded by a shield connection 30. The shield connection 30 can be made of metal, in particular brass.

[0053] The shield connection 30 is formed as a collar and / or ring around the end-side cable section 101. The cable 100 can terminate at the cable section 101 inside the circular connector 1. The cable section 101 can pass centrally through the shield connection 30 of the circular connector 1, approximately along a cylindrical axis and / or central axis of the approximately cylindrical and / or collar-shaped and / or ring-shaped shield connection 30.

[0054] Cable 100 is itself shielded by a cable shield 102, which can be, for example, a foil and / or a wire braid. The cable shield 102 electrically shields the conductors 103 radially to the outside.

[0055] The shield connection 30 can perform several functions. It can be designed and intended to electrically contact the cable shield 102. The shield connection 30 can also be designed to establish an electrical contact between the cable shield 102 and the housing 40. Furthermore, the shield connection 30 can be designed to electrically shield at least the cable section 101. This can be particularly useful when this section is stripped and freed from the cable shield 102, e.g., for connecting the wires 103 to the contacts of the circular connector 1.

[0056] The circular connector 1 may also have an optional locking mechanism 60, which can reinforce and / or effect the connection of the cable shielding 102 and / or a locking mechanism.

[0057] The insulator 50 is designed as a largely solid, approximately cylindrical body. Inside, the insulator 50 can have channels for contacts (not shown in the figures) which, on the one hand, contact the conductors 103 and, on the other hand, connect to the plug end 10 (cf. Figure 1 ) can be connected to complementary contacts of a complementary mating connector and / or a complementary mating socket.

[0058] The insulator 50 can be made of an electrically insulating material, e.g., plastic and / or ceramic. The insulator 50 can be pressed into the housing 40. For this purpose, the insulator 50 can have a mating surface at a contact end 52, which faces the cable 100, against which it can be pushed and / or pressed into the housing 40.

[0059] The housing 40 can essentially have the form of a hollow cylinder and is designed to accommodate the insulator 50. In the assembled state, the cable section 101 and the shield connection 30 can also be arranged inside the housing 40, cf. Figure 1 .

[0060] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows the shield connection 30 in a perspective view without the remaining elements of the circular connector 1. The shield connection 30 is approximately in the shape of a cylindrical sheath, which extends in the cable routing direction K from an inner shield end 31 to an outer shield end 32. The outer shield end 32 can face the cable 100 and the inner shield end 31 can face the connector end 10 (see Figure 1). Figure 1 ) be turned towards.

[0061] At least one receiving slot 33 is formed in the cylindrical shell; in the illustrated embodiment, there are two receiving slots 33 opposite each other with respect to the central axis and / or cylinder axis. The receiving slots 33 are formed at and / or in the inner shielding end 31. The inner shielding end 31 is open at the receiving slots 33, so that the cable shield 102 can be inserted and / or pushed into the receiving slot 31 from the inner shielding end. The receiving slot 33 thus extends from the inner shielding end 31 essentially straight and / or linearly in the cable routing direction K through the shield connection 30, in particular through its cylindrical shell.

[0062] At the outer shielding end 32, the receiving slot 33 is closed. There, the receiving slot 33 has a slot end and / or a stop for the inserted cable shielding 102.

[0063] At the in Figure 3 A coding element 38 is arranged at the outer end of the shield 32 in the perspectively visible receiving slot 33. This coding element 38 makes it possible to position the shield connection 30 in a predetermined rotational position relative to the insulator 50 and to connect it to it, in order to enable coding of the individual conductors 103 with the corresponding contacts in the insulator 50.

[0064] The receiving slot 33 can be closed at least on one side. Preferably, the receiving slot is closed at the outer shielding end 32, so that the shield connection 30, together with the cable shielding 102 arranged in the receiving slot 33, can be inserted into the housing 40 of the circular connector 1 against the cable routing direction K, without the cable shielding 102 slipping out of the receiving slot 33. The closed end can prevent and / or at least reduce the likelihood of the cable shielding 102 slipping out of the receiving slot 33 during assembly of the circular connector 1 (e.g., in the cable routing direction K).

[0065] In an alternative embodiment, the receiving slot 33 has at least one widening in which the cable shielding 102 can be stored.

[0066] To connect the cable shielding 102 to the shield connection 30, the cable shielding 102 can first be stripped from the cable section 101 and, for example, twisted into two radially protruding braids, which are inserted into the receiving slots 33. These "braids" of the cable shielding 102 can then be bent by approximately 90° and wrapped around the outer sheath of the shield connection 30.

[0067] The shield connection 30 can have a bearing groove 35. The bearing groove 35 is designed as a recess in the outer sheath of the shield connection 30. The bearing groove 35 can be limited in the cable guidance direction K by an outer stop 35b and / or against the cable guidance direction K by an inner stop 35a. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the two stops 35a and 35b are designed as steps in the outer sheath of the shield connection 30. The stops 35a and / or 35b can prevent and / or reduce the slippage of the cable shield 102 arranged in the bearing groove 35 in and / or against the cable guidance direction K. Thus, the bearing groove 35 enables the cable shield 102 to be positioned around the shield connection 30 in a predetermined and securely supported position.

[0068] The shield connection 30 shown can further comprise a connecting element 36. In the exemplary embodiment, the connecting element 36 is designed as a clip nose and / or clip connection at the inner shield end 31. The connecting element 36 enables a secure connection with the insulator 50. For this purpose, the insulator 50 can have a collar-like thickening 53 adjacent to its contact end 52, around which the connecting element 36 can be clipped (see Figure 3). Figure 2 and Figure 5 In an alternative embodiment, the connecting element 36 can be designed as a press, screw, and / or hook connecting element.

[0069] The shield connection 30 can further comprise a stop surface 37. The stop surface 37 is arranged in a plane approximately perpendicular to the cable routing direction K and can be designed as a step in the inner cylindrical shell of the shield connection 30. During assembly, the stop surface 37 can be pressed against the contact end 52 of the insulator 50 (see figure). Figure 2 The insulator 50 is pressed to push and / or press it into the interior of the housing 40 by means of force transmission. The stop surface 37 can be formed almost completely around the shield connection 30, except at the position of the receiving slot(s) 33.

[0070] Figure 4 shows in a perspective sectional view a section through the also in Figure 3 The umbrella connection shown is 30. Particular attention should be paid to the aspect in Figure 3 Perspectively concealed recording slot 33 is released, which is approximately identical in construction to the one in Figure 3The recording slot 33 shown in perspective can be formed. However, the coding element 38 can be omitted on this side to allow for unambiguous positioning.

[0071] The shield connection 30 is essentially designed as a cylindrical shell, which may have at least one or two steps at the bearing groove 35. The stop surface 37 is preferably formed on the inside of the inner stop 35a, so that the same step on the radially outer cylindrical shell of the shield connection forms the inner stop 35a and on the radially inner cylindrical shell the stop surface 37.

[0072] Inside and outside can generally refer to the radial direction to the cable routing direction K and / or the plugging direction.

[0073] At the outer shield end 32, the shield connection 30 can have a thickening that terminates the shield connection 30 at the cable end 20. This thickening of the shield connection 30 can form the outer stop 35 and / or be designed as a robust receiving end for receiving and securely tying the cable 100.

[0074] Figure 5 Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view through the circular connector 1 in its assembled state. In particular, a section through cable 100, including cable section 101, is shown. The conductors 103 of cable 100 are connected at contact end 52 to the insulator 50, more precisely to electrical contacts located therein (not shown).

[0075] During assembly, the cable section 101 of the cable 100 can first be inserted into the shield connection 30. The cable section 101 can be stripped, exposing the cable shield 102. Subsequently, the cable shield 102 can be bent laterally, i.e., radially, into substantially equal portions, e.g., twisted into braids. These protruding parts of the cable shield 102 are guided through the receiving slots 33, preferably from the inner shield end 31 in the cable routing direction K. They are then bent laterally into the bearing groove 35. There, the braids of the cable shield 102 can be secured in the Figure 5 The positions shown will be arranged. Fig. 5 These braids of the cable shielding 102 are indicated as schematic, crushed ellipses, which are arranged in the bearing groove 35.

[0076] After or before this connection of the cable shielding 102 to the shield connection 30, a connection of the lines 103 with the insulator 50 can take place, more precisely an electrical contacting of the contacts stored therein.

[0077] If cable 100 is connected to shield connection 30 and insulator 50 in this way, shield connection 30 can be connected to insulator 50. For this purpose, the connecting element 36 can be clipped around the thickening 53 of insulator 50. This clip connection provides a pre-assembled connection between shield connection 30 and insulator 50, incorporating cable section 101.

[0078] Here, the contact end 52 of the insulator 50 can rest against the stop surface 37 inside the shield connection 30. The pre-assembled component, with the insulator 50 leading, can then be pressed into the interior of the housing 40 against the direction of cable routing K. For this purpose, pressure can be applied from the shield connection 30 across the stop surface 37 to the contact end 52 of the insulator 50. This pressure can be directed against the direction of cable routing K. In this way, the insulator 50 can be forcefully pressed into the interior of the housing 40.

[0079] The housing 40 and / or the insulator 50 can have press-fit elements 41, which can be formed on a (e.g., mechanical) contact surface between the housing 40 and the insulator 50. There, the press-fit elements 41 can provide and / or improve a secure press fit of the insulator 50 inside the housing 40. The press-fit elements 41 can each be designed as a thickening that reduces the distance between the housing 40 and the insulator 50, so that these components are connected to each other only by a tight press fit.

[0080] After assembly, the cable shielding 102 is pressed into the inside of the bearing groove 35 between the shield connection 30 from the inside and the housing 40 from the outside (see braids of the cable shielding 102 in Fig. 5 This can ensure a secure mechanical and / or electrical contact between the shield connection 30, the cable shielding 102 and the housing 40.

[0081] Thus, a secure shield connection for a circular connector is provided in a simple and effective manner.

[0082] The in Figure 5 The circular connector 1 shown in a sectional view can be potted with a potting compound after assembly as described.

[0083] The circular connector 1 can have additional components, such as an outer seal 70, which may be designed as an O-ring. The seal 70 can seal the circular connector 1 to the outside, while the press fit on the press elements 41 can create a watertight and / or dustproof connection inside the circular connector 1.

[0084] This arrangement in the receiving slots 33 and / or the bearing groove 35 provides a relatively large contact area for the cable shielding 102 on the housing 40.

[0085] Furthermore, the shield connection 30 thus formed can be independent of the exact cable diameter of the cable 100. This is because, unlike previously known shield connections with crimp connections, no such firmly fitting crimp connection is necessary here; instead, the connection is provided by the parts of the cable shield 102, which protrude to a largely arbitrary extent and are received in the receiving slots 33. Reference symbol list

[0086] 1 Circular connector 10 Plug end 20 Cable end 30 Shield connection 31 Inner shield end 32 Outer shield end 33 Receptacle slot 35 Bearing groove 35a Inner stop 35b Outer stop 36 Connecting element 37 Stop surface 38 Coding element 40 Housing 41 Compression element 50 Insulator 52 Contact end 53 Thickening 60 Locking 70 Seal 100 Cable 101 Cable section 102 Cable shield 103 Conductors Cable direction

Claims

1. A circular connector (1) comprising - a plug end (10), which is designed to establish a plug connection; - a cable end (20), at which a cable (100) having a cable shielding (102) can be guided out of the circular connector (1) in a cable guiding direction (K); and - a shielding connection (30), which mechanically and / or electrically contacts the cable shielding (102) of a cable section (101) of the cable (100) arranged inside the circular connector (1); wherein the shielding connection (30) comprises at least one receiving slot (33), through which the cable shielding (102) of the cable section (101) can be guided at least partially, characterized in that the receiving slot (33) is formed at least in sections approximately parallel to the cable guiding direction (K) of the circular connector (1).

2. The circular connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving slot (33) extends from an inner shielding end (31) of the shielding connection (30) in the direction toward an outer shielding end (32) of the shielding connection (30) facing the cable (100) and / or facing in the cable guiding direction.

3. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding connection (30) comprises at least two receiving slots (33), and wherein parts of the cable shielding (102) of the cable section (101) are guided through each of the at least two receiving slots (33).

4. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable shielding (102), viewed in the cable guiding direction (K), is guided through the at least one receiving slot (33) from radially inside to radially outside.

5. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one receiving slot (33) comprises a bearing widening, through which the cable shielding (102) is guided.

6. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable shielding (102) of the cable section (101) is twisted into at least one braid and guided through the receiving slot (33).

7. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding connection (30) comprises at least one bearing groove (35), in which a part of the cable shielding (102) guided through the receiving slot (33) is accommodated.

8. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable shielding (102) of the cable section (101) is pressed against a housing (40) of the circular connector (1).

9. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding connection (30) is formed approximately cylindrical and / or metallic.

10. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circular connector (1) comprises an insulator (50), in which electrical contacts are arranged, and which is pressed into a housing (40) of the circular connector (1).

11. The circular connector (1) according to claim 10, wherein the shielding connection (30) comprises a connecting element (36), at which the insulator (50) is fastened.

12. The circular connector (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the shielding connection (30) comprises a stop surface (37), by means of which the insulator (50) is pressed into the housing (40).

13. The circular connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding connection (30) comprises a coding element (38).

14. A method for producing a plug connection between a circular connector (1) according to claim 1 and a cable (100), comprising the steps of: - providing a circular connector (1) with a plug end (10), which is designed to establish a plug connection; - providing a cable end (20); - arranging a cable (100) having a cable shielding (102) on the circular connector (1) such that it is guided out of the circular connector (1) at the cable end (20) in a cable guiding direction (K); - mechanically and / or electrically contacting the cable shielding (102) of a cable section (101) of the cable (100) arranged inside the circular connector (1) by means of a shielding connection (30); and - guiding the cable shielding (102) of the cable section (101) at least partially through at least one receiving slot (33) of the shielding connection (30), wherein the receiving slot (33) is formed at least in sections approximately parallel to the cable guiding direction (K) of the circular connector (1).