Connector Housing Shielding via Segmented Spring Arms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for high-voltage devices in motor vehicles lack effective shielding and secure electrical connections, particularly for electric vehicles, leading to incomplete shielding and potential electrical interference.
Innovation Solution
A two-part connector housing design with a shield connection exposed on the outside, featuring spring arms and contact webs for radial movement and secure contact with the cable shielding, along with a sealing mechanism to prevent moisture and rotational movement, ensuring complete shielding and strain relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional single-part connector housing is used, then the structure is simple, but the shielding connection is incomplete and electrical interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is divided into two separate parts: a housing base part and a housing head part. These parts are connected via a shield connection that includes spring arms with shielding contacts. This segmentation allows the shield connection to be independently designed and positioned, ensuring complete electrical shielding between the cable shield and the consumer housing while maintaining structural functionality.
2Reliability
If the cable is pushed into the connector housing with the cable jacket remaining, then the cable installation is simple, but the shielding connection is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The shield connection with spring arms and shielding contacts is pre-configured in the connector housing before cable installation. The spring arms are positioned to radially outwardly engage the cable shield as the cable is inserted. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the shielding connection is automatically established during the normal cable insertion process, without requiring additional steps to remove the cable jacket or manually connect the shield.
3Reliability
If spring arms with radial movement are used for shielding contacts, then the shielding connection is secure, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield connection incorporates spring arms that can radially outwardly move to engage and disengage from the cable shield. This dynamic mechanism allows the shielding contacts to automatically adapt to variations in cable positioning and insertion depth. The spring arms provide resilient contact force ensuring reliable electrical connection while accommodating tolerances in assembly and cable manufacturing.
4Reliability
If the housing base part and housing head part are separated, then the shield connection can be interposed, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield connection is integrated into the assembly process of joining the housing base part and housing head part. The spring arms are held in the housing base part and extend into the housing head part, with shielding contacts positioned to engage the cable shield. This merging of the shield connection with the housing assembly allows both components to be manufactured separately and then joined in a single operation, ensuring proper alignment and integration without requiring additional manufacturing steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced shielding and secure electrical connections, reducing electrical interference and ensuring reliable operation of high-voltage devices in motor vehicles by ensuring complete shielding and strain relief.
Implementation Method 1
The spring arms (14) are designed to move radially outward resiliently and are designed in such a way that, upon insertion of the cable (38), a resilient contact with the housing (56) is established via the shielding contacts (98)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a connector, in particular for the electrical connection of a consumer in a motor vehicle, comprising a connector housing (2) with a cable entry (52) and at least one opening associated with an electrical plug contact (74, 76, 82, 84). With a view to good shielding of the connector, the present invention proposes to design the connector housing (2) with a housing base part (4) forming the cable entry (52) and a housing head part (6) having the at least one opening, wherein the housing base part (4) and the housing head part (6) are connected to each other by means of an intermediate shield connection (16) exposed on the outside of the connector housing (2).