Integrated Shield Contact Means for Cable Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cable contact means for industrial applications require complex and costly assembly processes due to multiple components, often involving screwing and piercing techniques that can lead to poor shielding contact and increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

A contact means featuring a pull relief element with a pull relief section and a contacting section, which simplifies assembly by fastening to the casing at two points, providing stable pull relief and effective shield contacting without piercing, thus reducing assembly complexity and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple components and clamping parts are used for pull relief and shield contacting, then reliable mechanical fixation and electrical connection are achieved, but assembly complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliable mechanical fixation and electrical connectionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate components (clamping parts for pull relief and contacting parts for shield connection) into a single integrated element. This element simultaneously provides mechanical fixation of the cable sheath and electrical connection to the shield, eliminating the need for multiple separate components and simplifying assembly while maintaining reliable mechanical and electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated element performs multiple functions: it clamps the cable sheath for pull relief, contacts the shield for electrical connection, and can also provide structural support. This multi-functional design replaces several specialized components with one universal element, reducing assembly complexity and production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If piercing technique is used to contact the shield, then electrical connection is achieved, but contact quality deteriorates and shield wires may be severed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidcontact quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a sharp piercing tip that penetrates the shield (which causes poor contact and wire severing), the patent inverts the approach by using a broad contacting surface that presses against the shield from the outside. This inverted contacting method distributes pressure across multiple shield wires, ensuring reliable electrical connection without damaging the shield structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If multiple components are used for pull relief and shield contacting, then functional requirements are met, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional requirementsVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate components into one integrated element, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled. This consolidation lowers production costs while maintaining all necessary functions through the multi-functional design of the integrated element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2539968B1Contacts means for attaching an end of a shielded cable
Publication Date: 2017.04.05 TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GMBH
  • EP2539968B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2539968B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2539968B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a contact means (100) for attaching an end of a cable (110). The contact means (100) has a casing (300) with an inner chamber (320) for receiving a section of the cable (110) in the region of the cable end, and a pull relief element (200, 201, 202, 203) which can be fastened to the casing (300) in the inner chamber (320), with a pull relief section (220, 221, 222, 223) and at least one contacting section (240, 241). The pull relief section (220, 221, 222, 223) is formed to fix a cable sheath (120) of the cable (110). The contacting section (240, 241) is formed to contact a shield (130) of the cable (110).