Insulating connector for an electrical cable

An electrical connector adapted to be electrically connected with a cable includes a fixing assembly, an insulation body, and a conductive terminal overmolded in the insulation body. The fixing assembly includes a receiving portion extending in an axial direction of the electrical connector. An end of the cable is inserted into the receiving portion from a first end of the receiving portion. The insulation body extends from a second end of the receiving portion. The conductive terminal includes a mounting portion mounted in the insulation body and a contact portion extending out of the insulation body. The mounting portion is electrically connected with a conductor of the cable by a bolt member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Chinese Patent Application No. 201910037802.2, filed on Jan. 15, 2019.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector and, more particularly, to an electrical connector for connecting a cable.

BACKGROUND

A circular electrical connector for a communication device, an instrument, a control device, or an electrical device typically comprises an insulation body, a conductive terminal held in the insulation body, a metal housing sleeved over the insulation body, and a cable electrically connected to the conductive terminal. A conductive wire of the cable may extend into the metal housing from one end thereof and is electrically connected with the conductive terminal in the metal housing.

In order to ensure electromagnetic shielding of the electrical connector, a plurality of parts of the cable are usually required to be shielded. Further, a connection structure of a conductor of the cable with the conductive terminal is complicated, which increases manufacturing process cost as well as a complexity of the wiring assembly process of the electrical connector.

SUMMARY

An electrical connector adapted to be electrically connected with a cable includes a fixing assembly, an insulation body, and a conductive terminal overmolded in the insulation body. The fixing assembly includes a receiving portion extending in an axial direction of the electrical connector. An end of the cable is inserted into the receiving portion from a first end of the receiving portion. The insulation body extends from a second end of the receiving portion.

The conductive terminal includes a mounting portion mounted in the insulation body and a contact portion extending out of the insulation body. The mounting portion is electrically connected with a conductor of the cable by a bolt member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

The technical solution of the disclosure will be described hereinafter in further detail with reference to the following embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the description, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts. The description of the embodiments of the disclosure hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation on the disclosure.

In addition, in the following detailed description, for the sake of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may also be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are illustrated schematically in order to simplify the drawing.

The electrical connector according to embodiments of the disclosure is applicable to an electrical device such as a communication device, a meter instrument, a control device, or the like to power the electrical device. The electrical connector may be constructed as a circular plug electrical connector and plugged into a receptacle electrical connector mounted on the electrical device.

An electrical connector100according to an embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, adapted to be electrically connected with a cable200has a generally circular outer profile and comprises a fixing assembly1, an insulation body2, and a conductive terminal3.

An end portion of the cable200is shown inFIG. 13. As shown inFIG. 13, the cable200has an outer sheath202into which a pair of conductive wires are received. A braided shielding wire203is disposed between the conductive wires and the outer sheath202. Each of the wires comprises a conductor201and an inner sheath204wrapped around an external surface of the conductor201. When the cable200is connected, the outer sheath202at one end of the cable200is partially removed to expose the braided shielding wire203. The exposed braided shield wire203is then partially cut away to expose the two conductive wires. Thereafter, the inner sheath204of each of the wires is cut away to expose the conductor201.

As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the fixing assembly1comprises a receiving portion17having a cylindrical space and extending in an axial direction of the electrical connector100. An end of the cable200is inserted into the receiving portion17from a first end (the right end inFIG. 2) of the receiving portion17. An insulation body2made of, for example, a plastic material extends out of a second end (the left end inFIG. 2) of the receiving portion17. A conductive terminal3is fixed in the insulation body2through an overmolding process and comprises a mounting portion31mounted in the insulation body2and configured to be electrically connected with the conductor201of the cable200by a bolt member18, and a contact portion32extending out of the insulation body2to be electrically connected with a mating terminal301of a mating connector300, so that the electrical connector100is mated with the mating connector300. During performing the overmolding process, the conductive terminal3is fixed in a mold, then a molten colloid is injected onto the conductive terminal3. After the molten colloid is solidified, the conductive terminal3will be firmly fixed in the insulation body2formed by the molten colloid.

The electrical connector100, in an embodiment, further comprises a first shielding sleeve4, as shown inFIGS. 1-3. The first shielding sleeve4extends out of a second end of the receiving portion17and is sleeved over the insulation body2to electromagnetically shield the conductive terminals3mounted in the insulation body2and the conductor201.

As shown inFIGS. 2-4 and 10, the mounting portions31of the conductive terminal3are each formed as a cylindrical structure axially extending, in which an receiving hole34extending axially is formed. A side wall of the cylindrical structure has at least one through hole33extending transversely, through which the bolt member18passes to abut against the conductor201of the cable200inserted into the cylindrical structure, so that the conductor201is positioned in the mounting portion31. Because the conductive terminal3is fixed in the insulation body2through the overmolding process, the conductive terminal3may be firmly fixed in the insulation body2, thereby avoiding the conductive terminal3from moving and/or rotating relative to the insulation body2during the mating of the electric connector100with the mating connector300through plugging. Further, the conductor201is held in the conductive terminal3by the bolt member18, which simplifies an operation of connecting the conductor201and reduces the number of the parts. Further, it is possible to increase a conductive capacity of the conductor201and the conductive terminal3, for example, it is possible to transmit a current of 50 (A) amperes or more.

In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, as shown inFIGS. 2, 3, 9, and 10, the insulation body2comprises an insertion portion21inserted into the receiving portion17at the second end of receiving portion17, and an extension portion22integrally connected with the insertion portion21and located outside the receiving portion17. The extension portion22is adapted to be inserted into a receiving sleeve of a mounting base as described in detail below. The first shielding sleeve4sleeved over the extension22may electromagnetically shield the conductive terminal3located outside the receiving portion17.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 3, 5, 9, 10 and 11, the insulation body2includes a keyed portion23extending substantially parallel to the contact portion32of the conductive terminal3from the extension22, and adapted to prevent the contact portion32of the conductive terminal3from being improperly inserted into the mating terminal301of the mating connector300. The mounting base of a mating connector300has a receiving groove302. When the keyed portion23is aligned with the receiving groove302, the electrical connector100may be smoothly inserted into the mating connector300so that the two conductive terminals3of the electrical connector100may be properly electrically connected with the mating terminals of the mating connector300. When the keyed portion23is not aligned with the receiving groove302, the electrical connector100cannot be inserted into the mating connector300due to the protruding keyed portion23, thereby avoiding an improper insertion of the electrical connector100.

As shown inFIGS. 2, 3, 5-8, the fixing assembly1further comprises a cylindrical main cylinder11in which the receiving portion17is formed and including a first end (the right side inFIG. 2) and a second end (the left side inFIG. 2) opposite to each other. The main cylinder11comprises a first section111, a second section112, and a threaded section113. The first section111has an outer diameter greater than that of the second section112.

The fixing assembly1, as shown inFIGS. 3, 5, and 7, further comprises an elastic sleeve12received in the main cylinder11and configured to be sleeved over a portion of the exposed braided shielding wire203, which is folded back onto the outer sheath202of the cable200, and to press the folded braided shielding wire203against the outer sheath202of the cable200. In this way, the braided shield wire203of the cable200are reliably held on the outer sheath202of the cable200by the elastic sleeve12, thereby improving connection efficiency of the braided shield wire203and electromagnetic shielding effect of the electric connector100.

The fixing assembly1, as shown inFIGS. 3, 5, and 7, further comprises a second shielding sleeve13sleeved over a portion of the exposed conductor of the cable200and a portion of the elastic sleeve12. The first shielding sleeve4extends onto a portion of the second shielding sleeve13from the insulation body2. In this way, the first shielding sleeve4and the second shielding sleeve13are continuously sleeved over a section, which is from a portion of the uncut outer sheath202of the cable200to a portion of the conductive terminal3which is fixed in the extension22of the insulation body2, thereby improving the electromagnetic shielding effect of the electrical connector100.

As shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 5-8, the fixing assembly1further comprises a rotatable sleeve15rotatably disposed over the main cylinder11. The rotatable sleeve15comprises a first portion151having a larger inner diameter and adapted to fit over the first section114of the main cylinder11, and a second portion152having a smaller inner diameter and adapted to fit over the second section112of the main cylinder11. The main cylinder11is formed with a step between the first section111and the second sections112to prevent the rotatable sleeve15from being separated from the first section111of the main cylinder11.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 5, 11 and 12, the electrical connector100further comprises a mounting base5mounted on the rotatable sleeve15to mount the electrical connector100on the mounting base5. The mounting base5includes a flange51having a plurality of mounting holes511, a receiving sleeve52in which the first shielding sleeve4extending out of the fixing assembly1and the extension22of the insulation body2are received, and a locking member53engaged with a mating locking member formed on the rotatable sleeve15.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 7, an end of the first shielding sleeve4extending out of the extension22of the insulation body2has a plurality of resilient pieces41which are folded onto the end the first shielding sleeve4. In a case where the extension22of the insulation body2and the first shielding sleeve4are inserted into the receiving sleeve52, the resilient pieces41are compressed against an inner wall of the receiving sleeve52. Thus, it is possible to ensure the electrical connector100is stably mounted on the mounting base5and further provide the electromagnetic shielding effect.

The fixing assembly1, as shown inFIG. 7, further comprises a sealing ring14mounted in a groove formed outside of the first end of the main cylinder11. When the extension22of the insulation body2and the first shielding sleeve4are inserted into the receiving sleeve52, the sealing ring14is compressed by the inner wall of the receiving sleeve52, thereby providing water and moisture proof performance of the electrical connector100.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 5, 7, 8, 11 and 12, the locking member53has an axial protrusion531axially protruding from the receiving sleeve52, and a locking protrusion532radially protruding outwardly outside the axial protrusion531. A receiving groove111radially recessed inwardly is formed outside of the first end of the main cylinder11to receive the axial protrusion531of the locking member53. An inner wall of the rotatable sleeve15has a locking groove154radially recessed outwardly and engaged with the locking projection532to lock the fixing assembly1and the mounting base5together.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the locking protrusion531and the locking groove154has a substantially L-shape mated with each other to allow the fixing assembly1to be locked with or separated from the mounting base5by rotating the rotatable sleeve15relative to the mounting base5. For ease of operation, the rotatable sleeve15is provided with an indicator153indicating ON or OFF, as shown inFIG. 8. Typically, the mounting base5is mounted on a mounting panel or mounting bracket of an electrical apparatus by the flange51.

As shown inFIGS. 2, 5 and 8, the electrical connector100further comprises a third shielding sleeve19threaded to the second end of the main cylinder11, through which the electrical cable200passes to be inserted into the receiving portion17of the main cylinder11.

The electrical connector100, as shown inFIGS. 2, 5, and 8, comprises a sealing sleeve16sleeved over the cable200and including a first portion161having a small diameter and adapted to be inserted into the first end of the receiving portion17, and a second portion162having a large diameter and adapted to remain outside the first end of the receiving portion17and to be pressed between the first end of the main cylinder11and an end of the third shielding sleeve19so as to seal the first end of the receiving portion17.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, the third shielding sleeve19has a conical inner wall surface191tapering outwardly and adapted to press the second portion162of the sealing sleeve16against the outer sheath202of the cable200, thereby further improving the sealing effect.

The first, second, and third shielding sleeves4,13and19described above may be made of a material such as copper, stainless steel or the like. The cable200may have a circular or a rectangular cross-section.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative, and many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various structures described in various embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle. Although the disclosure have been described hereinbefore in detail with reference to the attached drawings, it should be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments in the attached drawings are intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of example, and should not be construed as limitation to the disclosure. Although a few embodiments of the general inventive concept of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes or modification may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in claims and their equivalents.