Grounded contact connector

Abstract: A conductive insert assembly is mounted in a metal shell to retain and ground out unwanted electrical signals between two or more coaxial terminals, the grounding arrangement including a cylindrical metal retention clip (30) being carried in each passage of an array of through passages, the clip includ­ ing a spring finger (38,39) that establishes a first electrical cir­ cuit contact with an axial end face (45) of the terminal (40), and a stiff protuberance (32) and a resilient wing (34) that extend radially inward to captivate and establish a second electrical path with the outer periphery (41) of the terminal, the reten­ tion clip being captivated within a pair of conductive planar members.

Description: This invention relates to a connector having means for grounding a pair of terminals mounted therein and, more specifically, to a conductive insert assembly for retaining and grounding out unwanted electrical signals between two or more coaxial terminals. An electrical connector assembly generally includes two metal shells that are coupled together by a coupling ring rotatably mounted on one of the shells, the coupled connector assembly electrically interconnecting a plurality of cable and terminal pairs. Each shell has an insert comprised of a dielectric material for retaining and electrically isolating the terminals at the ends of each electrical cable. Connector assemblies use coaxial cables and coaxial terminals to ground out unwanted electrical signals, the cable having its outer electrically conductive braided sheath connected electrically and mechanically to the connector shell. In applications where more than one pair of coaxial cables and associated terminals are involved, it is necessary to wire together the outer braid sheaths of all of the cables to ground out unwanted external electrical signals. This is difficult and time consuming. If the grounding is not properly accomplished, the cable sheaths and connector shells will not be electrically interconnected, thereby resulting in the unwanted electrical signals affecting the electrical signal conductors within the coaxial cables. A previous way to commonly ground the coaxial cable, the connector shell, and the terminals therein was to provide a ground plane which made intimate contact with the shell and the terminals. This ground plane, which consisted of apertures which contained spring fingers and which made intimate contact with the outer periphery of the coaxial terminal, was positioned at the interface of the insert assembly and sandwiched between the insert assembly and an interfacial seal. However, difficulty was involved in manufacturing the ground plane. Oftentimes the spring fingers would be malformed or broken off, thereby not making a proper ground circuit connection with the terminal. Further, the ground plane disposition caused difficulty in providing a uniformly flat interfacial seal, a properly bonded seal, and proper interface axial location. For the above reasons, in Applicant's patent US-A-4 611 873, filed January 16, 1985, entitled "Insert Assembly for Connector" and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, an insert assembly included a plastic planar member molded to a metal planar member and captivated a retention clip in a stepped bore passing through the members. The insert assembly advantageously provided a simpler apparatus for connecting together the metal sheaths of a plurality of coaxial cables. However, as noted before, should spring fingers of a retention clip not be formed properly, an electrical circuit path will not properly be completed between the shell and all of the terminals disposed within the insert assembly. Further, a potential problem of inadequate grounding is presented since one of the planar members is non-conductive. The reference FR-A-2 519 199 describes a connector wherein the terminals are clamped to the support by clips engaging a retention shoulder of the terminals. However, the clips are in engagement with axial faces of the shoulder and so the clamping efect is not satisfying. In accordance with this invention, a metal connector shell receives an insert assembly which includes an array of through passages a plurality of conductive terminals, each passage receiving a retention clip and each terminal being terminated to a respective coaxial cable and having a retention collar. A grounding arrangement completes an electrical circuit path between each of the terminals and the shell. The electrical connector, according to the invention, has a a conductive hollow shell, an insert assembly mounted in said shell, and grounding means for electrically grounding to said shell a conductive electrical terminal having a retention shoulder, said insert assembly having an axial passage extending therethrough for receiving the terminal, said grounding means comprising first contact means extending generally axially along said passage for engaging an axial face of said retention shoulder and second contact means being spaced from said first means, characterized in that said insert assembly is electrically conductive and in electrical circuit relative to said shell, said second contact means extend generally radially inward into said passage for engaging a circumferential face of said retention shoulder, and each said contact means completing an electrical circuit path between the terminal and the insert assembly. In particular, each of the planar members are electrically conductive (e.g., metal, metallized plastic, or plated plastic) whereby to complete an electrical circuit path with the shell when inserted therein. The insert assembly comprises a pair of planar members each having a respective face abutting so that the array of passages in each are aligned and cooperate to define a cavity for captivating a retention clip. The retention clip is of metal and completes two electrical circuit paths between the respective terminal and the insert assembly (and thus the shell) and includes a plurality of radially deflectable spring fingers each of which extend radially inward and axially forward to contact the terminal and complete the first electrical circuit path, and a pair of curved resilient wings and a radial protuberance each being substantially coplanar and axially forward of the free end of each spring finger, the wings and the protuberance extending radially inward to contact the terminal and complete the second electrical circuit path. The wings and the protuberance provide a radial interference fit about the outer periphery of the retention collar whereby to assure secondary electrical continuity between each terminal and the shell. The invention also relates to a method of grounding a conductive terminal to a conductive shell as defined above, said terminal being disposed within the passage extending through the insert assembly and said insert assembly being adapted to be mounted within said shell and including a retention clip comprising a hollow, longitudinally slit, resilient metal sleeve having a spring finger struck from a wall thereof, the spring finger extending therefrom to terminate in a free end to engage the terminal, the steps characterized by: metallizing the insert assembly, radially inwardly deforming the wall adjacent to the slit and angularly therefrom, respectively, whereby to form an inward resilient wing and an inward radial protuberance, each said wing and protuberance being coplanar and adapted to engage the outer periphery of the terminal, inserting a terminal into the passage of said assembly whereby the outer periphery of the terminal is captivated and engaged between the wing and the protuberance and engaged by the spring finger, and inserting the insert assembly into the shell such that each surface thereof that contacts the shell and said terminal are in electrical circuit relation. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an insert assembly. FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-section of the insert assembly shown in FIGURE 1 when assembled aid showing a retention clip retaining a terminal. FIGURE 3 is an end view of the retention clip. FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the retention clip taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3. FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the retention clip taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3. FIGURE 6 is a partial plan view of the retention clip, in section, taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 3. While not shown, an electrical connector assembly herein would be much as described in the aforesaid U.S. Patent US-A-4 611 873 in that an insert assembly is mounted in a hollow metal shell and in contact with the inner wall of the shell, a coaxial-type terminal is mounted in the insert assembly and includes a conductive outer periphery, a conductive center pin, and a dielectric body which isolates the conductive portions, and a coaxial cable is terminated to each terminal. Each coaxial cable has its braid conductor fit about the outer periphery of its respective terminal and a center conductor electrically connected to the conductive center pin of the terminal. The terminal in one connector shell would be adapted to mate with a complementary terminal having the same coaxial conductor construction and coaxial cable termination as described hereinabove whereby upon mating to provide a grounded connector assembly. Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a conductive insert assembly which includes a conductive metal retention clip 30 and a pair of conductive planar memoers 10,20. A coaxial-type pin terminal 40 having a medial retention collar 42 is shown positioned for entry into the assembly. Each planar member 10,20 includes, respectively, a front face 14,24, a rear face 16,26, an outer periphery 12,22, and an array of passages 18,28 extending axially between the faces, each array of passages being aligned and each passage being adapted to receive and captivate one retention clip 30. Each planar member would be electrically conductive (e.g., comprised of metal, metalized plastic, or plated plastic), the outer periphery 12,22 of each planar member 10,20, respectively, being adapted to be in electrical circuit path relation to the inner wall of the shell (not shown) and each of the terminals being retained by a respective retention clip 30 and be in electrical circuit relation with each of the planar members. A plurality of grooves 13 on one planar member 10 are provided to receive a corresponding plurality of locking members 23 projecting from the other planar member 20 whereby to clock the array of passages into alignment when the rear face 16 of planar member 10 abuts the front face 24 of planar member 20. The passages of each array are counter-sunk at the abutting faces 16,24 whereby to form in each passage a cavity for captivating one retention clip, the cavity being defined by a pair of axial end walls 19,29 adapted to be abutted, respectively, by the forward and rearward end faces of the clip, and an interior passage wall. One retention clip 30 is received in the cavity defined by the respective plurality of passage pairs formed by the planar members when the members come together and are abutted. The retention clip 30 comprises a generally cylindrical sleeve 31 including a forward end face 33, a rearward end face 35, a longitudinal slit 36 extending between the faces, a plurality of radially deflectable spring fingers 38 each extending axially forward and radially inward to a free end 39, an inward radial protuberance 32 adjacent the forward end face, and distal forward end portions 34 of the sleeve wall formed by the slit edge and the forward end face being curved radially inward whereby to form resilient wings. The slit allows the cylindrical sleeve to radially expand and contract. FIGURE 2 shows the retention clip 30 captivated in a respective cavity formed by a passage portion from each planar member, the end faces 33,35 of the retention clip abutting against the respective axial endwalls 19,29 of the planar members 10,20 and the outer periphery of the retention clip 30 being radially expanded so as to seat against the interior wall of the cavity. The terminal 40 (shown in phantom) is seated in the passageway such that the radial retention collar 42 has its forward end face 43 seating against the axial end wall 19 of planar member 10 and its rearward end face 45 engaged by the free ends 39 of the respective resilient spring fingers 38, such seating completing an electrical circuit path with the planar members and with the shell. The protuberance 32 is generally stiff and non-yielding and extends radially inward from the sleeve to engage the outer periphery 41 of the retention shoulder 42 and the resilient wings 34 extend radially inward to bias the retention shoulder into contact with the protuberance, the wing 34 and the protuberance 32 thereby completing a second electrical circuit path between the terminal 40 and the connector shell. Preferably, the protuberance and the resilient wings would be generally coplanar and in a plane perpendicular to an axis passing through the terminal whereby to form a radial constriction to captivate the outer periphery of the retention collar therewithin, and would be axially forward from the spring fingers. To enhance the electrical circuit path completed between the retention clip and the insert assembly, solder 48 would be applied in the cavity of one planar member. FIGURE 3 shows an end view of the retention clip comprising the plurality of spring fingers 38 each extending radially inward to its respective free end 39, the protuberance 32 (shown partially in section), the longitudinal slit, and the distal end portions 34 of the clip 30 being curved radially inward to form the pair of resilient wings. FIGURE 4 is a side view of the retention clip showing the resilient wings and the protuberance extending radially inward. FIGURE 5 is another view taken at a different location around the retention clip. FIGURE 6 shows a partial section view of the retention clip and the spring finger for engaging the terminal retention shoulder.

Claims: An electrical connector having a conductive hollow shell, an insert assembly (10, 20, 30) mounted in said shell, and grounding means for electrically grounding to said shell a conductive electrical terminal (40) having a retention shoulder (42), said insert assembly having an axial passage (18) extending therethrough for receiving the terminal, said grounding means comprising first contact means (38, 39) extending generally axially along said passage for engaging an axial face (45) of said retention shoulder and second contact means being spaced from said first means, characterized in that said insert assembly is electrically conductive and in electrical circuit relative to said shell, said second contact means (32, 34) extend generally radially inward into said passage for engaging a circumferential (41) face of said retention shoulder, and each said contact means completing an electrical circuit path between the terminal and the insert assembly. The electrical connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said second contact means is spaced axially forward from said first contact means and comprises a relatively stiff protuberance (32) and a resilient wing (34) with each being substantially coplanar. The electrical connector as recited in claim 2, wherein said grounding means comprises a split cylindrical metal sleeve (31) of the type having an outer periphery, a forward end (33), a rearward end (35), a slit (36) extending between the ends, and a plurality of resilient spring fingers (38) each extending axially forward from the rearward end and radially inward to terminate at a free end (39) to engage the axial face (45) of said retention shoulder, said outer periphery expanding radially outward and against the passage wall (18), and a forward end portion at each distal end (34) of the sleeve adjacent to the slit being curled radially inward to form a pair of resilient wings, the spring fingers (38) defining said first contact means the protuberance (32) and said wings (34) defining said second contact means. The electrical connector of claim 2, characterized in that said grounding means includes a resilient, longitudinally slit cylindrical sleeve wall, and wherein said resilient wing is formed by a forward end portion of the sleeve wall which is deformed radially inward to form the resilient wing. The electrical connector as recited in claim 3, characterized in that said conductive first means and said conductive second means form a retention clip (30) captivated in a cavity (19, 29) of the insert assembly, said cavity including a pair of axial end walls and the axial passage (18, 28) extending through the insert assembly and said cavity, and wherein the retention clip has a forward end face (33) and a rearward end face (35), each abutting one and the other end wall of said cavity, said retention shoulder (42) having its front face (43) abutting one said end wall (19) and its rear face (45) abutting at least one of said resilient spring fingers (38). The electrical connector as recited in claim 5, characterized in that the retention clip is mechanically and electrically secured in the cavity of said insert assembly by solder. An electrical connector having a conductive hollow shell, an insert assembly (10, 20, 30) mounted in said shell, and grounding means for electrically grounding to said shell a conductive electrical terminal (40) having a retention shoulder (42), said insert assembly having an axial passage (18) extending therethrough for receiving the terminal, said grounding means comprising first contact means (38, 39) extending generally axially along said passage for engaging an axial face (45) of said retention shoulder and second contact means being spaced from said first means, characterized in that said insert assembly comprises a pair of planar members (10, 20) each having a respective plurality of passages (18, 28) extending therethrough with a front face (16) and a rear face (26), respectively, of one and the other planar member facing and the passages in each being axially aligned, and retention means (30) in each said passage for retaining a respective conductive terminal (40) whereby each respective terminal is in electrical circuit relation with said assembly, each said planar member (10, 20) is comprised of metal so as to be in electrical circuit relation with said shell, the front and rear face of said one and the other planar member are abutting, and said retention means comprises a sleeve (31) of conductive material and including inward radial projections (32, 34) which engage the outer circumferential periphery (41) of the terminal to complete an electrical circuit path therebetween and with the assembly. A method of grounding a conductive electrical terminal (40) to a conductive shell as claimed in claim 1, said terminal being disposed within the passage (18, 28) extending through the insert assembly and said insert assembly being adapted to be mounted within said shell and including a retention clip (30) comprising a hollow, longitudinally slit (36), resilient metal sleeve (31) having a spring finger (38) struck from a wall thereof, the spring finger extending therefrom to terminate in a free end (39) to engage the terminal, the steps characterized by : metallizing the insert assembly, radially inwardly deforming the wall adjacent to the slit and angularly therefrom, respectively, whereby to form an inward resilient wing (34) and an inward radial protuberance (32), each said wing and protuberance being coplanar and adapted to engage the outer periphery (41) of the terminal, inserting a terminal into the passage of said assembly whereby the outer periphery of the terminal is captivated and engaged between the wing and the protuberance and engaged by the spring finger, and inserting the insert assembly into the shell such that each surface thereof that contacts the shell and said terminal are in electrical circuit relation. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the steps include soldering the retention clip into the cavity.

Inventors: GALLUSSER DAVID OTIS, PUNAKO STEPHEN NMN, GALLUSSER, DAVID OTIS, PUNAKO, STEPHEN (NMN)
Applicants: AMPHENOL CORP, AMPHENOL CORPORATION
Application year: 1986
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13