Patent Publication Number: US-9413116-B1

Title: Slotted, clamped termination ring for an electrical connector assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies. In particular, a slotted, clamped termination ring for an electrical connector assembly and methods for its incorporation into the connector assembly are disclosed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some examples of electrical connector assemblies with termination rings are disclosed in:
         U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,967 entitled “Shield termination connector assembly and method for using the same” issued Aug. 21, 2001 to Hall; and   U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,519 entitled “Strain relief for electrical connectors” issued Jul. 16, 2002 to Young.       

     The electrical connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,519 issued to Young includes a conductive termination ring positioned between a front connector body and a rear connector body. The front connector body is sometimes simply referred to as “the connector,” while the rear connector body is also known in the industry as a connector accessory or as a backshell adapter assembly (or simply “backshell”). When the connector is installed on an electrical cable (to facilitate connection of the cable to a device or to another cable, using a mating connector or receptacle), the termination ring of Young serves as a mechanical attachment for a conductive outer shield of the cable and provides electrical continuity between the cable outer shield and the front connector body upon assembly of the connector. 
     The electrical connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,967 issued to Hall includes a slotted termination ring that serves as a mechanical attachment for multiple individual shields of multiple wires within a cable. Those shields are compressed between the termination ring and the conductive backshell to provide mechanical attachment and electrical continuity between the multiple individual shields and the backshell upon assembly of the connector. 
     SUMMARY 
     An inventive method can be employed for terminating an electrical cable with an electrical connector assembly including a termination ring and a clamp. A forward end of the cable is inserted through a backshell assembly of the connector assembly and through the central passage of the termination ring. An outer jacket of the cable is stripped from a forward end of the cable, and the wires and inner conductive shields are separated from one another at the forward end of the cable. A corresponding conductive contact is attached to a forward end of each wire, and the contacts are installed into a front connector body of the connector assembly. 
     The termination ring includes one or more slots extending from the outer surface through the termination ring to the central passage and extending rearward from a forward end of the termination ring. Each inner conductive shield is passed through a corresponding one of the slots of the termination ring, and the termination ring is moved forward along the wires and inner conductive shields to non-rotatably engage the front connector body. The inner conductive shields are folded back onto the rearward portion of the outer surface of the termination ring, and the folded-back portions are secured against the outer surface with the clamp. The backshell assembly is moved forward along the cable to non-rotatably engage the termination ring and secured to the front connector body with the termination ring therebetween. A void remains between (i) the interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface. In some instances, the rearward portion of the outer surface of the termination ring can have a diameter that is smaller than that of a forward portion of the outer surface; in such instances, each one of the slots extends rearward at least to the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     In some instances, after assembly of the electrical connector assembly onto the electrical cable, the backshell assembly can be released from the front connector body and moved rearward along the cable, thereby enabling one or more among (i) the one or more wires, (ii) the corresponding conductive contacts, or (iii) the one or more inner conductive shields to be disconnected, repaired, replaced, or reconnected. Afterward, the backshell assembly can be moved forward along the cable to non-rotatably engage the termination ring and re-secured to the front connector body with the termination ring therebetween. The void remains between (i) the interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     An inventive article can comprise the electrically conductive termination ring, the circumferential clamp, and the backshell assembly. Another inventive article can comprise the termination ring and the clamp, wherein the diameter of the rearward portion of the termination is smaller than that of the forward portion of the outer surface. 
     Objects and advantages pertaining to electrical connector assemblies may become apparent upon referring to the example embodiments illustrated in the drawings and disclosed in the following written description or appended claims. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A through 1E  illustrate an example of an inventive assembly sequence for an electrical connector including a termination ring and a clamp.  FIGS. 1F and 1G  are longitudinal and transverse cross sections, respectively, of the assembled electrical assembly. 
         FIGS. 2A through 2E  illustrate another example of an inventive assembly sequence for an electrical connector including a termination ring and a clamp.  FIGS. 2F and 2G  are longitudinal and transverse cross sections, respectively, of the assembled electrical assembly. 
         FIGS. 3A through 3G  are front, side, rear, top, longitudinal cross-sectional, front perspective, and rear perspective views, respectively, of an inventive termination ring. 
     
    
    
     The embodiments depicted are shown only schematically: all features may not be shown in full detail or in proper proportion, certain features or structures may be exaggerated relative to others for clarity, and the drawings should not be regarded as being to scale. The embodiments shown are only examples: they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Some electrical cables include multiple insulated electrical wires enclosed within a single outer conductive shield of a cable. That single outer conductive shield (in the form of, e.g., tubular metal braid, tubular metal foil, or other suitable type or arrangement) encloses all of the multiple insulated electrical wires that make up the cable. Some multiple-wire electrical cables include, instead of or in addition to an outer conductive shield, one or more inner conductive shields. In one example, a cable can comprise multiple twisted pairs of insulated electrical wires, and each twisted pair can be enclosed in its own inner conductive shield (again, in the form of, e.g., metal braid, metal foil, or other suitable type or arrangement). All of the individually shielded pairs also can be enclosed in a single outer conductive shield of any suitable type or arrangement, if needed or desired. 
     Examples of inventive assembly procedures for terminating an electrical cable  900  with an electrical connector assembly  800  incorporating the termination ring  100  and the clamp  190  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1A through 1G  and  FIGS. 2A through 2G . In the examples shown, the cable  900  comprises six twisted pairs of insulated electrical wires  902 , each with a corresponding inner conductive shield  904 ; other suitable numbers of wires  902  or inner shields  904  can be employed. In the example of  FIGS. 2A through 2G , an optional outer conductive shield  906  surrounds all of the wires  902  and inner conductive shields  904 . An outer jacket that encloses all of the wires  902  and inner conductive shields  904  (and the outer conductive shield  906 , if present) has been omitted from the drawings for clarity. The connector assembly  800  comprises a front connector body  802 , a backshell assembly  804 , a termination ring  100 , and a clamp  190 . The front connector body  802  and the backshell assembly  804  can assume any suitable form or arrangement, including customer-specified arrangements or arrangements conforming to an industry specification or standard (e.g., MIL specifications or SAE standards). In the example shown, the front connector body  802  is arranged according to an SAE AS85049 standard, and the backshell assembly  804  includes a backshell body  805 , a nut  808 , and a swing arm  806  for supporting the cable  900  in a fixed orientation relative to the connector assembly  800 ; other examples of a backshell assembly can include conduit assemblies or fixed-arm assemblies. In some examples, the backshell assembly  804  can comprise one or more conductive materials; in other examples the backshell assembly  804  can comprise one or more insulating materials. For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, directional terms such a front, forward, rear, rearward, and so forth are defined relative to the connector assembly  800 , with “front” and the like being the direction from the connector assembly toward a mating connector assembly, and “rear” and the like being the opposite direction, i.e., toward the cable  900  connected to the connector assembly  800 . Any motion or movement recited in the disclosure, examples, or claims are relative motions or movements, e.g., forward movement of the cable  900  toward the connector assembly  800  is equivalent to rearward movement of the connector assembly  800  toward the cable  900 . 
     An example of an inventive termination ring  100  is shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3G . The inventive termination ring  100  includes forward and rearward ends  102  and  104 , an outer surface, and a central axial passage  108 . In this example a rearward portion  106  of the outer surface has a diameter smaller than that of a forward portion  105  of the outer surface. The termination ring  100  is structurally arranged so as to accommodate through the central passage  108  the one or more insulated electrical wires  902  of the cable  900  and the one or more inner conductive shields  904  of the cable  900 , i.e., the central passage  108  is large enough for all of the wires  902  and inner shields  904  of the cable  900  to pass through the central passage  108 . The central passage  108  can be provided with any suitable cross-sectional shape or longitudinal profile for accommodating any needed or desired arrangement of the wires  902  or inner shields  904 . In the example shown, the central passage  108  has a generally circular cross section and a forward portion of the central passage  108  tapers (i.e., becomes narrower) in a rearward direction, so as to accommodate routing of each of the wires  902  to its respective destination within the front connector body  802 . Any other suitable cross-sectional shape or longitudinal profile can be employed; in one such example, a simple straight cylindrical central passage  108  can be employed. 
     The termination ring  100  is structurally adapted so as to enable non-rotatable engagement with a front connector body  802  of the connector assembly  800 . In the example shown, the forward end  102  of the termination ring  100  includes a set of multiple forward-extending teeth  112  arranged so as to engage non-rotatably a mating set of rearward-extending teeth  812  of the front connector body  802 . Other suitable arrangements can be employed for providing non-rotatable engagement of the termination ring  100  with the front connector body  802 , e.g., any suitable combination of mating teeth, splines, grooves, cogs, tabs, slots, and so forth. The term “non-rotatable” as used herein shall include arrangements wherein only limited or constrained relative rotation, or no relative rotation, of the engaged objects might occur. For example, initial engagement of the teeth  112  and  812  still permits limited relative rotation of the termination ring  100  and the front connector body  802 , but it is not until the teeth are fully engaged (i.e., “bottomed out”) that relative rotation is substantially prevented. Both initial and full engagement of the teeth  112  and  812  are encompassed by the term “non-rotatable engagement.” 
     The termination ring  100  is structurally adapted so as to enable non-rotatable engagement with a backshell assembly  804  of the connector assembly  800 . In the example shown, the termination ring  100  includes a set of multiple slots  114  on its outer surface  106 . The slots  114  are arranged to engage a set of mating cogs or tabs at the forward end of the backshell assembly  804 . As described above, the “non-rotatable engagement” includes partial engagement or other arrangements wherein only limited relative rotation of the termination ring  100  and the backshell assembly  804  might be permitted. The termination ring  100  can be provided with any suitable set of one or more slots, cogs, tabs, splines, or grooves arranged so as to engage non-rotatably a mating set of one or more cogs, tabs, slots, grooves, or splines of the backshell assembly  804 . In some examples, the backshell assembly  804  can comprise one or more conductive materials and can be structurally arranged so that, upon assembling the connector assembly  800 , electrical continuity is established between the backshell assembly  804  and the conductive termination ring  100 . In other examples the backshell assembly  804  can comprise one or more insulating materials and can be structurally arranged so that, upon assembling the connector assembly  800 , only insulating backshell material makes contact with the termination ring. 
     The termination ring  100  includes one or more slots  120 . Each slot  120  extends from the outer surface through the termination ring  100  into the central passage  108 , and rearward from the forward end  102  of the termination ring  100 . In the example shown, each slot  120  extends rearward from the forward end  102  at least to the rearward portion  106  of the outer surface. In the example shown, each of three slots  120  is arranged as a T-shaped slot with (i) a stem portion  120   a  extending rearward from the forward end  102  of the termination ring  100  and (ii) a cross portion  120   b  of the T-shaped slot extending circumferentially partly around the termination ring  100 . The three slots  120  can be preferably substantially evenly spaced around the circumference of the termination ring  100 . Other numbers, shapes, or arrangements of the slots  120  can be employed. 
     Examples of inventive assembly procedures for terminating an electrical cable  900  with an electrical connector assembly  800  incorporating the inventive termination ring  100  and clamp  190  are illustrated in  FIGS. 1A through 1G  and  FIGS. 2A through 2G . A forward end of the cable  900  is inserted through the backshell assembly  804  and through the central passage  108  of the termination ring  100 , both of which typically are moved rearward along the cable  900  and temporarily out of the way. The outer jacket of the cable  900  is stripped from its forward end, and the outer conductive shield  906  (if present) is pulled back from the forward end of the cable  900 . The multiple wires  902  and inner conductive shields  904  are separated from one another at the forward end of the cable. A corresponding conductive contact (pin contacts in the example shown; socket contacts can be employed) are attached to the forward end of each one of the wires  902 , and the contacts are installed into the front connector body  802 . 
     Each inner conductive shield  904  is passed through a corresponding one of the slots  120  of the termination ring  100 , preferably distributed somewhat evenly among the slots  120  and around the circumference of the termination ring  100 . With the inner conductive shields  904  in the slots  120 , the termination ring  100  is moved forward along the wires  902  and inner conductive shields  904  to non-rotatably engage the front connector body  802  (in the example shown, by engagement of the teeth  112  and  812 ). With the termination ring  100  held in that position, the inner conductive shields  904  protruding through the slots  120  are folded back onto the rearward portion  106  of the outer surface of the termination ring  100 . The folded-back inner conductive shields  904  can be temporarily secured in place, e.g., by tape (such as so-called lacing tape), ties  124 , ligatures, or other suitable securing means, which can be removed later (before final assembly of the connector assembly  800 ) or left in place as needed or desired. 
     The folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  are secured against the rearward portion  106  the outer surface of the termination ring  100  with the circumferential clamp  190 . Any suitable circumferential clamp  190  can be employed. In the example shown, the clamp  190  comprises a tensioned band that is wrapped around the rearward portion of the termination ring  100  and the folded-back portion  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  and then tightened and secured with a conventional banding tool. The band typically comprises stainless steel or other suitably strong, flexible banding material. Multiple bands can be employed if needed or desired. Alternatively, a metal crimp tube can be employed as the clamp  190 , and can comprise copper or other suitable metal or alloy and can be applied with a conventional crimping tool. Multiple crimp tubes can be employed if needed or desired. Whatever its specific form, the circumferential clamp  190  is structurally arranged so as to (i) at least partly encircle the rearward portion  106  of the outer surface and (ii) retain against the rearward portion  106  the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  that extend forward from the cable  900 , are received and extend forward into the central passage  108 , and are folded back through a corresponding one of the slots  120  onto the rearward portion  106  of the outer surface of the termination ring  100 . The clamp  190  thereby maintains mechanical and electrical contact between the conductive termination ring  100  and the inner conductive shields  904 . To facilitate that engagement, the rearward portion  106  of the outer termination ring surface can include a textured surface, knurling, one or more circumferential grooves or splines, or one or more barbs; those surface features can deform the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  as they are compressed by the clamp  190  so as to achieve more secure or intimate contact between the termination ring  100  and the inner conductive shields  904 . 
     If the cable  900  includes an outer conductive shield  906 , that shield can be pulled forward, over the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904 , before the circumferential clamp  190  is deployed. The clamp  190  can be used to secure the outer conductive shield  906  against the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  (and perhaps also partly against the rearward portion  106  of the termination ring outer surface), with the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  between the rearward portion  106  of the termination ring outer surface and the outer conductive shield  906 . A single clamp  190  compresses the outer conductive shield  906  onto the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904 , and the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  onto the rearward portion  106  of the termination ring outer surface  106 . Alternatively, the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  can be compressed onto the rearward portion  106  of the termination ring outer surface  106  by the circumferential clamp  190  as described above, and then the outer conductive shield can be pulled forward over the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  (and optionally also over the clamp  190 ). A second clamp can be employed to secure the outer conductive shield  906  against the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  (and perhaps also partly against the rearward portion  106  of the termination ring outer surface), with the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  between the rearward portion  106  of the termination shield outer surface and the outer conductive shield  906 . The second circumferential clamp can be of any suitable type, including those described above for clamp  190  (e.g., one or more tensioned bands or one or more crimp tubes). The clamp  190  and the second clamp can be, but need not be, of the same type in a given connector assembly  800 . In both arrangements (i.e., a single clamp  190 , or a clamp  190  with a second clamp), the outer conductive shield  906  is mechanically and electrical engaged, along with the inner conductive shields  904 , to the conductive termination ring  100 . 
     With the inner conductive shields  904  (and the outer conductive shield  906 , is present) secured to the termination ring  100  and the termination ring  100  engaged with the front connector body  802 , the backshell assembly  804  is moved forward along the cable  900  to non-rotatably engage the termination ring  100  (in the example shown, by engagement of the slots  114  with tabs or cogs of the backshell assembly  804 ). The backshell assembly  804  is then secured to the front connector body  802  in any suitable way (nut  808  engaged with threads  809  in the example shown), with the termination ring  100  between the front connector body  802  and the backshell assembly  804 . Depending on the type and arrangement of the backshell assembly  804 , in some examples the rearward portion of the backshell assembly  804  can be secured onto the outer jacket of the cable  900 . In the example shown, the swing arm  806  is clamped onto the outer jacket of the cable  900 . The diameter of the rearward portion  106  of the outer surface of the termination ring  100  is sufficiently small so that, upon assembling the connector assembly  800 , a void  801  remains between (i) an interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly  804  (the interior lateral surface  805   a  of the backshell body  805  in the example shown) and (ii) the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  retained by the clamp  190  against the rearward portion  106  of the termination shield outer surface. The reduced-diameter portion  106  of the inventive termination ring  100  can enable it to be substituted into a connector assembly  800  having an original termination ring or backshell assembly  804  not necessarily designed to accommodate termination of the inner conductive shields  904 . Such a retrofit can enable improvement of the inner shield termination in connectors already deployed, or to upgrade existing connector assemblies or backshell assemblies not yet deployed. 
     In alternative inventive arrangements, the termination ring need not have a rearward portion of its outer surface with a reduced diameter relative to the forward portion. Instead, the termination ring, the backshell assembly, or both, can be structurally arranged in any suitable or desirable way so that, upon assembly, a void remains between (i) the interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface of the termination ring. In one such example, a termination ring having a single-diameter cylindrical outer surface can be employed, and the corresponding backshell assembly can have an enlarged portion of its central passage to provide the void. 
     The arrangement of the inventive termination ring  100  and circumferential clamp  190  offers several advantages over connector assemblies employing conventional termination rings. For example, the termination ring of U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,519 (cited above) does not allow multiple inner conductive shields to be readily connected to the termination ring. In contrast, the termination ring of U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,967 enables termination of multiple inner conductive shields in a slotted termination ring. However, in that example, electrical and mechanical engagement of the inner conductive shields is maintained by compression of the inner conductive shields against the termination ring by the backshell assembly, which effectively prevents positive, predictable mechanical engagement of the backshell assembly with the termination ring or with the front connector body, because the number and, particularly, the placement and arrangement of the inner conductive shields will vary from connector to connector. Asymmetry of the arrangement of the inner conductive shields can be particularly troublesome, by misaligning the backshell assembly relative to the termination ring or the front connector body. The variation of number, placement or arrangement of the inner conductive shields therefore interferes with the mechanical engagement of the substantially rigid backshell assembly with the substantially rigid termination ring or front connector body. 
     Use of a tensioned band or a crimp tube for the clamp  190 , however, can accommodate differing numbers or arrangements of the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904 . Typical banding and crimp tools can be set to apply a preset level of tension (for banding) or pressure (for crimping) regardless of the final position of the tool, allowing the tools (and therefore the deployed clamp  190 ) to accommodate differing numbers, positions, or arrangements of the inner conductive shells  904 . The flexibility or deformability enables the band or crimp tube to conform to whatever arrangement of inner conductive shields appears on the termination ring, even if the arrangement is asymmetric. Using the inventive combination of the termination ring  100  and the circumferential clamp  190 , a void  801  remains between (i) an interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  retained by the clamp  190  against the rearward portion  106  of the termination shield outer surface. The void  801  allows the front connector body  802 , and backshell assembly  804 , and the termination ring  100  to achieve fully aligned full mechanical engagement without interference from the inner conductive shields  904  (or the outer conductive shield  906 , if present) that are connected to the termination ring  100 . 
     A further advantage offered by the inventive methods disclosed herein is the ability to disassemble, then alter or repair, and then reassemble the connector assembly  800  without damaging the inner conductive shields  904  or their attachment or connection to the termination ring. In the connector assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,967, for example, electrical and mechanical engagement of the inner conductive shields is maintained by compression of the inner conductive shields against the termination ring by the backshell assembly. That compression typically deforms or even damages the inner conductive shields, which is typically inconsequential as long as the connector assembly remains assembled. After disassembly, however, that damage or deformation often prevents, or at least inhibits, reestablishing the engagement and connection of the inner conductive shields with the termination ring. 
     With the disclosed inventive arrangements of the termination shield  100 , the clamp  190 , the backshell assembly  804 , and the inner conductive shields  904 , the connector assembly can be disassembled (by disengaging the backshell assembly  804  from the front connector body  802 ) without disturbing the attachment or connection of the inner conductive shields  904  to the termination ring  100 . The clamp  190  maintains the connection and attachment, while the existence of the void  801  ensures that disengagement and rearward movement of the backshell assembly  804  has no substantial effect on the connection or attachment between the termination ring  100  and the inner conductive shields  904 . After releasing the backshell assembly  804  from the front connector body  802  and moving it rearward along the cable  900 , one or more among the wires  902 , the corresponding conductive contacts, the inner conductive shields  904 , or other parts or components of the electrical connector assembly  800  can be disconnected, repaired, replaced, or reconnected as needed or desired to effect a desired repair or alteration of the connector assembly  800 . Afterward, the backshell assembly  804  is moved forward along the cable  900  and re-engaged with and re-secured to the front connector body  802 . After reassembly, the void  801  remains between the interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly  802  and the folded-back portions  904   a  of the inner conductive shields  904  retained by the clamp  190  against the rearward portion  106  of the outer surface of the termination ring  100 . If required for whatever repair or alteration is needed or desired, the termination ring  100  can be moved rearward along the wires  902  and inner shields  904  to enable the repair or alteration and then moved forward again to re-engage the from connector body  802 . The inventive methods enable some repairs or alterations to be made without disconnecting or detaching any of the inner conductive shields  904  from the termination ring. 
     In addition to the preceding, the following examples fall within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims: 
     Example 1 
     A method for terminating an electrical cable with an electrical connector assembly including a termination ring and a clamp, the method comprising: (A) inserting a forward end of the cable through a backshell assembly of the connector assembly and through a central passage of the termination ring; (B) stripping an outer jacket of the cable from a forward end of the cable, separating one or more wires and one or more inner conductive shields from one another at the forward end of the cable, and attaching a corresponding conductive contact to a corresponding forward end of each one of the one or more wires; (C) installing the corresponding contacts into a front connector body of the connector assembly; (D) passing each one of the one or more inner conductive shields through a corresponding one of one or more slots of the termination ring, moving the termination ring forward along the one or more wires and the one or more inner conductive shields to non-rotatably engage the front connector body, and folding the one or more inner conductive shields back onto a rearward portion of an outer surface of the termination ring, wherein each one of the one or more slots extends from the outer surface through the termination ring to the central passage and extends rearward from a forward end of the termination ring; (E) securing against the outer surface, with the clamp, the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields; and (F) moving the backshell assembly forward along the cable to non-rotatably engage the termination ring and securing the backshell assembly to the front connector body with the termination ring therebetween, a void remaining between (i) an interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     Example 2 
     The method of Example 1 wherein the rearward portion of the outer surface of the termination ring has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a forward portion of the outer surface, and each one of the one or more slots extends rearward at least to the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     Example 3 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 or 2 further comprising: (i) during part (B), pulling an outer conductive shield back from a forward end of the cable; (ii) before part (E), pulling the outer conductive shield forward over the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields; and (iii) during part (E), securing the outer conductive shield, with the clamp, against the rearward portion of the outer surface or against the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields, with the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields between the rearward portion of the outer surface and the outer conductive shield. 
     Example 4 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 or 2 further comprising: (i) during part (B), pulling an outer conductive shield back from a forward end of the cable; and (ii) after part (E) and before part (F), pulling the outer conductive shield forward over the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields and the clamp and securing, with a second clamp, the outer conductive shield against the rearward portion of the outer surface or against the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields, with the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields between the rearward portion of the outer surface and the outer conductive shield. 
     Example 5 
     The method of Example 4 wherein the second clamp comprises at least one tensioned band. 
     Example 6 
     The method of Example 4 wherein the second clamp comprises at least one crimp tube. 
     Example 7 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 6 further comprising, after part (F): (G) releasing the backshell assembly from the front connector body and moving the backshell assembly rearward along the cable; (H) disconnecting, repairing, replacing, or reconnecting one or more among (i) the one or more wires, (ii) the corresponding conductive contacts, or (iii) the one or more inner conductive shields; and (I) moving the backshell assembly forward along the cable to non-rotatably engage the termination ring and re-securing the backshell assembly to the front connector body with the termination ring therebetween, the void remaining between (i) the interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     Example 8 
     The method of Example 7 further comprising: (J) after part (G) and before part (H), moving the termination ring rearward along the one or more wires and the one or more inner conductive shields; and (K) after part (H) and before part (I), moving the termination ring forward along the one or more wires and the one or more inner conductive shields to non-rotatably engage the front connector body. 
     Example 9 
     The method of any one of Examples 7 or 8 wherein the method is performed without disconnecting or detaching any of the one or more inner conductive shields from the termination ring. 
     Example 10 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 9 wherein the clamp comprises at least one tensioned band. 
     Example 11 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 9 wherein the clamp comprises at least one crimp tube. 
     Example 12 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 11 wherein each one of the one or more slots is arranged as a T-shaped slot with a stem portion of the T-shaped slot extending rearward from the forward end of the termination ring and a cross portion of the T-shaped slot extending circumferentially partly around the termination ring. 
     Example 13 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 12 wherein at least a portion of the central passage tapers in a rearward direction. 
     Example 14 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 13 wherein the forward end of the termination ring includes a set of multiple forward-extending teeth arranged so as to engage non-rotatably a mating set of rearward-extending teeth of the front connector body. 
     Example 15 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 14 wherein the outer surface includes a set of one or more slots, tabs, splines, or grooves arranged so as to engage non-rotatably a mating set of one or more tabs, slots, grooves, or splines of the backshell assembly. 
     Example 16 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 15 wherein the rearward portion of the outer surface includes a textured surface, knurling, one or more circumferential grooves or splines, or one or more barbs, so as to facilitate mechanical and electrical engagement of the termination ring with the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields. 
     Example 17 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 16 further comprising securing a rearward portion of the backshell assembly onto the outer jacket of the cable. 
     Example 18 
     The method of any one of Examples 1 through 17 wherein the backshell assembly includes one or more electrically insulating backshell materials and is structurally arranged so that, upon assembling the connector assembly, only insulating backshell material makes contact with the termination ring. 
     Example 19 
     An article comprising an electrically conductive termination ring and a circumferential clamp for an electrical connector assembly on an electrical cable, wherein: (a) the termination ring includes forward and rearward ends, an outer surface with a rearward portion thereof having a diameter smaller than that of a forward portion thereof, and a central axial passage, and is structurally arranged so as to (i) accommodate through the central passage one or more insulated electrical wires of the cable and one or more inner conductive shields of the cable and (ii) enable non-rotatable engagement with a front connector body of the connector assembly and with a backshell assembly of the connector assembly; (b) the termination ring includes one or more slots, each slot extends from the outer surface through the termination ring into the central passage, and each slot extends from the forward end of the termination ring rearward at least to the rearward portion of the outer surface; (c) the circumferential clamp is structurally arranged so as to (i) at least partly encircle the rearward portion of the outer surface and (ii) retain against the rearward portion of the outer surface folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields that extend forward from the cable, are received and extend forward into the central passage, and are folded back through a corresponding one of the one or more slots onto the rearward portion of the outer surface; and (d) the diameter of the rearward portion of the outer surface is sufficiently small so that, upon assembling the connector assembly, a void remains between (i) an interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     Example 20 
     An article comprising an electrically conductive termination ring, a circumferential clamp, and a backshell assembly for an electrical connector assembly on an electrical cable, wherein: (a) the termination ring includes forward and rearward ends and a central axial passage and is structurally arranged so as to (i) accommodate through the central passage one or more insulated electrical wires of the cable and one or more inner conductive shields of the cable and (ii) enable non-rotatable engagement with a front connector body of the connector assembly and with the backshell assembly; (b) the termination ring includes one or more slots, each slot extends from the outer surface through the termination ring into the central passage, and each slot extends rearward from the forward end of the termination ring; (c) the circumferential clamp is structurally arranged so as to (i) at least partly encircle the rearward portion of the outer surface and (ii) retain against the rearward portion of the outer surface folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields that extend forward from the cable, are received and extend forward into the central passage, and are folded back through a corresponding one of the one or more slots onto the rearward portion of the outer surface; and (d) the rearward portion of the outer surface of the termination ring and the backshell assembly are structurally arranged so that, upon assembling the connector assembly, a void remains between (i) an interior lateral surface of the backshell assembly and (ii) the folded-back portions of the inner conductive shields retained by the clamp against the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     Example 21 
     The article of Example 20 wherein the rearward portion of the outer surface of the termination ring has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a forward portion of the outer surface, and each one of the one or more slots extends rearward at least to the rearward portion of the outer surface. 
     Example 22 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 21 wherein the circumferential clamp is further structurally arranged so as to retain against the rearward portion of the outer surface, or against the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields, a forward portion of a cable outer conductive shield extending forward from the cable around the rearward portion of the outer surface, with the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields between the rearward portion of the outer surface and the outer conductive shield. 
     Example 23 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 21 further comprising a second circumferential clamp structurally arranged so as to retain against the rearward portion of the outer surface, or against the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields, a forward portion of a cable outer conductive shield extending forward from the cable around the rearward portion of the outer surface, with the clamped, folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields between the rearward portion of the outer surface and the outer conductive shield. 
     Example 24 
     The article of Example 23 wherein the second clamp comprises at least one tensioned band. 
     Example 25 
     The article of Example 23 wherein the second clamp comprises at least one crimp tube. 
     Example 26 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 25 wherein the clamp comprises at least one tensioned band. 
     Example 27 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 25 wherein the clamp comprises at least one crimp tube. 
     Example 28 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 27 wherein each one of the one or more slots is arranged as a T-shaped slot with a stem portion of the T-shaped slot extending rearward from the forward end of the termination ring and a cross portion of the T-shaped slot extending circumferentially partly around the termination ring. 
     Example 29 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 28 wherein at least a portion of the central passage tapers in a rearward direction. 
     Example 30 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 29 wherein the forward end of the termination ring includes a set of multiple forward-extending teeth arranged so as to engage non-rotatably a mating set of rearward-extending teeth of the front connector body. 
     Example 31 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 30 wherein the outer surface includes a set of one or more slots, tabs, splines, or grooves arranged so as to engage non-rotatably a mating set of one or more tabs, slots, grooves, or splines of the backshell assembly. 
     Example 32 
     The article of any one of Examples 19 through 31 wherein the rearward portion of the outer surface includes a textured surface, knurling, one or more circumferential grooves or splines, or one or more barbs, so as to facilitate mechanical and electrical engagement of the termination ring with the folded-back portions of the one or more inner conductive shields. 
     Example 33 
     The article of any one of Examples 20 through 32 wherein the backshell assembly is structurally arranged so as to enable securing a rearward portion of the backshell assembly onto the outer jacket of the cable. 
     Example 34 
     The article of any one of Examples 20 through 33 wherein the backshell assembly includes one or more electrically insulating backshell materials and is structurally arranged so that, upon assembling the connector assembly, only insulating backshell material makes contact with the termination ring. 
     It is intended that equivalents of the disclosed example embodiments and methods shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. It is intended that the disclosed example embodiments and methods, and equivalents thereof, may be modified while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. 
     In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together in several example embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claimed embodiment requires more features than are expressly recited in the corresponding claim. Rather, as the appended claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed example embodiment. Thus, the appended claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate disclosed embodiment. However, the present disclosure shall also be construed as implicitly disclosing any embodiment having any suitable set of one or more disclosed or claimed features (i.e., a set of features that are neither incompatible nor mutually exclusive) that appear in the present disclosure or the appended claims, including those sets that may not be explicitly disclosed herein. In addition, for purposes of disclosure, each of the appended dependent claims shall be construed as if written in multiple dependent form and dependent upon all preceding claims with which it is not inconsistent. It should be further noted that the scope of the appended claims does not necessarily encompass the whole of the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the conjunction “or” is to be construed inclusively (e.g., “a dog or a cat” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or both”; e.g., “a dog, a cat, or a mouse” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or any two, or all three”), unless: (i) it is explicitly stated otherwise, e.g., by use of “either . . . or,” “only one of,” or similar language; or (ii) two or more of the listed alternatives are mutually exclusive within the particular context, in which case “or” would encompass only those combinations involving non-mutually-exclusive alternatives. For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the words “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and variants thereof, wherever they appear, shall be construed as open ended terminology, with the same meaning as if the phrase “at least” were appended after each instance thereof, unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
     In the appended claims, if the provisions of 35 USC §112(f) are desired to be invoked in an apparatus claim, then the word “means” will appear in that apparatus claim. If those provisions are desired to be invoked in a method claim, the words “a step for” will appear in that method claim. Conversely, if the words “means” or “a step for” do not appear in a claim, then the provisions of 35 USC §112(f) are not intended to be invoked for that claim. 
     If any one or more disclosures are incorporated herein by reference and such incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with, or differ in scope from, the present disclosure, then to the extent of conflict, broader disclosure, or broader definition of terms, the present disclosure controls. If such incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with one another, then to the extent of conflict, the later-dated disclosure controls. 
     The Abstract is provided as required as an aid to those searching for specific subject matter within the patent literature. However, the Abstract is not intended to imply that any elements, features, or limitations recited therein are necessarily encompassed by any particular claim. The scope of subject matter encompassed by each claim shall be determined by the recitation of only that claim.