CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No.CN201720287264.9 filed on March 22, 2017 in the State Intellectual Property Office of China, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relates to a connector. Description of the Related Art

At present, a circular connector for instrument, control apparatus and electrical equipment generally includes an insulating body, a conductive terminal held in the insulating body, a metal housing sleeved on the insulating body and a conductive shield mounted in an end of the metal housing. A wire may be introduced into the connector from the end of the metal housing and is electrically connected to the conductive terminal in the connector. The conductive shield is sleeved on a conductive shielding layer of the wire and provides electromagnetic shielding for the wire, so as to ensure signal transmission quality.

At present, the conductive shield is usually formed as a rigid cylindrical component, and a front end of the conductive shield press the conductive shielding layer of the wire against an inner annular protrusion of the metal housing to achieve an electrical connection between the conductive shield, the conductive shielding layer and the metal housing. However, such a single-point rigid contact leads to an unstable electrical connection, thus electromagnetic shielding effect is deteriorated. In addition, the present conductive shield has a large volume and occupies a large space and also is difficult to assembly and disassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been made to overcome or alleviate at least one aspect of the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector comprising: a metal housing; an insulating body received in the metal housing; a conductive terminal held in the insulating body and adapted to be electrically connected to a wire introduced into the a metal housing; and a conductive shield mounted in the metal housing and sleeved on a conductive shielding layer of the wire. The conductive shield comprises: a C-shaped ring adapted to electrically and elastically contact an inner wall of the metal housing, and a plurality of elastic arms connected to one side of the C-shaped ring and adapted to electrically and elastically contact the conductive shielding layer.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of elastic arms are disposed to be spaced apart from each other around the wire so that the plurality of elastic arms are sleeved on the conductive shielding layer of the wire.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each elastic arm comprises an elastic contact portion projecting inwardly. When the plurality of elastic arms are sleeved on the conductive shielding layer of the wire, the elastic contact portions are arranged to compress the conductive shielding layer in a radial direction of the wire so as to electrically and elastically contact the conductive shielding layer.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each elastic ami comprises an elastic end portion turned outwardly from the elastic contact portion. The elastic end portions of the plurality of elastic arms are adapted to press the conductive shielding layer against an inner annular protrusion of the metal housing in an axial direction of the wire, so that the conductive shielding layer comes into electrical contact with the metal housing.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further comprises: a rear sleeve adapted to be sleeved on the wire and comprising a cylindrical body and a plurality of elastic claws connected to an outer end of the cylindrical body; an elastic sealing sleeve adapted to be sleeved on an outer cladding layer of the wire; and a threaded sleeve screwed on the metal housing. The plurality of elastic claws are disposed around the outer periphery of the elastic sealing sleeve and adapted to press the elastic sealing sleeve against an outer cladding layer of the wire under being pressed by the threaded sleeve.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the threaded sleeve comprises a tapered inner wall that gradually tapers outwardly and is adapted to press the plurality of elastic claws against the elastic sealing sleeve, so that the elastic sealing sleeve is pressed against the outer cladding layer of the wire.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the metal housing comprises a first end and a second end, the rear sleeve being mounted in the second end of the metal housing, and the threaded sleeve being screwed on the second end of the metal housing.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of elastic claws are located outside of the metal housing when the rear sleeve is assembled into the metal housing. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an outer wall at an inner end of the cylindrical body of the rear sleeve is formed with an annular groove in which a sealing ring is accommodated, the sealing ring being compressed between the rear sleeve and the metal housing.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the insulating body is received in the first end and the wire is introduced into the connector from the second end of the metal housing.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further comprises a first nut screwed on the first end of the metal housing and adapted to secure the insulating body in the metal housing.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, one end of the insulating body protrudes from the first end of the metal housing. The connector further comprises a second nut sleeved on the end of the insulating body protruding from the first end of the metal housing, the second nut being adapted to be screwed to a mating connector.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an elastic conductive member is provided between the first nut and the second nut and compressed therebetween, so that the first nut and the second nut are electrically connected.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector is formed as a circular connector with a circular cross-section.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further comprises a screw adapted to be screwed to an end of the conductive terminal and to press and secure a conductor of the wire inserted into the connector onto the end of the conductive terminal, so as to electrically connect the wire to the conductive terminal.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector further comprises an insulating and isolating sleeve sleeved on the insulating body to electrically isolate the screw from the metal housing, so as to prevent electrical connection between the conductive terminal and the metal housing via the screw.

In the above various embodiments of the present disclosure, the conductive shield electrically and elastically contacts the metal housing and the conductive shielding layer at two different locations, respectively, thus stability of electrical connection among the conductive shield, the conductive shielding layer and the metal housing is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of the connector shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a conductive shield of the connector shown in Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the conductive shield shown in Fig. 3 sleeved on a conductive shielding layer of a wire; and

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section view of an assembled connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE IVENTION

The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described in further detail with reference to the following embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar references indicate the same or similar components. The following description of embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

In the following detailed description, for purposes 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 be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

According to a general concept of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector comprising: a metal housing; an insulating body received in the metal housing; a conductive terminal held in the insulating body and adapted to be electrically connected to a wire introduced into the a metal housing; and a conductive shield mounted in the metal housing and sleeved on a conductive shielding layer of the wire. The conductive shield comprises: a C-shaped ring adapted to electrically and elastically contact an inner wall of the metal housing; and a plurality of elastic arms connected to one side of the C-shaped ring and adapted to electrically and elastically contact the conductive shielding layer.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of the connector shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly comprises a metal housing 300, an insulating body 100, a conductive terminal 200 and a conductive shield 700. The insulating body 100 is received in the metal housing 300. The conductive terminal 200 is held in the insulating body 100 and adapted to be electrically connected to a wire 1 inserted into the metal housing 300. The conductive shield 700 is, for example, shaped as a sleeve and mounted in the metal housing 300.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a conductive shield of the connector shown in Fig 2.

As shown in Fig. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive shield 700 mainly comprises a C-shaped ring 710 and a plurality of elastic arms 720 connected to one side of the C-shaped rings 710.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the conductive shield 700 shown in Fig. 3 sleeved on a conductive shielding layer Id of a wire 1. Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section view of an assembled connector.

As shown in Fig. 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the wire 1 is formed as a multi-core wire having a plurality of conductor cores lb, each of which includes a conductor la. The plurality of conductor cores lb are wrapped by an inner insulating layer l c. The conductive shielding layer Id wraps around the inner insulating layer lc and an outer cladding layer le wraps around the conductive shielding layer Id. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the wire 1 illustrated, but applicable to other types of wire.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the C-shaped ring 710 is adapted to electrically and elastically contact an inner wall of the metal housing 300. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the plurality of elastic arms 720 are adapted to electrically and elastically contact the conductive shielding layer Id.

As shown in Fig. 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of elastic arms 720 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other around the wire 1 so that the plurality of elastic arms 720 are sleeved on the conductive shielding layer Id of the wire 1

As shown in Figs.3, 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, each elastic arm 720 comprises an elastic contact portion 721 projecting inwardly. When the plurality of elastic arms 720 are sleeved on the conductive shielding layer Id of the wire 1 , the elastic contact portions 721 compress the conductive shielding layer Id in a radial direction of the wire 1 so as to electrically and elastically contact the conductive shielding layer 1 d.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, each elastic arm 720 comprises an elastic end portion 722 turned outwardly from the elastic contact portion 721. The elastic end portions 722 of the plurality of elastic arms 720 are adapted to press the conductive shielding layer Id against an inner annular protrusion 311 of the metal housing 300 in an axial direction of the wire 1, so that the conductive shielding layer Id comes into electrical contact with the metal housing 300.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises: a rear sleeve 800 adapted to be sleeved on the wire 1 and comprising a cylindrical body and a plurality of elastic claws 810 connected to an outer end of the cylindrical body; an elastic sealing sleeve 900 adapted to be sleeved on the outer cladding layer le of the wire 1; and a threaded sleeve 600 screwed on the metal housing 300. The plurality of elastic claws 810 are disposed around an outer periphery of the elastic sealing sleeve 900 and adapted to press the elastic sealing sleeve 900 against the outer cladding layer le of the wire 1 under being pressed by the threaded sleeve 600.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the threaded sleeve 600 comprises a tapered inner wall 610 that gradually tapers outwardly and is adapted to press the plurality of elastic claws 810 against the elastic sealing sleeve 900, so that the elastic sealing sleeve 900 is pressed against the outer cladding layer le of the wire 1.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the metal housing 300 comprises a first end 310 and a second end 320, the rear sleeve 800 being partly received in the second end 320 of the metal housing 300, and the threaded sleeve 600 being screwed on the second end 320 of the metal housing 300.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of elastic claws 810 are located outside of the metal housing 300 when the rear sleeve 800 is assembled into the metal housing 300, in this way, the rear sleeve 800 may be easily removed from the metal housing 300.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, an outer wall at an inner end (left end of Figs. 2 and 5) of the cylindrical body of the rear sleeve 800 is formed with an annular groove in which a sealing ring 12 is accommodated, the sealing ring 12 being compressed between the rear sleeve 800 and the metal housing 300.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the insulating body 100 is received in the first end 310 and the wire 1 is introduced into the connector from the second end 320 of the metal housing 300.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises a first nut 510 screwed on the first end 310 of the metal housing 300 and adapted to secure the insulating body 100 in the metal housing 300

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, one end of the insulating body 100 protrudes from the first end 310 of the metal housing 300. The connector further comprises a second nut 520 sleeved on the end of the insulating body 100 protruding from the first end 310 of the metal housing 300, the second nut 520 being adapted to be screwed to a mating connector meted with the present connector.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, an elastic conductive member 530 is provided between the first nut 510 and the second nut 520 and is compressed therebetween, so that the first nut 510 and the second nut 520 are electrically connected.

As shown in Figs. 1 , 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises a plurality of screws 210 adapted to be screwed to an end of the conductive terminal 200 and to constructed to press and secure a conductor la of the wire 1 inserted into the connector onto the end of the conductive terminal 200, so as to electrically connect the wire 1 to the conductive terminal 200.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further comprises an insulating and isolating sleeve 400 sleeved on the insulating body 100 to electrically isolate the screw 210 from the metal housing 300, so as to prevent electrical connection between the conductive terminal 200 and the metal housing 300 via the screw 210.

As shown in Fig. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, an outer wall of the insulating body 100 is formed with an annular groove in which a sealing ring 11 is accommodated, the sealing ring 11 being compressed between the insulating body 100 and the metal housing 300.

As shown in Fig. 1 , in the illustrated embodiment, the connector is formed as a circular connector with a circular cross-section. However, the present discourse is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and the connector may be formed as another type of connector.

In the above various embodiments of the present disclosure, the conductive shield electrically and elastically contacts the metal housing and the conductive shielding layer at two different locations, respectively, thus stability of electrical connection between the conductive shield, the conductive shielding layer and the metal housing is improved.

In addition, in the above various exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure, the conductive shield has a small volume and is easy to be assembled and disassembled.

It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative. Many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to be illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Although the present discourse has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present discourse, and should not be construed as limiting the present discourse.

Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

It should be noted that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" in this specification do not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well. In addition, any reference number in the claims should not be appreciated as limitation to the scope of the present disclosure.