WO2007110312A1

WO2007110312A1 - Low voltage connector

Info

Publication number: WO2007110312A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/052236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique Masse
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries Sas
Priority date: 2006-03-24
Filing date: 2007-03-09
Publication date: 2007-10-04
Also published as: FR2899028B1; FR2899028A1; EP1999823B1; EP1999823A1; DE602007012418D1; ATE498218T1

Abstract

The invention relates to a low voltage connector, for example of the female type, comprising: - a body (1) capable of being connected via its front face to a matching connector, - a support (7) for organizing the cable wires comprising several locations (71) each designed to receive an end of a wire (60) of the cable for the purpose of its insertion into an insulation displacement contact (5), characterized in that the organizing support (7) is fixedly attached to the body (1) and is mounted on the insulation displacement contacts (5) so that at least one location (70) corresponds to one insulation displacement contact (5), and in that the wires (60) of the cable (6) pass through the body (1) and then the organizing support (7) before reaching the locations (71) of the support (7).

Description

Low voltage connector

The present invention relates to a low voltage connector. More specifically, the invention relates to an RJ-type connector.

In the following description, a longitudinal axis (A) is defined by the insertion direction of the male connector into the female connector.

It is known from US 6,799,989 a jack type female connector comprising a body having a housing adapted to receive a complementary male connector. This body also supports a plurality of insulation displacement contacts (also called "insulating displacement contacts" or IDCs) aligned in two rows or four parallel longitudinal rows and connected via a printed circuit to contacts located in the footprint. An organizer support of the son of a cable, independent of the body, has several slots each for locking a wire of the cable before connection to a body displacement contact. The cable is introduced into the support, from the rear, along the longitudinal axis. The cable son are distributed at different locations of the support and the support is brought and fixed on the body, each slot of the support being vis-à-vis a insulation displacement contact so that each wire is inserted into its insulation displacement contact.

A similar female connector is also known from the patent application FR 2,760,136 (corresponding patent US 5,957,720). This connector also has a body and an organizer support son of the cable in which the cable is oriented in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The connector further comprises a jaw system for pushing the yarn support in the direction of the insulation displacement contacts and to maintain the support perfectly integral and bearing against the body.

In these two documents, the connector is made in two distinct parts, the body comprising the connection footprint and the organizer support cable son. The wires of the cable are secured to the body by the insulation displacement contacts. But the self-stripping contacts stand in the direction of support. A pull on the cable, the support or the body can thus easily disconnect the wires of their insulation displacement contact.

Patent Application US 2004/229517 discloses a connector of "Jack" type comprising a body on which is made a wire-carrying support comprising several locations where insulation displacement contacts are located. The body has one or more through channels in which the wires are passed. The channels open at two opposite ends of the body as well as on the surface of the body surmounted by the wire holder and insulation displacement contacts. In this type of connector, it is difficult to pass all the wires in the channels and the maintenance of the cable is not ensured.

The object of the invention is to provide a connector in which a traction on the body, the cable or the organizer support cable son is not likely to cause inadvertent disconnection of the cable son.

This object is achieved by a low voltage connector comprising: a body adapted to be connected by its front face to a complementary connector, said body supporting insulation displacement contacts on each of which can connect one of the son contained in a cable, a support organizer of the cable son having a plurality of locations each for receiving an end of a cable wire for insertion into an insulation displacement contact, the organizer support being secured to the body and mounted on the insulation displacement contacts so that at least one location corresponds to an insulation displacement contact, characterized in that the son of the cable pass through the body and the organizer support before reaching the locations of the support, the body has an upper face having an opening and a face opposite to the upper face on which is mounted the wire organizer support, the opening of the body is adapted to receive an organ m the cable is held against the body.

According to the invention, the cable is secured to the body by passing through the body before reaching the son organizing support. According to another feature, the support has an opening vis-à-vis the opening of the body to form a passage for the son of the cable passing through the body and the support.

According to another feature, the connector comprises a printed circuit mounted between the body and the insulation displacement contacts, this printed circuit being crossed by the cable.

According to another particularity, the holding member is orientable about the axis of the opening so as to be able to propose different orientations for introducing the cable into the opening.

According to another feature, the holding member can take three distinct orientations around the axis of the opening.

According to another feature, the holding member has two parallel gripping lugs and two hooks actuated in bending by pressure on the ears and adapted to cooperate with notches formed on the body.

According to another feature, a pusher is intended to insert the son, each positioned in a location of the organizing support, in their respective insulation displacement contact.

According to a first embodiment of the connector, suitable for STP or FTP type shielded cables: the pusher is pivotally mounted on the support around a hinge axis, a metal cover pivoting about an axis of rotation parallel to the hinge axis of the pusher is adapted to cover the pusher, the connector may comprise a pusher locking device on the body, the lid is metallic and ensures the recovery of the drain to a contact, the pusher is manufactured in a non-conductive insulating material such as plastic.

According to a second embodiment of the connector, suitable for UTP type unshielded cables: the pusher is directly integrated with a pivoting lid along an axis of rotation, the connector may comprise a device for locking the lid on the body, the cover, and therefore the pusher, are made of an electrically non-conductive insulating material such as plastic.

According to one particularity of the invention, the pusher and the lid are integral with the body and the organizer support to form a single and non-separable assembly. The connector according to the invention is therefore very robust because it consists of parts all integral with each other. This makes its easy handling and its connection on a cable very easy.

According to another feature, the organizer support has a slot for receiving the cable drain. The pusher may have a specific stud to drive the cable drain in its location.

The connector of the type described above is for example of the female type and therefore comprises a housing adapted to receive a complementary male connector.

Other features and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows, with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female connector according to FIG. invention adapted for cable type STP or FTP.

Figure 2 shows the connector of Figure 1 in front view.

Figures 3 and 4 show the female connector of Figure 2, in longitudinal section respectively along A-A and B-B.

Figure 5 shows an insulation displacement contact.

Figure 6 shows the holding member used in the female connector according to the invention.

Fig. 7 shows the wire organizer employed in the female connector of the invention.

Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the female connector shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figures 9 and 10 show the female connector of the invention respectively in the open and closed position.

Figure 11 shows a female connector according to the invention adapted for UTP type cable. FIG. 12 is a front view of the female connector of FIG.

Figure 13 shows the female connector of Figure 12, in longitudinal section along C-C.

The low-voltage connector according to the invention is of the Jack type, more precisely of RJ type (for "Registered Jack"), to be used in a communication system operating for example under the Ethernet protocol. The connector according to the invention can be of the male or female type. The figures show the female connector of the invention.

The female connector according to the invention has two distinct configurations depending on whether the cable used is shielded (STP for "Shielded Twisted Pair" or FTP for "Foiled Twisted Pair") or unshielded (UTP for "Unshielded Twisted Pair").

In both configurations, the connector comprises a body consisting of two half-shells 1, 2, 2 ', a lower half-shell 2, 2' and an upper half-shell 1 interconnected by a pivot connection 16 made around it an axis (P) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) (Figures 2 and 12). When the two half-shells 1, 2, 2 'are closed against each other, the body has a front face 10 forming a housing 17 (Figures 2 and 12) or fingerprint for receiving a complementary male connector (no represent). The insertion of a complementary connector is therefore possible only when the housing 17 is completely formed and therefore when the connector is ready.

Flexible strips 170, eight in an RJ45 connector, are provided in the housing 17. These flexible strips 170 are able to deform elastically when plugging the complementary male connector to make electrical contact with tracks formed on the complementary male connector. The link 16 pivot between the two half-shells 1, 2, 2 'is formed on the side of the front face 10 of the connector body so that the housing 17 is not completely formed if the two half-shells 1, 2 , 2 'are not closed on one another.

The upper half-shell 1 of the body is made of metallic material and supports a printed circuit 9 (FIGS. 3 and 13), having electric tracks connected on the one hand to insulation-displacement contacts 5 (also called "insulating displacement contacts"). or IDC) welded to the printed circuit board 9 and on the other hand to the flexible strips 170 located in the housing 17 of the connector (FIG. 4). Some connectors do not have printed circuit, the electrical contact between the flexible strips 170 of the housing 17 and the insulation displacement contacts 5 is then made directly.

In a well known manner, the insulation displacement contacts 5 are, for an RJ45 connector, organized in two rows of four or four rows of two contacts and are formed of pins 50 each having a slot 51 adapted to receive a wire 60 of a cable 6 power supply and strip it to establish the electrical contact (Figure 5). According to the invention, the insulation displacement contacts 5 are raised along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) and perpendicular to the axis (P) of the link 16 pivot between the two half-shells 1, 2, 2 '.

A carrier 7 organizing the son of the cable 6 (Figure 7) consists of a molded plastic part forming a plurality of pads 70 defining between them several slots each constituting a location 71 for receiving a wire 60 of the cable. The support 7 comprises two rows of locations 71, with a location 71 for each insulation displacement contact 5. Prior to their connection with the insulation displacement contacts 5, the wires 60 of the cable 6 are distributed on the support 7 organizer, each locked in a slot of it (Figures 3 and 13). The support 7 also has a specific slot 73 provided to receive the drain 61 or ground wire of the cable 6 if the cable 6 is shielded and STP type or FTP (Figures 7 and 9). No insulation displacement contact is associated with the drain 61 of the cable 6.

At each location 71, the support 7 has an orifice intended to be traversed by an insulation displacement contact 5. The carrier 7 which organizes the wires of the cable 6 is thus mounted directly on the insulation displacement contacts 5 so that each insulation displacement contact 5 passes through an orifice of a slot 71 of the organizer support 7. Each wire 60 of the cable 6, positioned at a location 71 of the support 7 wire organizer, is therefore directly vis-à-vis the slot 51 of a insulation displacement contact 5. The slots of the support 7 wire organizer and those of insulation displacement contacts 5 are oriented so as to unclog the son 60 on the side faces 11, 12 of the body.

The support 7 wire organizer is mounted on the insulation displacement contacts 5 and fixed on the upper half-shell 1 of the body, for example by clipping.

A transverse opening 13 is formed through the upper face 14 of the upper half-shell 1 of the body. A corresponding opening 72 is made vis-à-vis through the printed circuit 9, if the connector comprises one, and through the support 7 son of the organizer, between the two rows of locations 71 (Figures 3 and 13) . The passage thus produced is used to pass the cable 6 through the body of the connector. The cable 6 thus passes through the body, the printed circuit 9 if it is present, and the support 7 wire organizer. The son 60 of the cable thus access the support 7 son of the organizer and thus the insulation displacement contacts 5 by the upper face 14 of the upper half-shell 1 and therefore, in the accompanying figures, from above the connector (Figures 3 and 13) . The passage is made so as to end substantially in the center of the support 7 wire organizer to facilitate the distribution of the son 60 of the cable 6 to their respective location 71 on the support 7.

The two side walls 11, 12 and the rear wall 15 of the upper half-shell 1 are notched in an arc to form three separate troughs 1 10, 120, 150, two lateral chutes 110, 120 and an axial trough 150, communicating with the passage for guiding the cable 6 in a given orientation (Figures 1, 8 and 1 1). The cable 6 can thus access the passage 9 by one of the two lateral channels 1 10, 120 or by the axial chute 150.

A holding member 3 (FIGS. 6 and 8) makes it possible in particular to hold and tighten the cable 6 against the upper half-shell 1 of the connector body. This holding member 3 is positioned on the opening 13 of the body. If the cable 6 is unshielded and therefore UTP type, this member 3 is not necessary (see Figures 1 1 to 13) but it can still be used to secure the cable 6 to the body of the connector. If the cable is of FTP / STP type and therefore comprises a screen consisting of a braid or a strip, this holding member 3 which is made of metallic material performs, in addition to holding the cable 6 on the half upper shell 1 of the body, a 360 ° annular recovery of the cable 6 in the company of the insertion chute, to ensure the mass recovery on the screen (Figures 1 and 3).

The holding member 3 (FIGS. 6 and 8) is composed of a metal piece having a recess 30 in the form of an arc of a circle and a projection 31 directed towards the inside of the body and intended to grip the cable 6 on the edge of the opening 13 of the body. This member 3 is orientable about an axis parallel to the axis of the passage 9 to take three distinct positions according to the orientation of the cable 6 relative to the connector. In each of its positions, the indentation 30 formed on the holding member 3 completes one of the troughs 1 10, 120, 150 to match the shape of the cable 6 when it is introduced into one of the chutes 1 10, 120, 150. When the cable 6 passes through a trough 1 10, 120, 150, the holding member 3 closes the inputs of the two trunking 1 10, 120, 150 not used (Figure 1).

The holding member 3 further comprises two lugs 32, 33 and flexible hooks 34, 35 actuated by pressure on the lugs 32, 33. The hooks 34, 35 are able to cooperate each with notches 18 formed on the half upper shell 1 of connector for adapting the insertion depth of the holding member 3 in the body to the diameter of the cable 6 and in particular ensuring the annular recovery 360 ° of the cable 6 (Figure 8). These notches 18 may have different profiles, for example staircase or recessed. Other mechanisms for maintaining the organ 3 in the body can of course be envisaged.

The cable 6 is thus introduced through the passage formed through the upper half-shell 1 of the connector body, the printed circuit and the support 7 wire organizer and opens on the support 7 son of organizer. The wires 60 are separated and each positioned in a manner determined by their function at a location of the support 7 vis-à-vis a self-stripping contact 5 located just above. Once positioned, to establish the electrical contact, the wire 60 must be pressed into its insulation displacement contact 5. According to the invention, a pusher 4, 4 'pushes all the wires 60 almost simultaneously in their insulation displacement contact 5. This pusher 4, 4 'consists of a part comprising several studs 40, 40' of depression arranged in rows, each stud 40, 40 'corresponding to a location 71 of the support 7 son organizer. By positioning this pusher 4, 4 'on the support 7, the son 60 are pushed by the pads 40, 40' in their respective insulation displacement contact 5 (Figures 1 and 11). A stud 43 may be provided to drive the drain 61 of the cable 6 into its specific slot 73 of the support 7 (FIG. 8).

In a first configuration of the connector, adapted for STP-FTP cables, the pusher 4 is a piece of electrical insulating material such as plastic, pivotally mounted on the support about an axis (P ') parallel to the axis of rotation (P) of the two half-shells 1, 2 and distinct therefrom. The rotation of the pusher 4 and that of the half-shells 1, 2 between them, when opened or closed, are for example made in the same direction.

After the distribution of the wires 60 in the locations of the support 7, the pusher 4 is rotated and closed on the support 7 so that each of its studs 40 presses on the wire 60 to introduce it into its insulation displacement contact 5 (FIG. 9). The pusher 4 is then locked on the lower half-shell 1 of the body. It has for this a loop 41 located at its distal end relative to its axis (P ') adapted to cooperate with a hook 19 complementary to the lower half-shell 1 of the body.

The pusher 4 has on each of its side faces a notch 42 leaving the son 60 extend laterally outwardly of the support 7 after their insertion into their respective insulation displacement contact 5 and the locking of the pusher 4 on the upper half-shell 1 (Figure 9). After connection, the ends of the son 60 are normally leveled so as not to exceed the notch 42. A pivoting or sliding flap may be provided to close each notch 42 of the pusher once the son 60 have been leveled.

In this first configuration, the lower half-shell 2 of the body is made of metallic material and covers the support 7 and is closed by pivoting on the upper half-shell 1. As for the pusher 4, an attachment system 20 is provided to lock the lower half-shell 2 on the upper half-shell 1 (Figure 8).

This first configuration is more particularly dedicated to STP-FTP cables thus having a drain 61 or ground wire. As previously described, the support 7 has a specific slot 73 (FIG. 7) designed to receive the drain 61 of the cable 6. The location of the drain 61 of the cable 6 on the support 7 is provided so that the drain 61 opens laterally out of the notch 42 of the pusher 4. No insulation displacement contact is disposed at the location 73 provided for the drain 61 of the cable. When closing the pusher 4 on the lower half-shell 1, the end of the drain 61 is simply engaged and locked in its slot (Figure 9). After the closure of the pusher 4 on the lower half-shell 1, the drain 61, like the other son extends laterally on one side of the support 7. The son 60 are leveled relative to the support while the end of the drain 61 is maintained with a determined length so that it can be housed between the support 7 and the upper half-shell 2. Its end then comes into contact with the lower half-shell 2 when it is closed on the half -coquille superior 1. The electrical continuity of the drain 61 of the cable 6 to the contact provided in the housing 17 which connects the drain of the complementary male connector is provided by the lower half-shell 2 of metal material. No additional parts are needed to ensure electrical continuity.

In the second configuration, the connector is more particularly adapted to UTP cables (FIGS. 1 to 13). In this configuration, the lower half-shell 2 'is an electrically insulating material, for example plastic. Since the cable is unshielded, no grounding is necessary. The studs 40 'of depression of the pusher are then directly formed on the inner wall of the lower half-shell 2'. The other elements of the connector in this second configuration are identical to those of the first configuration. The closure of the lower half-shell 2 'on the upper half-shell 1 directly leads to the depression of the wires 60 in their contact self-insulation 5 respective. An attachment system 20 'is also provided to lock the lower half-shell 2' on the upper half-shell 1. A notch 42 'may be provided on each side face of the lower half-shell 2'.

According to the invention, the support 7 may have on its two lateral faces, a color code 74 indicating the location to respect for each wire 60 of the cable 6 (Figure 7).

According to the invention, the connector may be provided with a closure device 100 of the housing 17 for receiving the complementary male connector (FIG. 10) making it possible to prevent the insertion of dust into the connector. This closure device 100 is for example in the form of a flap made of flexible material positioned at the entrance of the housing 17. It is fixed along one of its sides and is suitable for the introduction of the complementary male connector. in the housing 17, to deform elastically without resorting to a spring.

It is understood that one can, without departing from the scope of the invention, imagine other variants and refinements of detail and even consider the use of equivalent means.

Claims

1. Low voltage connector comprising:

a body (1) adapted to be connected by its front face to a complementary connector, said body supporting insulation displacement contacts (5) on each of which can connect one of the son (60) contained in a cable (6),

a carrier (7) organizing the cable wires having a plurality of locations (71) for each receiving an end of a wire (60) of the cable for insertion into an insulation displacement contact (5),

the carrier (7) being integral with the body (1) and mounted on the insulation displacement contacts (5) so that at least one location (70) corresponds to an insulation displacement contact (5), characterized in that

the wires (60) of the cable (6) pass through the body (1) and then the support (7) before reaching the locations (71) of the support (7),

the body (1) has an upper face (14) having an opening (13) and a face opposite to this upper face on which is mounted the support (7) son organizer,

the opening (13) of the body (1) is adapted to receive a member (3) for holding the cable (6) against the body (1).

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (7) has an opening (72) vis-à-vis the opening (13) of the body (1) to form a passage for the son (60). ) of the cable (6) passing through the body (1) and the support (7).

3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a printed circuit (9) mounted between the body (1) and the insulation displacement contacts (5), this printed circuit (9) being crossed by the cable ( 6).

4. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the member (3) for holding is rotatable about the axis of the opening (13) so as to propose different orientations of introduction of the cable (6) in the opening (13).

5. Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the member (3) for holding can take three distinct orientations around the axis of the opening (13).

6. Connector according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the member (3) for holding has two ears (32, 33) parallel gripping and two hooks (34, 35) actuated in bending by pressure on the ears (32, 33) and able to cooperate with notches (18) formed on the body.

7. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a pusher (4, 4 ') is intended to insert the son (60), each positioned in a location (71) of the support (7) organizer in their respective insulation displacement contact (5).

8. Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the pusher (4) is pivotally mounted on the support (7) about an axis of articulation (P ').

9. Connector according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises a locking device (20) of the pusher (4) on the body (1).

10. Connector according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a metal cover (2) pivoting about an axis of rotation parallel (P) to the axis (P ') of articulation of the pusher (4) is able to cover the pusher.

1 1. Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the pusher (4 ') is integrated in a cover (2') pivoting about an axis (P) of rotation.

12. Connector according to claim 1 1, characterized in that it comprises a locking device (20 ') of the cover (2') on the body (1).

13. Connector according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the pusher is made of an electrically insulating non-conductive material.

14. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the body (1) is metallic.

15. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the pusher (4) and the lid (2) are integral with the body (1) and the support organizer (7) to form a single set and not severable.

16. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the support (7) organizer comprises a location (73) provided to receive the drain (61) of the cable (6).

17. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the connector is of the female type.