Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/58—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
  • H01R13/5845—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a patch cable and connector assembly.
• the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a patch cable and connector assembly.
• the patch cable and connector assemblies used today have an activated strain relief which presses the cable itself extremely hard. If the conductors in the cable are close to each other, this means that they can be further compressed under high pressure, flattening out the insulation and bringing the conductors too close to each other. The result will be cross talk, and the NEXT value is degraded.
• One of the major problems with this is that the effect may not be immediately apparent, as the plastic of the insulation is "cold flowing", i.e. it takes time for the effect to occur.
• Another disadvantage with this type of patch cable is that the risk of short circuiting increases when the insulations enclosing the conductors have been cracked due to compression. These disadvantages will be even more apparent and troublesome when the operating frequency is increasing, .
• Today' s information highway is already here, operating at speeds up to 100 MHz for patch cables of "Category 5". The development will increase, not decrease, the operating frequency even more. So these problems will be highlighted even more in the future.
• the object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems. This object is achieved with a method of manufacturing a patch cable and connector assembly according to Claim 1, and with a patch cable and connector assembly according to Claim 5.
• the assembly comprises a patch cable comprising a number of conductors, wherein each conductor is surrounded by an insulation, and a jacket surrounding all the conductors with their insulations, and a connector comprising a strain relief, and a number of connection pins.
• the method according to the invention comprises the following steps: to strip off the jacket a predetermined distance from at least one end of the patch cable; to assemble the patch cable and the connector, connecting each conductor with a connection pin, without activating the strain relief; to fix the assembled patch cable and connector in a moulding means intended for moulding; and to mould, with the aid of the moulding means, a device which fills up the space between the connector and the conductors and also surrounds the transition between the patch cable with jacket and the patch cable with the jacket stripped off, in such a way that the conductors are not clamped and the device functions as a mechanically stable strain relief.
• the main advantage with the method according to the present invention is that the conductors are not clamped and that they run without restrictions up to the connection pins.
• the moulding means comprises a lower part and an upper part, a holding fixture and two bar halves.
• the fixation step of the method comprises the steps: to push the connector into a hole in the holding fixture for fixating of the front part of the assembly; - to place the patch cable with jacket into a recess in each bar half; and to assemble the lower part to the upper part with the holding fixture and the bar halves arranged therebetween, resulting in a mould.
• the moulding means comprises also a filler tube connected to at least one mould in the moulding means.
• the moulding step of the method comprises the steps : to pour melted cast compound into the filler tube to be distributed to one mould for each patch cable; and to disassemble the moulding means when the cast compound has solidified.
• the cast compound is a plastic material.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a patch cable and connector assembly.
• the assembly comprises a patch cable comprising a number of conductors, wherein each conductor is surrounded by an insulation, and a jacket surrounding all the conductors with their insulations, wherein the jacket is stripped off a predetermined distance from at least one end of the patch cable.
• the assembly also comprises a connector comprising a strain relief, and a number of connection pins, wherein each conductor is connected to a connection pin. The strain relief of the connector is not activated.
• the assembly also comprises a moulded device which has filled up the space between the connector and the conductors and also surrounds the transition between the patch cable with jacket and the patch cable with the jacket stripped off, in such a way that the conductors are not clamped and the device functions as a mechanically stable strain relief.
• the main advantage with the assembly according to the present invention is that the conductors are not clamped and that they run without restrictions up to the connection pins. This will guarantee a patch cable and connector assembly with high performance. A performance which will not degrade with time.
• the moulded device is integral, giving rise to a bending radius between the connector and the patch cable with the jacket. This prevents that the cable can be sharply bent where it enters the conductor, where this bend can result in a deterioration of about 2 dB in cross stalk performance, degrading signal quality and slowing down the general network performance.
• the moulded device is made of a plastic material.
• Figure 1 is a cross . -sectional view of a patch cable and connector assembly according to the state of the art
• Figure 2 is another cross-sectional view of the assembly according to figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a patch cable and connector assembly according to the present invention.
• Figure 4 is another cross-sectional view of the assembly according to figure 3;
• Figure 5a shows a side view of the lower part and upper part of the moulding means;
• Figure 5 b shows a side view of the moulding means
• Figure 6 is a flow chart of the method according to the present invention.
• FIG 1 there is disclosed a cross-sectional view of a patch cable and connector assembly according to the state of the art.
• the assembly 10 comprises a patch cable 12 comprising a number of conductors 14, wherein each conductor 14 is surrounded by an insulation (not disclosed), and a jacket 16 surrounding all the conductors 14 with their insulations.
• the assembly (10) also comprises a connector 18 comprising a strain relief 20, which is activated. This means that the strain relief 20 presses the conductors 14 extremely hard. If the conductors 14 are close to each other, this means that they can be further compressed under high pressure, flattening out the insulation and bringing the conductors 14 too close to each other (see figure 2) .
• One result of this is cross talk.
• Another difficulty with this problem is that the effect may not be immediately apparent as the plastic of the insulation cold flows, i.e. it takes time for the effect to occur.
• FIG 2 there is disclosed another cross-sectional view of the assembly 10 according to figure 1.
• the activated strain relief presses and cuts into the patch cable.
• the conductors 14 are being pressed under high pressure and are being deformed, whereby the insulation 22 surrounding the conductors 14 being cracked.
• the risk of short circuit is significant between conductor A and conductor B due to the fact that the insulations surrounding these conductors A, B have been completely cracked. The situation will become worse when time goes on, due to the fact that plastic is a material that cold flows.
• FIG 3 there is disclosed a cross-sectional view of a patch cable and connector assembly according to the present invention.
• the assembly 30 comprises a patch cable 32 comprising a number of conductors 34, wherein each conductor 34 * is surrounded by an insulation (not disclosed) , and a jacket 36 surrounding all the conductors 34 with their insulations.
• the assembly 30 also comprises a connector 38 comprising a not activated strain relief (not disclosed) .
• the jacket 36 is stripped off a predetermined distance from at least one end of the patch cable.
• the connector 38 also comprises a number of connection pins (not disclosed) , wherein each conductor 34 is connected to a connection pin.
• the assembly 30 also comprises a moulded device 40 which has filled up the space between the connector 38 and the conductors 34 and also surrounds the transition 42 between the patch cable 32 with jacket 36 and the patch cable with the jacket 36 stripped off. In this way the conductors 34 are not clamped and the device 40 functions as a mechanically stable strain relief.
• the moulded device 40 is integral, giving rise to a bending radius between the connector 38 and the patch cable 32 with the jacket 36. Without this feature, the cable could be sharply bent where it enters the connector, resulting in a deterioration of about 2 dB in cross talk performance, degrading signal quality and slowing down the general network performance.
• the moulded device 40 is preferably made of a plastic material.
• FIG 4 there is disclosed another cross-sectional view of the assembly according to figure 3.
• the strain relief included in the connector is not activated. Instead the moulded device 40 surrounds the patch cable 32 comprising the jacket 36 and the conductors 34, wherein each conductor 34 is surrounded by an insulation 44. As is clearly disclosed the conductors 34 are not compressed and they run without restriction right up to the connection pins (not disclosed; see figure 3) .
• the moulded device 40 will give a very stable mechanical strain relief.
• FIG 5a there is disclosed a side view of the lower part and the upper part of the moulding means.
• the moulding means 50 is intended for moulding the device 40 (see figures 3 and 4) and comprises a lower part 52 and an upper part 54, a holding fixture 56 and two bar halves 58 ⁇ , 58 2 .
• the lower part 52 and the upper part 54 both comprise a number of (in this case 2) recesses 60 ⁇ , 60 2 , 62 ⁇ , 62 2 -
• FIG 5b there is disclosed a side view of the moulding means 50 disclosed in figure 5a.
• a filler tube 64 which has connection to the recesses 60 ⁇ , 60 2 , 62 ⁇ , 62 2 .
• the moulding means 50 When the moulding means 50 is used one connector is pushed into a hole (disclosed with dashed lines) in the holding fixture 56 for fixation of the front part of the assembly. Then the patch cable with jacket is placed into recesses 66 1 , 662, 68 1 , 68 2 in the two bar halves 58 ⁇ , 58 2 . Then the lower part 52 is assembled with the upper part 54 with the holding fixture 56 and the bar halves 58 ⁇ , 58 2 arranged therebetween. This results in two moulds, each of which is intended for producing a device 40 (see figures 3 and 4) . Then melted cast compound is poured into the filler tube 64 to be distributed to the recesses 6O 1 , 60 2 , 62 ⁇ , 62 2 , giving rise to two patch cable and connector assemblies with moulded devices.
• FIG 6 there is disclosed a flow chart of the method according to the present invention.
• the method for manufacturing a patch cable and connector assembly according to the invention starts at block 70. Thereafter, at block 72, the method continues with the step: to strip off the jacket a predetermined distance from at least one end of the patch cable. Then, at block 74, the patch cable and connector are assembled, connecting each conductor with a connection pin, without activating the strain relief. Then, at block 76, the assembled patch cable and connector are fixed in a moulding means intended for moulding.
• the fixation step 76 comprises the steps: to push the connector into a hole in the holding device for fixation of the front part of the assembly; to place the patch cable with jacket into a recess in each bar half; and to assemble the lower part tothe upper part with the holding fixture and the bar halves arranged therebetween, resulting in a mould.
• the moulding step 78 comprises the steps : to pour melted cast compound into the filler tube to be distributed to one mould for each patch cable; and to disassemble the moulding means when the cast compound has solidified.
• the cast compound is preferably a plastic material .

Landscapes

• Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
• Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=20406361

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1997
  • 1997-06-26 PL PL97337737A patent/PL184853B1/pl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-26 AT AT97933080T patent/ATE209830T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-26 WO PCT/SE1997/001154 patent/WO1999000879A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-06-26 ES ES97933080T patent/ES2167006T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-06-26 EP EP97933080A patent/EP0992088B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-06-26 MX MXPA00000069A patent/MXPA00000069A/es not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-26 JP JP50971299A patent/JP2001508927A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-06-26 PT PT97933080T patent/PT992088E/pt unknown
  • 1997-06-26 AU AU36368/97A patent/AU3636897A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-26 CA CA002295078A patent/CA2295078A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-26 DE DE69708694T patent/DE69708694T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-12-23 NO NO19996431A patent/NO317374B1/no unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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