CN107706568B

CN107706568B - Connecting assembly

Info

Publication number: CN107706568B
Application number: CN201710666147.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: H.海文戈
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Svenska Holdings AB
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Svenska Holdings AB
Priority date: 2016-08-08
Filing date: 2017-08-07
Publication date: 2021-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-07
Also published as: EP3282526A1; EP3282526B1; CN107706568A; JP2018029057A

Abstract

The present application provides a connection assembly (1) comprising a bulkhead connector (2), the bulkhead connector (2) being adapted to be mounted in a wall (3) and comprising a partition wall (4), the connection assembly (1) further comprising an adapter (5), the adapter (5) comprising a standardized connector face (6), the adapter (5) extending through the partition wall (4) and being fixed to the bulkhead connector (2) by a fixing structure (7) accessible from one side of the partition wall (4).

Description

Connecting assembly

Technical Field

The invention relates to a connection assembly comprising a bulkhead connector (bulkhead connector).

Background

Such a connection assembly may be used, for example, to attach a cable to a wall in which the bulkhead connector is mounted. The cables on both sides of the wall can be connected to each other via the bulkhead connector.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution that allows easy mounting of a cable to a bulkhead connector.

This object is achieved by a connection assembly comprising a bulkhead connector adapted to be mounted in a wall and comprising a partition wall, the connection assembly further comprising an adapter comprising a standardized connector face, the adapter extending through the partition wall and being fixed to the bulkhead connector by a fixing structure accessible from a side of the partition wall.

The bulkhead connector may be mounted in a wall of a housing, e.g. surrounding the receiving unit. The cable may be attached to the adapter such that the cable terminates in the area of the wall and it is no longer necessary to feed the entire cable through the wall of the bulkhead connector. The accessibility of the fixation structure from one side allows for easy installation.

The solution of the invention can be improved by the following additional improvements and advantageous embodiments, which are advantageous per se and can be combined in any desired manner.

In order to allow an installation, in particular an easy installation, the fixing structure can be accessible from the outside (for example the outside of the housing of the receiving unit). The mounting can be performed without opening the housing.

To protect the adapter, the bulkhead connector may comprise a recessed socket for the adapter at least on one side of the partition wall, wherein the socket protrudes beyond the adapter. Such a socket may provide mechanical and/or electromagnetic protection. The socket may comprise a material that can withstand mechanical forces and can provide electromagnetic shielding. The socket may for example comprise a metal for electromagnetic shielding or a coating with a metal layer. The socket may be basin-shaped, e.g. having a substantially cylindrical shape to allow a good volume to wall ratio. In addition to the side where the cable enters and the hole for the adapter, the socket may also provide a closed shield without gaps to provide a good sealing effect.

The bottom of the socket may be formed by a dividing wall. The configuration of such a connector is particularly simple.

In an embodiment providing good protection and a simple configuration, the receptacle is circumferentially closed by a housing wall of the bulkhead connector, wherein the housing wall protrudes beyond the adapter.

In an advantageous embodiment, the housing wall can project from the partition wall to allow a simple configuration.

The socket, in particular the bottom, may comprise a hole for the adapter. The adapter and/or the socket may be designed such that in the assembled state the hole for the adapter is sealed by the adapter and a tight connection (in particular a water tight connection) is formed. This gives an additional sealing effect.

A standardized connector face may be particularly located on the outwardly facing side to allow easy mounting of the connector to the adapter.

On the second side, the adapter may comprise a non-standardized connector face, which may be optimized, for example, for the electrical and space requirements inside the housing. A non-standardized connector face may for example be more space-saving than a standardized connector face or be optimized for connection to a very space-saving standardized connector. Furthermore, electrical connections that are not required in certain cases may be omitted.

In an advantageous embodiment, the adapter may comprise a standardized connector face on the second side to allow easy connection to a standardized connector, so that the connection assembly may be used for a variety of applications.

The adapter does not necessarily have to have a second connector face on the second side. For example, it may also comprise wires or cables that may be attached to a receiving unit or similar other electrical or optical unit in the housing.

In an advantageous embodiment, the adapter is attached to the cable on the second side, e.g. in the housing, with a slightly superfluous slack. The adapter can then be released and pulled out at least a short distance, allowing the adapter to be easily cleaned or replaced. If the adapter is mounted to the housing, for example, it is not necessary to open the housing when the adapter has to be removed or dismounted, which makes the operation easier.

In order to allow particularly easy installation, the adapters can be accessed from both sides of the partition wall.

In particular, the connector face may be adapted to connect to an MPO (Multifiber Push-On) connector, in particular an MTO (Mass Transfer Push-On) connector, for connecting optical fibers. In an alternative, the connector face may be adapted to connect to a standard LC (small form factor connector) connector.

To specifically prevent the ingress of dirt or water, the bulkhead connector may include a seal on the outer periphery. The seal may have a closed configuration so that protection around the entire circumference may be formed. The seal may, for example, comprise rubber or other resilient material. It may for example be a ring having a circular overall shape.

The fixation structure may comprise at least one socket for a screw to allow easy fixation with a generally standardized screw.

The fixation structure may have an elongated shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cable to allow for tolerances or movements perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. For example, the socket for the screw may be slit-shaped.

The securing structure may include a latching structure for simple connection. For example, the adapter may include a first component of a latching structure and the bulkhead connector may include a second component adapted to connect to the latching structure of the first component.

The latching means may for example be used to snap the adapter to the bulkhead connector.

In an advantageous embodiment, the fixing structures are arranged symmetrically. This may allow a good force distribution, in particular an equal force distribution.

The adapter may be symmetrical. This allows for easy installation of the adapter, for example. The adapter may for example have a double rotational symmetry around the longitudinal direction, so that it can be mounted in either of two rotational positions. The adapter may have a double rotational symmetry about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. This may allow for the mounting of the adapter, for example, without having to consider which part faces the inside of the housing and which part faces the outside of the housing. Advantageously, these symmetries are combined so that the installer does not have to consider in which orientation the adapter must be installed. So that the installation is very easy.

The fixing structure may be configured for fixing in the longitudinal direction so that installation is possible even when the available space on both sides is small. For example, the fixation structure may be adapted for a screw tightened in the longitudinal direction of the cable. The fixing structure for the screw, for example the hole for the screw, may extend in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

The securing structure may be arranged on a side of the adapter. This allows a compact design in the longitudinal direction. The securing structure may be a protrusion that protrudes in a side direction away from the rest of the adapter.

The connection assembly may further comprise a cover sleeve adapted to be connected to the bulkhead connector and the cable, wherein in an assembled state the bulkhead connector and the cover sleeve form a watertight connection around the cable. By this watertight connection dirt or water is prevented from entering the interior defined by the bulkhead connector and the cover sleeve. In particular, the interior of the housing may also prevent the ingress of dirt or water. This allows the use of such a connection assembly in harsh environments, such as on the outside of a building.

The dirt or water protection rating may specifically comply with internal or external control standards similar to IPxx (e.g. IP 67).

Drawings

Hereinafter, the technical solution of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features shown in the further developments and advantageous embodiments can be combined as desired and are advantageous per se.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a connection assembly;

fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the connection assembly of fig. 1 in an exploded state;

fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a connection assembly comprising a covering sleeve.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 and 2 show a connection assembly 1 comprising a bulkhead connector 2 and an adapter 5 in a mounted state and an unmounted state, respectively. The bulkhead connector 2 may for example be mounted to a wall 3 as schematically shown in fig. 1. The wall 3 may in particular be a wall 3 of a housing, for example, in which the receiving unit is located and to which it is required to be connected from the outside 41 through the wall 3.

The bulkhead connector 2 comprises a partition wall 4 for separating an inner side 42 from an outer side 41 of the housing when the adapter 5 is inserted into the hole 26 in the partition wall 4.

The adapter 5 comprises a standardized connector face 6 on one side 51 of the adapter 5. In this case, the standardized connector face 6 is adapted to mate with an MPO/MTP adapter for optical fibers that may be part of the cable 24. In an alternative embodiment, the adapter and connector faces may be adapted to mate with an LC connector.

Furthermore, a fixing structure 7 can be set up on the adapter 5. The fixing structure 7 comprises a protrusion 55 protruding in a direction S perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the cable 24. The projection 55 comprises a hole 56 extending in the vertical direction S to allow lateral movement of the adapter 5 in the bulkhead connector 2. The holes 56 serve as sockets 15 for screws 16, with which screws 16 the adapter 5 can be fixed to the bulkhead connector 2. When the screws 16 are tightened, a water-tight connection is formed between the adapter 5 and the bulkhead connector 2. The two projections 55 are arranged symmetrically on both sides (19) of the adapter (5).

In the mounted state shown in fig. 1, the adapter 5 extends through the partition wall 4 and is fixed to the bulkhead connector 2 by a fixing structure 7 accessible from one side 11 of the partition wall 4. In this case, the one side 11 is an outer side 41, so that the connecting assembly can be mounted from the outer side 41 without opening the housing 40.

The bulkhead connector 2 comprises a recessed receptacle 9 in which the adapter 5 is located in the mounted state. The socket 9 protrudes beyond the adapter 5 in the mounted state so that a mechanical and electromagnetic shielding is provided for the adapter 5. The socket 9 extends further in the opposite direction of the longitudinal direction L than the adapter 5.

The partition wall 4 forms the bottom 10 of the socket 9. The housing wall 8 of the receptacle 9 projects from the bottom 10 in the opposite direction of the longitudinal direction L. The receptacle 9 is thus circumferentially closed by the housing wall 8 of the bulkhead connector 2.

In the example shown in the figures, the adapters 5 are accessible from both

sides

11, 12 of the partition wall 4 in the state when the covering sleeve 23 is not mounted. This allows easy access and thus simple installation.

In order to easily connect the adapter 5 to further elements located on the inner side 42, the adapter 5 may have a second standardized connector face 6 on the second side 52 of the adapter 5. In another embodiment, the non-standardized connector face 17 may be located on the second side 52, or a connection of e.g. a cable to a receiving unit located on the inner side 12 may be made with a fixing element that cannot be separated. If adapter 5 is connected to another component on inner side 12 with a sufficiently long cable, adapter 5 may be removed from bulkhead connector 2 without removing bulkhead connector 2 from housing 40 and without opening housing 40. Cleaning or replacement of the adapter 5 is thus simplified.

The bulkhead connector 2 comprises a sealing member 13 adapted to be connected to the covering sleeve 23. The seal 13 extends around the outer periphery 14 and serves, for example, according to the IPxx standard to seal the space defined by the bulkhead connector 2 and the cover sleeve 23 against the ingress of dirt and water.

For example, the bulkhead connector 2 may be designed according to the fullacxs specification.

The bulkhead connector 2 may for example be made of metal or may be an injection molded part coated with a metal layer for electromagnetic protection. The adapter 5 may be an injection molded part, since the adapter 5 does not have to be as stable as the bulkhead connector 2.

The fixation structures 7 are arranged symmetrically around a first axis of symmetry 11 parallel to the longitudinal direction L. Thus, the operator can mount the adapter 5 in two possible rotational positions. The adapter 5 may also be symmetrical about a second axis of rotation 22 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In this case, the mounting is further simplified, since it is not necessary to check which side of the adapter 5 must face the inner side 42 and which side must face the outer side 41.

Reference numerals

1 connecting component 19 side

2 bulkhead connector 20 longitudinal direction

3 wall 21 first axis of symmetry

4 second axis of symmetry of the partition wall 22

5 adapter 23 cover sleeve

6 standard connector plane 24 cable

7 assembled state of the fixing structure 25

8 casing wall 26 hole

9 socket 40 casing

10 outside the bottom 41 of the socket

11 one side 42 of the partition wall

12 one side of the partition wall 51 side of the adapter

13 second side of seal 52 adapter

14 outer circumference 55 projection

15 socket 56 hole for screw

Longitudinal direction of 16 screw L

17 direction of the connector face S perpendicular to the longitudinal direction

18 casing wall

Claims

1. A connection assembly (1) comprising a bulkhead connector (2), the bulkhead connector (2) being adapted to be mounted in a wall (3) of a housing (40) and comprising a partition wall (4), the connection assembly (1) further comprising an adapter (5) comprising a standardized connector face (6), the adapter (5) extending through the partition wall (4) and being fixed to the bulkhead connector (2) by a fixing structure (7) accessible from one side of the partition wall (4), wherein the adapter (5) has a double rotational symmetry about a longitudinal direction (L) such that the adapter can be mounted in either of two rotational positions.

2. Connection assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bulkhead connector (2) comprises a recessed socket (9) for the adaptor (5) at least on one side (41) of the partition wall (4), and the recessed socket (9) protrudes beyond the adaptor (5).

3. Connection assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the bottom (10) of the recessed socket (9) is formed by the partition wall (4).

4. A connection assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the recessed receptacle (9) is circumferentially closed by a housing wall (8) of the bulkhead connector (2), the housing wall (8) protruding beyond the adapter (5).

5. Connection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter (5) is accessible from both sides (41, 42) of the partition wall (4).

6. A connection assembly (1) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the bulkhead connector (2) comprises a seal (13) on an outer circumference (14).

7. A connection assembly (1) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the fixing structure (7) comprises a socket (15) for a screw (16).

8. A connection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing structure (7) is arranged symmetrically about a first axis of symmetry (21) parallel to the longitudinal direction (L).

9. A connection assembly (1) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the fixing structure (7) is arranged on a side face (19) of the adapter (5).

10. A connection assembly (1) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the fixing structure (7) extends in a longitudinal direction (L) of the cable (24).

11. Connection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter (5) is configured to be connected to a standardized connector on both sides (51, 52).

12. Connection assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the connection assembly (1) further comprises a cover sleeve (25) adapted to be connected to the bulkhead connector (2) and a cable (24), wherein, in an assembled state, the bulkhead connector (2) and the cover sleeve (25) form a waterproof connection around the cable (24).