I International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date

Transcription

1 (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization I International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date WO 2013/ Al 22 August 2013 ( ) P O P C T (51) International Patent Classification: AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, H01R 13/52 ( ) H01R 13/6599 ( ) BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, (21) International Application Number: HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, PCT/EP20 13/ KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, (22) International Filing Date: ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, 13 February 2013 ( ) NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, (25) Filing Language: English TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, (26) Publication Language: English ZM, ZW. (30) Priority Data: (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every February 2012 ( ) DE kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, (71) Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS AMP GMBH UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, [DE/DE]; Amperestrasse 12-14, Bensheim (DE). TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, (72) Inventor: FELDMEIER, Giinter; Karolinger Str. 26, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, Lorsch (DE). TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, (74) Agent: PATENT ATTORNEYS WILHELM & BECK; ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Prinzenstr. 13, Munchen (DE). Published: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, with international search report (Art. 21(3)) (54) Title: HOUSING HAVING A SEAL o 00 o (57) Abstract: The invention relates to a housing having a seal, the seal being formed from a resilient material, characterised in that the resilient material is electrically conductive.

2 Description Housing having a seal The invention relates to a housing having a seal according to patent claim 1. In the prior art, various embodiments of housings having seals are known, the seal being formed from a resilient material. An object of the invention i s to provide an improved housing, in particular with regard to electrical shielding. The object of the invention i s achieved by the housing according to patent claim 1. Other advantageous embodiments of the housing are set out in the dependent claims. The object of the invention i s achieved by the housing according to patent claim 1, a seal of the housing having a resilient electrically conductive material. In this manner, the resilient material affords the possibility, on the one hand, of providing a seal against dust or fluids, and additionally of producing an electrically conductive connection. In particular, the electrically conductive resilient material can be used a s a shield or a s an electrically conductive connection between two housing portions or a housing portion and a cable.

3 In one embodiment, the resilient, electrically conductive material has a silica gel. The silica gel provides, on the one hand, good resilient properties and, on the other hand, a matrix for good electrical conductivity. In another embodiment, the seal i s produced from an admixture of a resilient material and an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material may preferably be carbon black and/or graphite. In another embodiment, the seal i s produced from an admixture of a resilient material and electrically conductive particles. The electrically conductive particles may, for example, be constructed in the form of metal particles, electrically conductive nanopart icles and/or graphite particles, in particular in the form of graphite tubes. In another embodiment, an electrically conductive particle i s constructed in the form of a particle having an electrically conductive layer. The particles can thereby be produced in a cost-effective manner. In addition, the weight i s reduced compared with purely metal particles. Using the electrically conductive material or the electrically conductive particles, it i s possible t o achieve a desired electrical conductivity of the seal together with good resilient properties of the seal. In another embodiment, the seal acts a s a radial and/or an axial seal with respect to another housing. In another embodiment, the seal serves to seal an opening of the housing through which an electrical line i s guided into

4 the housing. Using the seal, it i s possible to achieve, on the one hand, sealing with respect to dust or moisture and, on the other hand, to allow electrical contacting of an electrical shield of the line. Owing to the resilient property of the seal, a secure and reliable contacting of the shielding of the line and a secure and reliable sealing with respect to dust and moisture i s possible. In another embodiment, the housing i s constructed in the form of a connector housing, in particular in the form of a housing for an RJ-45 connector. The resilient and electrically conductive seal may advantageously be used in particular with connector housings. In another embodiment, the housing i s partially produced from an electrically conductive material. Consequently, the seal may be used a s an electrical contact connection between the electrically conductive portion of the housing and a shield of an electrical line. In another embodiment, the seal may be constructed a s an electrical shield. Preferably, the seal and at least one portion of the housing is produced from the same material, in particular the seal and at least one portion of the housing are constructed in one piece. A secure electrical contacting between the seal and the electrical portion of the housing i s thereby achieved. Furthermore, the production of the housing with the seal i s simplified owing to the single-piece configuration. The invention i s explained in greater detail with reference to the Figures, in which:

5 Figure 1 i s a perspective illustration of a connector having a housing, Figure 2 i s a partially sectioned illustration of the connector having a housing, Figure 3 i s a partially sectioned illustration of an assembled connector, Figure 4 i s a partially sectioned illustration of another embodiment of an assembled connector, Figure 5 i s a schematic side view of another embodiment, and Figure 6 i s a view of the rear side of the housing. The invention i s explained below with reference to the example of a housing for a connector. However, the invention is independent of the embodiment of the housing and can also be applied to any type of housing, such as, for example, a connector housing, connection housing, relay housing, etcetera. Figure 1 i s a perspective view of a housing 1, in which a connector 2 i s arranged. A cable 3 i s guided through a rear side of the housing 1 to the connector 2. The housing has a front-side opening 4 through which a front side 5 of the connector 2 protrudes. Electrical contacts 6 are arranged at the front side 5 of the connector 2. Furthermore, the connector 2 has a flexible curved engaging member 7 which protrudes through the opening 4 into the housing 1. The opening 4 i s delimited by a peripheral front-side edge region 8. The edge region 8 delimits the opening 4 and protrudes beyond the housing 1 in the direction of the front side 5 of the connector 2. The edge region 8 i s produced in the illustrated embodiment from a resilient and electrically conductive material. The term resilient material i s intended to be understood to refer to purely resilient materials and

6 viscoelastic materials, that i s to say, partially resilient and partially viscous materials. In the embodiment illustrated, the edge region 8 has at the front side a peripheral groove 9. Depending on the embodiment selected, the groove 9 may also be dispensed with. The groove 9 improves the sealing behaviour when the edge region 8 i s in abutment against an associated abutment face. Furthermore, the housing 1 has a second edge region 1 0 which is arranged so a s to extend radially around the opening 4. The second edge region 1 0 protrudes peripherally in a radial direction beyond the housing 1. The second edge region 1 0 i s preferably also produced from the electrical and resilient material. In the embodiment illustrated, the second edge region 1 0 has two second grooves 11. Depending on the embodiment selected, the second grooves 1 1 may also be dispensed with. The second grooves 1 1 improve the sealing behaviour of the second edge region 1 0 during abutment with an associated abutment face. In the embodiment illustrated, the first and second edge regions 8, 1 0 are constructed in two parts and spaced apart from each other by means of a peripheral housing ring 12. The second edge region 1 0 i s recessed from the front side of the housing 1 with respect to the first edge region 8. Depending on the embodiment, the first and second edge regions 8, 1 0 may also be constructed in one piece in the form of a ring. Depending on the embodiment selected, the first or second edge regions 8, 1 0 may be dispensed with. In addition, the first and the second edge regions 8, 1 0 may also comprise different materials, at least one of the edge regions 8, 1 0 comprising the resilient and electrically conductive material.

7 The resilient and electrically conductive material is produced, for example, from an admixture of a resilient material and an electrically conductive material. In particular, carbon black and/or graphite can be used a s an electrically conductive material. In another embodiment, the electrical and resilient material is produced from an admixture of a resilient material and electrically conductive particles. For example, metal particles, electrically conductive nanopart icles and/or graphite particles, in particular graphite tubes, can be used a s electrically conductive particles. Depending on the embodiment selected, the electrically conductive function of the resilient material can also be achieved with an admixture of electrically conductive material and electrically conductive particles. In another embodiment, an electrically conductive particle i s constructed in the form of a particle having an electrically conductive layer. For example, a particle may comprise an electrically insulating material, for example, a ceramic or mineral material, whose surface i s at least partially, preferably completely, provided with an electrically conductive layer, for example, a metal layer. For example, silver and/or gold and/or palladium can be used a s the metal. The electrically conductive material has, for example, a specific electrical volume resistance of up to 100 c. The resilient material is, for example, a thermoplastic material, a thermoplastic gel, a gel based on polyurethane, a polymer, a silicone rubber, a silicone elastomer, a silica gel, in particular a dry silica gel.

8 The housing 1 has a main body 13 having a rear side 1 4 having an opening 2 2 through which the cable 3 i s guided into the housing 1. In the embodiment illustrated, an upper side 15 of the main body 13 has an actuation element 1 6 in the form of a projection. The actuation element 1 6 serves to actuate the curved engaging member 7. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one portion of the upper side 15 of the main body 13 i s covered with a layer 1 7 or formed from a layer 17. The layer 1 7 i s preferably produced from the resilient and electrically conductive material. Depending on the selected embodiment, the layer 1 7 can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the first and/or the second edge region 8, 10. Depending on the selected embodiment, the layer 1 7 may also be dispensed with. In the embodiment illustrated, the layer 1 7 i s connected to the second edge region 1 0 by means of a connection piece 18. The connection piece 1 8 i s preferably also produced from the electrical, resilient material. The second edge region 1 0 i s formed in a peripheral groove of the housing 1 which i s formed by the housing ring 1 2 and a second radially peripheral housing ring 1 9 which i s spaced apart therefrom. The first and the second housing rings 12, 1 9 are arranged on the main body 13 and are constructed integrally with the main body 13. Figure 2 i s a perspective partial cross-section through the housing 1. The housing 1 has a housing base 2 0 and a housing plate 2 1 with spacing therefrom. The cable 3 i s guided through the rear-side, circular second opening 2 2 between the housing base 2 0 and the housing plate 21. The housing base 2 0 and the housing plate 2 1 are connected to each other by means of side walls 23, 2 4 (Figure 1 ) of the housing 1. The cable 3 is connected to the connector 2, an electrical shield of the

9 cable 3 being connected in an electrically conductive manner to an electrically conductive connector housing 2 5 of the connector 2. The housing plate 2 1 has at a lower side a second layer 2 6 which i s produced from the resilient and electrically conductive material and which i s connected to the layer 1 7 in an electrically conductive manner. For example, the second layer 2 6 and the layer 1 7 may be constructed in one piece. Depending on the embodiment selected, an upper side of the housing base 2 0 may also have a second layer 26. Preferably, an inner face of the housing 1 which i s formed by the side walls 23, 24, the housing base 2 0 and the housing plate 21, has a second layer 26. The second layer 2 6 i s constructed particularly in the region of the second opening 2 2 in an annular manner. The entire inner face 2 7 i s preferably covered by the second layer 26. The second layer 2 6 of the inner face i s also connected to the layer 1 7 and i s in particular constructed in one piece with the layer 1 7. The second layer 2 6 abuts a portion of the connector housing 25 and i s consequently connected to the shield of the cable 3 in an electrically conductive manner. Depending on the embodiment selected, the shield of the cable 3 may also be exposed and directly adjoin the second layer 26. The second layer 2 6 surrounds the cable 3 in an annular manner in the region of the second opening 2 2 so that the second opening 2 2 is sealed with respect to the infiltration of dust or moisture. In the illustrated embodiment, the second layer 2 6 has two sealing lips 2 8 which are arranged in a parallel manner and which are constructed in an annular manner and which improve the sealing with respect to the cable 3. Depending on the embodiment selected, the sealing lips 2 8 may also be dispensed with.

10 The curved engaging member 7 of the connector 2 extends to a curved redirection member 2 9 of the housing 1 that is connected to the actuation element 16. The first edge region 8 i s formed in a third peripheral groove 3 0 which i s formed between a peripheral inner edge 3 1 and the housing ring 12. The inner edge 3 1 and the housing ring 1 2 are connected to each other by means of a connection face 3 2 of the housing 1. The housing 1 i s constructed in a flexible manner in the region of the actuation element 1 6 so that, by the actuation element 1 6 being pressed down, the curved actuation member 2 9 is also pressed downwards and the curved engaging member 7 i s also thereby pivoted downwards into a release position. The curved engaging member 7 has locking faces 3 3 which face the housing 1. Figure 3 i s a partially sectioned view of an assembled connector 2. The connector 2 i s connected to a contact socket which i s not illustrated. The connector 2 i s guided through an assembly opening 3 4 of another housing 35, the connector 2 being locked by the engaging faces 3 3 against being pulled back out of the assembly opening 34. The other housing 3 5 i s illustrated a s a partial cross-section. The other housing 3 5 has a planar first abutment face 3 6 which the first edge region 8 of the housing 1 abuts in a sealing manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the other housing 3 5 further has an annularly extending second abutment face 3 7 which receives a part-portion of the housing 1. The second abutment face 3 7 i s arranged substantially perpendicularly relative to the first abutment face 36. The second edge region 1 0 of the housing 1

11 i s associated with the second abutment face 37, the second edge region 1 0 of the housing 1 being in abutment with the second abutment face 3 7 in a sealing manner. Depending on the embodiment selected, the second abutment face 1 7 may also be dispensed with, a s illustrated in Figure 4. Depending on the embodiment selected, the second layer 2 6 and the housing 1 and the first and the second edge region 8, 1 0 may be constructed in two parts and be connected by means of a catch type or plug type connection. In another embodiment, the resilient material, in particular in the form of the viscoelastic material, can be brought into an end form by means of compression when the housing i s assembled. In particular, owing to the compression of the resilient material, it i s possible to form a seal by means of the resilient material between the cable 3 and the housing 2. The shape of the layer 26, when the connector 2 i s assembled by introducing the connector 2 with the cable through the opening 4, can be formed by compressing the layer 2 6 with the cable 3 and the connector 2. Depending on the desired conductivity, the electrically conductive and resilient material has, for example, a proportion of from 2 0 to 30% of the conductive material and/or from 2 0 to 30% of the conductive particles. The production of the electrically conductive material i s carried out by means of stirring and mixing the electrically conductive material or the electrically conductive particles in a fluid resilient material. After the stirring, the

12 required forms are produced and hardened to form a purely resilient material and/or a viscoelastic material. The resilient material may, for example, be produced from an oil-containing thermoplastic gel or from a dry silica gel, in particular a dry thermally hardened plastics material, in particular silica gel. Furthermore, the resilient material may be produced from a polyurethane gel. A dry silica gel dispenses with a separate solvent or a separate softening agent. The resilient and electrically conductive material may have a hardness between 2 6 and 53 Shore 000 hardness. In addition, the resilient, electrically conductive material may have a resilience of from 4 to 60% between the original size and a compressed size. The viscoelastic material may have a hardness of from 150 to 500 grammes. Figure 5 i s a schematic side view of a housing 1 having an integral radial and axial seal comprising the first and second edge region 8, 10. In the first and second edge region 8, 10, an electrically conductive particle 3 8 and a particle 3 9 which i s provided with an electrically conductive layer 4 0 are schematically illustrated. For example, the particle 3 9 may comprise an electrically insulating material, for example, a ceramic or mineral material, which i s provided with an electrically conductive layer 40, for example, a metal layer. It i s possible to use, for example, silver and/or gold and/or palladium a s the metal. Figure 6 i s a schematic illustration of the rear side 1 4 of the housing 1 having a second layer 2 6 which radially surrounds the cable 3 and which seals the second opening 2 2

13 with respect to the cable. The second layer 2 6 i s in contact with the layer 1 7 which i s also formed on the rear side 14. Silica gels such as, for example, silicone rubbers are masses which can be converted into the resilient state and which contain poly (organo )siloxanes which have groups which are accessible for cross-linking reactions. These include primarily hydrogen atoms, hydroxy groups and vinyl groups which are located at the chain ends but which may also be incorporated in the chain. Silicone rubbers contain reinforcing materials and filler materials whose type and quantity significantly influence the mechanical and chemical behaviour of the silicone elastomers produced by the crosslinking. A differentiation i s made in accordance with the necessary cross-linking temperature between cold cross-linking (RTV) and hot cross-linking (HTV) silicone rubbers (RTV = crosslinking at ambient temperature, HTV = cross-linking at high temperature). HTV silicone rubbers are plastically deformable materials. They very often contain organic peroxides for the cross-linking. The elastomers which are produced from them owing to the cross-linking at high temperature are heatresistant products which are resilient between -40 and 250 C and which are used, for example, a s high-quality sealing, damping, electrical insulation components, cable coatings and the like. Another cross-linking mechanism involves an addition, which i s generally catalysed by precious metal compounds, of Si-Hgroups to silicon-bound vinyl groups, which are both incorporated in the polymer chains or at the end thereof. The silicone rubber components which, in contrast to the HTV

14 rubbers described above, have a lower viscosity and can consequently be pumped, are mixed and metered with suitable mixing and metering machines and usually processed in injection moulding machines. This technology enables high cycle rates owing to the short duration of the cross-linking of the rubbers. In the case of RTV silicone rubbers, it i s possible to differentiate between single and two-component systems. The first group (RTV 1 ) cross-links at ambient temperature under the influence of air humidity, the cross-linking being carried out by means of condensation of SiOH groups, with Si- 0 bonds being formed. The Si-OH groups are formed by means of hydrolysis of Six groups of a species resulting in an intermediate manner from a polymer having terminal OH groups and a so-called cross-linking agent R-SiX3 (X=-0-C0-CH3,-NHR). In the case of two-component rubbers (RTV-2), for example, admixtures of silicic acid esters (for example, ethyl silicate) and organotin compounds are used a s cross-linking agents, the formation of an S i-o-si bridge from S i-or and S i OH being carried out by means of alcohol separation a s a cross-linking reaction.

15 Claims 1. Housing (1) having a seal (8, 10), the seal (8, 10, 26) being formed from a resilient material, characterised in that the resilient material i s electrically conductive. 2. Housing according to claim 1, wherein the resilient material i s constructed in a purely resilient and/or viscoelastic manner. 3. Housing according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient, electrically conductive material has a silica gel. 4. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (8, 10, 26) i s produced from an admixture of a resilient material and an electrically conductive material. 5. Housing according to claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive material has carbon black and/or graphite. 6. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (8, 10, 26) i s produced from an admixture of a resilient material and electrically conductive particles (38, 39). 7. Housing according to claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive particles are constructed in the form of metal particles, electrically conductive nanopart icles and/or graphite particles, in particular a s graphite tubes. 8. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (1) i s connected to another housing (35),

16 the seal (8, 10) being in abutment against a receiving member of the other housing (35) in a sealing manner, in particular being in abutment in an axially and/or radially sealing manner. 9. Housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein there i s provided an opening (22) for introducing an electrical cable (3), and wherein the seal (26) surrounds the opening (22) and i s provided for sealing the introduction of the electrical cable (3) and/or for electrically contacting an electrical shield of the cable (3). 10. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (1) i s a connector housing, in particular a housing for an RJ-45 connector. 11. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (1) partially comprises an electrically conductive material (17, 26). 12. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (1, 17, 26) partially comprises the same material a s the seal (8, 10), a portion (17, 26) of the housing in particular being constructed in one piece with the seal (8, 10). 13. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 12, wherein an electrically conductive particle i s constructed in the form of a particle (39) having an electrically conductive layer (40). 14. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a seal (26) which i s arranged between the cable (3)

17 and the housing (2) i s brought into a final form when the housing i s assembled by means of compression of the resilient material.

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22 A. CLASSIFICATION O F SUBJECT MATTER INV. H01R13/52 H01R13/6599 ADD. According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC B. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) H01R Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used) EPO-Internal, WPI Data C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO B E RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. EP A2 (ALLI ED CORP [US] ) 1-5, 9, 16 October 1985 ( ) 11, 14 the whol e document US 2012/ Al (YI CHONG HUN [US] ET 1,6-8 AL) 26 January 2012 ( ) paragraph [ [0043] ] - paragraph [ [0047] ] US 2004/ Al ( ICE DONALD A [US] ET 1, 12 AL) 14 October 2004 ( ) paragraph [ [0055] ] US A (HAAS 0RVI LLE A [US] ET AL) 1, 10, 13 7 Apri l 1998 ( ) the whol e document -/- X Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. See patent family annex. * Special categories of cited documents : "A" document defining the general state of the art which is not considered to be of particular relevance "T" later document published after the international filing date or priority date and not in conflict with the application but cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the invention "E" earlier application or patent but published o n or after the international "X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be filing date considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive "L" documentwhich may throw doubts on priority claim(s) orwhich is step when the document is taken alone cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other "Y" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be special reason (as specified) considered to involve an inventive step when the document is "O" document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other combined with one o r more other such documents, such combination means being obvious to a person skilled in the art "P" document published prior to the international filing date but later than the priority date claimed "&" document member of the same patent family Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report 26 March /04/2013 Name and mailing address of the ISA/ Authorized officer European Patent Office, P.B Patentlaan 2 NL HV Rijswijk Tel. (+31-70) , Fax: (+31-70) Lopez Garci a, Raquel

23 C(Continuation). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. US A (HARTING DI ETMAR [DE] ET 1-14 AL) 15 October 1996 ( ) the whol e document J P A (SUMITOMO WI RING SYSTEMS) December 2000 ( ) the whol e document

24 Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member(s) date EP A Al A S A A US Al NONE us Al NONE us A DE Al GB A US A US A us A DE CI US A P A P B P A