Test apparatus and method for testing cable assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12085627-B2
Application number	US-202217732908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2022
Priority date	Apr 30, 2021
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A test apparatus for testing a cable assembly includes a first air tightness tester, a second air tightness tester and an electrical tester. A first test device is operably connected to the first air tightness tester and the electrical tester, and a second test device is operably connected to the second air tightness tester and the electrical tester. With a first cable connector and a second cable connector of a cable installed on a respective one of the first test device and the second test device, an air tightness test and an electrical test are performed on the first cable connector and the second cable connector simultaneously.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable assembly test apparatus comprising:
a human-computer interaction interface;
a first air tightness tester and a second air tightness tester positioned adjacent to the human-computer interaction interface;
a test bench positioned below the human-computer interaction interface;
an electrical tester; and
a first test device including a first mating connector fixedly installed on the test bench, and a second test device installed on the test bench and including a second mating connector movably installed on the test bench, the first test device is operably connected to the first air tightness tester and the electrical tester, and the second test device is operably connected to the second air tightness tester and the electrical tester, wherein when a first cable connector and a second cable connector of a cable are respectively installed on the first test device and the second test device, an air tightness test and an electrical test are performed on the first cable connector and the second cable connector at the same time, wherein the first cable connector is engaged with the first mating connector, and the second cable connector is engaged with a detection port of the second mating connector.

2. The test apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first test device further includes:
a clamp provided on the first mating connector for clamping the first cable connector to the first mating connector; and
a first quick connector connected to the first mating connector for connecting the first cable connector to the first air tightness tester and the electrical tester at the same time.

3. The test apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first test device further comprises:
a first center contact probe configured to electrically contact a connection terminal of the first cable connector inserted into the first mating connector to detect a conduction signal of the first cable connector; and
a first shielding layer probe configured to electrically contact a shielding layer of the first cable connector inserted into the first mating connector to detect a shielding signal of the first cable connector.

4. The test apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first test device further comprises a first air tightness connector at least partially provided in the first mating connector and configured as a vacuum tube for connecting the first cable connector to the first air tightness tester.

5. The test apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first test device further comprises a marker provided on a first mating connector for marking the first cable connector of the qualified cable assembly after the cable assembly is tested to be qualified.

6. The test apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second test device further includes comprises
a second quick connector connected to the second mating connector for connecting the second cable connector to the second air tightness tester and the electrical tester.

7. The test apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the detection port comprises:
a second center contact probe configured to electrically contact a connection terminal of the second cable connector to detect a conduction signal of the second cable connector; and
a second shielding layer probe configured in a cylindrical shape to accommodate the second center contact probe therein and configured to electrically contact a shielding layer of the second cable connector to detect a shielding signal of the second cable connector.

8. The test apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second test device further comprises a second air tight connector provided in the second mating connector and configured as a vacuum tube for connecting the second cable connector to the second air tightness tester.

9. The test apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second test device further comprises a locking bolt provided on the second mating connector to fix the second mating connector at a suitable position on a guide rail arranged on the test bench.

10. The test apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical tester comprises:
a conduction tester for testing a conduction state of the cable assembly; and
a high voltage tester for testing a high voltage performance of the cable assembly.

11. A system for testing a cable including a first cable connector fitted thereto, comprising:
an air tightness test device,
an electrical test device; and
a first test device operatively connected to the air tightness tester and including:
a first mating cable connector engaging with the first cable connector; and
a first connector connected to the first mating cable connector for connecting the first cable connector to the air tightness test device and the electrical test device simultaneously, wherein the first test device further comprises a first shielding layer probe electrically contacting a shielding layer of the first cable connector inserted into the first mating connector to detect a shielding signal of the first cable connector.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a second test device operatively connected to the air tightness tester and including:
a second mating cable connector engaging with a second cable connector fitted to the cable; and
a second connector connected to the second mating cable connector for connecting the second cable connector to the air tightness test device and the electrical test device simultaneously.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second mating connector is movably installed on a guide rail for altering its position relative to the first mating connector.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first test device further comprises a first center contact probe electrically contacting a connection terminal of the first cable connector inserted into the first mating connector to detect a conduction signal of the first cable connector.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first test device further comprises a first air tightness connector at least partially provided in the first mating cable connector and defining a vacuum tube connecting the first cable connector to the air tightness test device.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first test device further comprises a marker provided on the first mating cable connector for marking the first cable connector of the qualified cable assembly after the cable assembly is tested to be qualified.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second test device includes:
a second center contact probe electrically contacting a connection terminal of the second cable connector to detect a conduction signal of the second cable connector; and
a second shielding layer probe defining a cylindrical shape to accommodate the second center contact probe therein and electrically contacting a shielding layer of the second cable connector to detect a shielding signal of the second cable connector.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second test device further comprises an air tight connector provided in the second mating cable connector and defining a vacuum tube for connecting the second cable connector to the air tightness test device.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the electrical test device includes a conduction tester and a voltage tester.

20. A cable assembly test apparatus comprising:
a test bench;
a first air tightness tester,
a second air tightness tester and an electrical tester; and
a first test device and a second test device installed on the test bench, the firs

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Suzhou Ltd
• Tyco Electronics Tech Sip Ltd
• Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yang An (Joshua)
• Hu Lvhai (Samuel)
• Yin Haomai (Ivan)
• Jiang Xuexiong (Ricky)
• Chen Jian
• Wang Jinxian (Tony)

Classifications

• G01R31/08

  Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks · CPC title

• G01R31/1272

  of cable, line or wire insulation, e.g. using partial discharge measurements (locating faults in cables G01R31/083) · CPC title

• H01R13/621

  Bolt, set screw or screw clamp · CPC title

• H01R13/639

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title

• G01R31/59 Primary

  while the cable continuously passes the testing apparatus, e.g. during manufacture · CPC title