Evironmentally sealed grounding backshell with strain relief

Abstract

A grounding backshell assembly is provided for achieving a grounded electrical connection to a conductive braid of a cable, and for simultaneously achieving effective strain relief and environmental sealing. The backshell assembly comprises a generally cylindrical backshell having a toroidally configured coil spring mounted therein. A plunger with a leading concave cam surface is slidably inserted in the backshell for camming engagement with the grounding spring. A toroidally configured strain relief coil spring is disposed around the cable at the rear end of the plunger. A compression nut having a concave camming surface therein is threadably engageable with the backshell such that the concave cam surface thereof is operative to radially compress the strain relief spring and to urge the plunger into camming interengagement with the grounding spring. An elastomeric seal is resiliently engaged with the rear end of the compression nut and is further resiliently engaged with the cable. A tightening of the compression nut onto the backshell deforms the elastomeric seal into tight environmental sealing engagement with the cable and further contributes to environmental sealing.