Cinch Connectivity Solutions, a Bel group company, has introduced the C-ENX range of shells, inserts and contacts for in-cabin interconnectivity in the aerospace industry. The main applications comprise routing power, signal, and data for avionic systems in the aircraft.
Created to satisfy the demands of ARINC 800 and European Standard EN 4644, the C-ENX family provides a rectangle profile that reduces weight and size over the circular connectors currently employed by the aerospace industry. This translates right to operational cost savings across the lifetime of the aircraft.
“Every ounce of weight in an aircraft represents an operational cost of approximately $5,000 over the lifetime of the aircraft,” explained Brad Taras, product manager, Bel. “The C-ENX connector line provides a slim, completely modular and expandable solution that reduces size and weight while increasing ease of use, which will deliver immediate and significant gains to aerospace manufacturers.”
The aerospace industry has already begun transitioning to modular rectangular connectors, as they offer notable advantages over circular style connectors. As well as providing higher pin density and lower weight, the design enables the blind mating required for LRM/LRUs (line replaceable modules and units). This line is offered in single, double, triple, and quadruple-cavity outlines for panel mount to cable, cable to cable, floating mount and panel mount to panel mount configurations.
The modular design incorporates shells, inserts, contacts and backshells, with multiple options to satisfy any aerospace application. The shells utilise the same panel cut-outs through the product offering. The modular design promotes a more flexible and efficient assembly process, enabling manufacturers to outsource more of the cable assembly or include changes later in the design cycle. This also promotes endurance in service by supporting simpler maintenance and more efficient upgrades.