1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is coaxial cable connectors and more particularly to such a coaxial cable connector that fits a series of coaxial cables having one same specification and different wire outer diameters.
2. Description of the Related Art
In current television market, cable TV is the mainstream. Cable TV signal is transmitted to a television of a subscriber through a coaxial cable. Coaxial cable is not limited to cable TV application, it can also be used in any of a variety of other fields for signal transmission. For two-way high-frequency transmission, a coaxial cable is extended from an outdoor place to the inside of a house and then connected to a TV or TV splitter through a coaxial cable connector. This coaxial cable connector is adapted for connecting a coaxial cable to a mating connector at the TV or TV splitter.
To fit different signal transmission quality requirements, the braided outer conductor of a coaxial cable can have a standard, tri-shield or quad-shield design. In consequence, the wire outer diameter is relatively changed. Further, a coaxial cable further comprises an aluminum foil surrounding the insulation spacer within the braided outer conductor to provide a shielding effect.
Many coaxial cable connectors are commercially available for assembly with one of a series of coaxial cables having different wire outer diameters.
The screw nut A1 is disposed at the front side, having an inner thread for threading onto a mating connector. The plastic body shell A2 is connected to the screw nut A1. A gasket ring A21 is set in between the plastic body shell A2 and the screw nut A1. The inner tube A3 is inserted into the inside of the plastic body shell A2. The metal barrel A4 is sleeved onto one end of the plastic body shell A2 adjacent to the coaxial cable B.
During installation, as shown in
However, when the aforesaid cable end connector A is assembled with a coaxial cable B, the plastic body shell A2 is partially exposed to the weather (see
1. The plastic body shell A2 is partially exposed to the outside between the screw nut A1 and the metal barrel A4. When the cable end connector A is used outdoor, the plastic body shell A2 will become aged and oxidized soon under the effect of the sun, rain and wind, and rainwater may leak in between the cable end connector A and the coaxial cable B, affecting signal transmission stability and quality. If a metal body shell is used to substitute for the plastic body shell A2, the crimping operation during installation of the cable end connector will become difficult. Therefore, this design of cable end connector is not well invited in the market.
2. A long distance is left between the aluminum foil insertion hole A32 on the left end of the inner tube A3 and the left orifice A41 of the metal barrel A4. This distance is approximately equal to the length of the bare aluminum foil B31 of the coaxial cable B (or even longer), as shown in
The screw nut D1 is connected with one end of the inner tube D2 for the passing of the center conductor B1 of the coaxial cable B. The body shell D3 surrounds the inner tube D2. The inner tube D2 has a barbed portion D21 disposed at one end thereof and extending out of one end of the clamping portion D31 of the body shell D3. The barrel D4 is sleeved onto the clamping portion D31 of the body shell D3. The plastic bushing D5 is set in the barrel D4.
A large space is left between the outer edge D211 of the barbed portion D21 of the body inner tube D2 and an inner end edge D51 of the plastic bushing D5 for receiving a different thickness of braided outer conductor of a coaxial cable of one same specification. By means of the elastically deformable property of the plastic bushing D5, the connector fits cables of varying thickness.
In the aforesaid cable end connector D, the body shell D3 is a metal member, and a crimping tool must be used to crimp the clamping portion D31 of the body shell D3 and the barrel D4 during installation of the cable end connector D. Because the crimping distance D32 has a certain length, much crimping pressure must be applied to the crimping tool to move he barrel D4 relative to the clamping portion D31 subject to the crimping distance D32. Thus, much effort is necessary to complete the crimping operation. Further, a long distance is left between the aluminum foil insertion hole D2 on the left end of the inner tube D2 and the left orifice D41 of the metal barrel D4. This distance is greater than the length of the bare aluminum foil B31 of the coaxial cable B. Thus, it is difficult to insert the insulation spacer B2 and aluminum foil B3 of the coaxial cable B into the cable end connector D, and the insulation spacer B2 and aluminum foil B3 of the coaxial cable B may be damaged during insertion. During a high-frequency two-way signal transmission operation, this aluminum foil damage causes an increase in the reflective loss, affecting signal transmission quality and stability. To avoid this problem, it is necessary to shorten the distance between the aluminum foil insertion hole D2 on the left end of the inner tube D2 and the left orifice D41 of the metal barrel D4 to about ⅔ of the length of the bare aluminum foil B31 of the coaxial cable B. In this case, the inner diameter of the inner end edge D51 of the plastic bushing D5 will be reduced due to engagement between of the clamping portion D52 of the plastic bushing D5 and the beveled clamping surface D33 of the body shell D3, interfering with the insertion of the coaxial cable B.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a coaxial cable connector assembled with a coaxial cable consisting of a center conductor, surrounded by an insulation spacer, surrounded by an aluminum foil, surrounded by a braided outer conductor, surrounded by a protective plastic covering. The protective plastic covering of the coaxial cable been stripped off subject to a predetermined length to expose the braided outer conductor, the exposed braided outer conductor been turned backwardly onto the protective plastic covering to expose the insulation spacer and the aluminum foil and to leave a predetermined length of the bare aluminum foil outside the protective plastic covering for installation in the coaxial cable connector. The coaxial cable connector comprises a screw nut having an inner thread for threading onto an outer thread of a mating member; an inner tube mounted in one end of the screw nut, the inner tube comprising a barbed unit extending around the periphery of a left end thereof remote from the screw nut and a foil insertion hole defined in the left end; a body shell surrounding the inner tube, the body shell comprising an axial hole, a clamping portion surrounding the axial hole and a stop flange extending around the periphery at one end of the clamping portion; a barrel sleeved onto one end of the body shell beyond the clamping portion and defining with the body shell a crimping distance before installation of the coaxial cable in the coaxial cable connector, the barrel comprising a left orifice for entrance of the coaxial cable connector, a packing hole defined therein and a tapered inner surface formed in a right side of the packing hole; and a plastic bushing set in the barrel to leave a large gap in between an inner end edge of a left end thereof and an outer end edge of the barbed unit of the inner tube for receiving the braided outer conductor of the coaxial cable, the plastic bushing been crimped and clamped on the protective plastic covering of the coaxial cable against the barbed unit of the inner tube after stoppage of a right end thereof against the stop flange of the body shell, the plastic bushing comprising an inner end edge at a left end thereof, the inner end edge of the plastic bushing defining an inner diameter fitting the packing hole of the barrel, a tapered inside wall gradually reducing in direction from a hole in a right end thereof toward the inner end edge of the left end thereof, and a beveled retaining surface extending around the periphery corresponding to the tapered inside wall and sloping leftwards. The crimping distance is about ⅔ of the predetermined length of the bare aluminum foil of the coaxial cable facilitating crimping. The distance between the aluminum foil insertion hole of the inner tube and the left orifice of the barrel is about ⅔ of the predetermined length of the bare aluminum foil of the coaxial cable; the beveled retaining surface of the plastic bushing is press-fitted into the tapered inner surface of the barrel to prohibit the plastic bushing from escaping from the packing hole of the barrel. The hole in the right end of the plastic bushing is greater than the packing hole of the barrel, capable for receiving a different thickness of braided outer conductor of a coaxial cable of one same specification.
Thus, the coaxial cable connector of the invention has connector that has advantages and features as follows:
1. The crimping distance between the coaxial cable and the coaxial cable is about ⅔ of the predetermined length of bare aluminum foil of the coaxial cable, facilitating crimping.
2. A short distance, about ⅔ of the predetermined length of bare aluminum foil of the coaxial cable is left between the aluminum foil insertion hole 2 on the left end of the inner tube and the left orifice of the barrel, facilitating insertion of the insulation spacer and aluminum foil of the coaxial cable without causing damage.
3. The plastic bushing has a beveled retaining surface press-fitted into the tapered inner surface of the barrel so that the plastic bushing will not escape from the packing hole of the barrel.
4. The hole in the right end of the plastic bushing is greater than the packing hole of the barrel, capable for receiving a different thickness of braided outer conductor of a coaxial cable of one same specification.
5. By means of the elastically deformable feature of the hole in the right end of the plastic bushing to compress the barbed portions of the inner tube, the part of the coaxial cable outside the barbed portions of the inner tube well wrapped, achieving a watertight seal.
6. The inner diameter of the inner end edge of the left end of the plastic bushing fits the packing hole of the barrel for guiding in the coaxial cable.
7. The plastic bushing further has a tapered inside wall gradually reducing in direction from the hole in the right end toward the inner end edge of the left end.
Referring to
The coaxial cable connector 100 is assembled with a coaxial cable B consisting of a center conductor B1, surrounded by an insulation spacer B2, surrounded by an aluminum foil B3, surrounded by a braided outer conductor B4, surrounded by a protective plastic covering B5. The braided outer conductor B4 can be a standard, tri-shield or quad-shield design.
Referring to
The barrel 4 is sleeved onto one end of the body shell 3 beyond the clamping portion 31. The plastic bushing 5 is set in the barrel 4, leaving a large gap in between the inner end edge 51 of the left end 52 of the plastic bushing 5 and the outer end edge 211 of the barbed portions 21 of the inner tube 2 for receiving the braided outer conductor B4 (of standard, tri-shield or quad-shield design) of the coaxial cable B, see also
Referring to
At first, as shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
When the crimping tool is crimped to the extent, the crimping distance 32 is disappeared, as shown in
In the aforesaid coaxial cable connector 100, the body shell 3 is made of a metal material (plastics can also be used). Because both the body shell 3 and the barrel 4 are metal members, the crimping distance 32 can be relatively shorter so that less effort is necessary when crimping the clamping portion 31 of the body shell 3 and the barrel 4 by the crimping tool. The crimping distance 32 is preferably about ⅔ of the predetermined length of bare aluminum foil B31 of the coaxial cable B.
Further, a short distance L is left between the aluminum foil insertion hole 22 in the left end of the inner tube 2 and the left orifice 41 of the barrel 4 (see
In conclusion, the invention provides a coaxial cable connector that has advantages and features as follows:
1. The crimping distance 32 between the coaxial cable B and the coaxial cable 100 is about ⅔ of the predetermined length of bare aluminum foil B31 of the coaxial cable B, facilitating crimping.
2. A short distance, about ⅔ of the predetermined length of bare aluminum foil B31 of the coaxial cable B is left between the aluminum foil insertion hole 22 on the left end of the inner tube 2 and the left orifice 41 of the barrel 4, facilitating insertion of the insulation spacer B2 and aluminum foil B3 of the coaxial cable B without causing damage.
3. The plastic bushing 5 has a beveled retaining surface 54 press-fitted into the tapered inner surface 43 of the barrel 4 so that the plastic bushing 5 will not escape from the packing hole 42 of the barrel 4.
4. The hole 55 in the right end 53 of the plastic bushing 5 is greater than the packing hole 42 of the barrel 4, capable for receiving a different thickness of braided outer conductor B4 of a coaxial cable B of one same specification.
5. By means of the elastically deformable feature of the hole 55 in the right end 53 of the plastic bushing 5 to compress the barbed portions 21 of the inner tube 2, the part of the coaxial cable B outside the barbed portions 21 of the inner tube 2 is well wrapped, achieving a watertight seal.
6. The inner diameter of the inner end edge 51 of the left end 52 of the plastic bushing 5 fits the packing hole 42 of the barrel 4 for guiding in the coaxial cable B.
7. The plastic bushing 5 further has a tapered inside wall 56 gradually reducing in direction from the hole 55 in the right end 53 toward the inner end edge 51 of the left end 52.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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7458849 | Rodrigues et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7544094 | Paglia et al. | Jun 2009 | B1 |
7566236 | Malloy et al. | Jul 2009 | B2 |