Patent Application
20100261382
The application relates generally to connectors for terminating coaxial cable and more particularly to a coaxial cable connector configured to reliably seize at least one inner conductor of a coaxial cable.
Coaxial cables are used conventionally as a transmission medium for modern communication networks, such as cable television (CATV) and computer networks, among others. It is conventionally known to use various types of connectors in order to terminate coaxial cable in order to connect the cable to various electronic devices such as televisions, radios, sound producing equipment and the like. Such connectors are as described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,458,851 and 7,347,729, among others.
Conventional coaxial cables, such as 50 ohm and 75 ohm cables, typically include a center conductor that is surrounded by an intermediate dielectric layer and an outer conductor layer in which the outer conductor layer is surrounded by a protective sheath. The center conductor can be solid in terms of its construction, or alternatively the center conductor can be made hollow so as to reduce material usage and stiffness in some cases. In the former types of coaxial cables, the outer conductor layer is typically either spirally, annularly or otherwise corrugated. It is necessary for each of the outer and center conductors to be effectively seized during cable termination in order provide effective mechanical and electrical engagement. Presently, one compression conductor is described in Applicant's co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 11/643,733. According to this design, a conductive pin includes a collet portion which must be driven into the body of an insulator by means of a mandrel or other drive element that is movably attached to a compression sleeve and supported within the conductor.
It is desired to provide a simpler version of a connector that reliably and effectively provides both mechanical and electrical connectivity to the center or inner conductor of an engaged coaxial cable end.
According to one aspect, a coaxial cable connector for terminating a prepared coaxial cable end is provided, the connector comprising a connector body having a center passageway, a compression sleeve mounted for axial movement at one end of said connector body and an insulator disposed in said center passageway, said insulator being disposed at an end of said body opposite from said compression sleeve. Means are provided for seizing an outer conductor of said prepared cable end as well as means for seizing a center conductor of said prepared cable end, said means for seizing a center conductor including a plurality of spring contacts radially disposed within a conductive member, said conductive member being disposed within an opening of said insulator, said center conductor engaging said spring contacts when advanced a predetermined distance into said conductive member.
The spring contacts can include, for example, a series of leaf springs equi-spaced from one another and extending into the confines of the hollow conductive member. In one version, the conductive member is a conductive pin secured within an opening of an insulator that is fixedly mounted within one end of the center passageway.
In one version, one or more conductive pins can be provided, each having spring contacts thereby enabling a coaxial cable having multiple center conductors to be seized.
In one version, the means for seizing the outer conductor includes a clamp having respective interior and exterior surfaces. The interior surface is annular and configured to engage the outer conductor layer of an engaged coaxial end, while the exterior surface is configured to engage the interior surface of the center passageway of the connector body. The center passageway is defined, according to this version, by adjacent axial sections having different internal diameters; namely, a first diameter adjacent a first end of the body and a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. The two internal diameters are linked by a transitional surface section, which is ramped or otherwise configured.
The clamp is caused to move axially based on corresponding axial movement of the compression sleeve toward the insulator. As the clamp encounters the transitional surface section, the clamp begins to compress, this compression being completed when the clamp axially traverses the second axial section. Preferably, the clamp includes a series of slots enabling the clamp to be compressed under the application of an inwardly applied radial force, as caused by the change in the center passageway diameters of the connector body.
The center conductor advances into the conductive pin as the cable end is advanced due to axial movement of the compression sleeve. The center conductor is seized once advanced a predetermined distance into the conductive pin, having encountered the spring contacts.
The seizing engagement of each of the center and outer conductors of an engaged cable end can occur simultaneously or sequentially, wherein various types of coaxial cable can be utilized, including but not limited to spiral corrugated, annular or otherwise corrugated and smooth-walled coaxial cables.
According to another aspect, there is provided a coaxial cable connector for terminating a prepared coaxial cable end, said connector comprising a connector body having a center passageway, a compression sleeve mounted for axial movement at one end of said connector body, an insulator disposed in said center passageway, said insulator being disposed at an end of said body opposite from said compression sleeve; a clamp for seizing an outer conductor of said prepared cable end, a conductive member inserted into an axial opening of said insulator, said conductive member including a plurality of spring contacts radially disposed in relation to a conductive member wherein said center conductor engages said contacts when advanced a predetermined distance into said conductive member, thereby seizing the center conductor.
One advantage of the described coaxial connector is ease in manufacture and cost. Another advantage is that various coaxial cables can be used reliably.
Yet another advantage is that a drive element is no longer necessary, such as those required in the above-noted compression connector design having a collet section that is driven into the body of an insulator. As a result, the former drive element portion can be integrated into the insulator design.
A further advantage realized by the herein described connector is reduced insertion (compression) force that is required relative to the center conductor.
These and other features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following description relates to a compression connector having an improved conductor seizing mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. This embodiment relates to the termination of a specific coaxial cable type, and in this instance a spiral corrugated coaxial cable. It will be readily apparent, however, that various other modifications and variations are possible within the intended scope of the invention. For example, other types of corrugated and smooth-walled coaxial cables can be used in conjunction with the herein described connector. In addition, various terms are used throughout this description to provide a suitable frame of reference with regard to the accompanying drawings. These terms are not intended to be limited, however, except where so specifically indicated.
For purposes of background and referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The connector body 22, and more particularly the center passageway 23, is defined by adjacent axial sections, namely a first axial section having a first internal diameter adjacent to the proximal end 41 of the connector body and a second axial section having a second internal diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. The first and second internal diameters are linked by a ramped or other suitably configured transitional surface portion 52.
The clamp 38 in this exemplary version is defined by a body made from an elastomeric or other electrically insulative material having an interior annular metal conductive surface 45 that is geometrically congruent with the spirals that are formed in the spiral corrugated outer conductor layer 14 of the coaxial cable 10, the clamp being sized for engagement therewith. That is, the interior annular surface 45 includes a plurality of protrusions and valleys that are sized to engage corresponding valleys and protrusions spirally wound along the outer corrugated conductive layer 14 of the coaxial cable 10. The clamp 38 described herein further includes a plurality of slots 39,
Still referring to
When the prepared spiral corrugated coaxial cable 10 is inserted into an end opening 54 of the compression connector 20, the cable 10 is initially twisted such that the spirals of the outer conductor layer 14 fit into the corresponding spirals that are formed in the interior annular surface 45 of the clamp 38. The outer conductor 14 is not yet seized, however, in this initial position. The exposed center conductor 18 extends through the central passageway 23, through the mandrel bore 37 and into the extending collet portion 34 of the conductive pin 30. The contacts within the collet portion 34 have not yet positively engaged the center conductor 18 in this position.
Referring to
This axial movement of the clamp 38 thereby causes the abutting mandrel 36 to also move in the direction a toward the distal end 41 of the connector body 22 wherein the distal facing surface of the mandrel, and more particularly a distal facing surface thereof, contacts and engages the collet portion 34 of the conductive pin 30, forcing the tapered collet portion 34 through the center opening 56 of the insulator 28. As noted above, the collet portion 34 is defined by a plurality of interior conductive contacts as well as a compliant set of flexible fingers or tines defined by a collet transition surface 35 sized such that the collet portion 34 can be compressed radially inwardly as the conductive pin 30 is axially advanced into the center opening 56 of the insulator 28. The flexible fingers are made from a durable plastic according to this embodiment, although it will be readily apparent that other materials can be used. Because the diameter of the insulator opening 56 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ramped transition surface 35 of the collet portion 34, the conductive contacts of the collet portion 34 are gradually squeezed and thereby engage upon and permanently seize the bare center conductor 18 of the inserted and prepared coaxial cable end 10, shown in
Referring to
The compression connector 220 according to this specific embodiment is defined by a connector body 222 having a nut 224 rotatably attached to a distal end 241 of the body by means of an exterior annular flange 226. For purposes of this discussion and for the sake of convenience, the terms “distal” and “proximal” are used in connection with distal and proximal ends of the connector body 222. That is, all components used in conjunction with this connector 220 refer to distal or proximal aspects based on the preceding usage. As in the preceding, the connector body 222 is defined by a center cavity or passageway 223 that retains an insulator 228, the latter being fixedly mounted within a distal body end 241 adjacent the annular flange 226. The insulator 228 in this specific version is fixedly secured to the connector body 222 by means of an annular shoulder 247 that engages the top surface of a cylindrical retaining section 227 of the connector body. According to this embodiment, the insulator 228 is further defined by a center opening 256 that positions and retains a hollow conductive pin 230 having a pin portion 232 at one end and a hollow portion 233 at an opposite or proximal end. The hollow portion 233 includes at least one seizing element 234. According to this specific embodiment, a plurality of radially inwardly extending seizing elements 234, such as leaf springs, each inwardly extend into the opening defined by the conductive pin 230, the spring contacts being circumferentially disposed. Three or more spring contacts are preferably provided.
As in the preceding, a drive insulator or mandrel 236 having an axial through opening 237 is also positioned within the center passageway 223 of the conductor body 222 between the insulator 228 and a clamp 238 initially disposed in relation to a proximal end 242 of the connector body 222. The clamp 238 according to this embodiment is defined by a cylindrical member having an interior annular surface 245 including a spirally wound configuration, matching that of the spiral corrugated outer conductor layer 14 of a prepared cable 10. The clamp 238 includes a plurality of protrusions sized to engage the spiral slots formed in the outer cable conductor layer 14. As in the preceding version, the clamp 238 also includes a plurality of slots (not shown) formed on an outer annular portion 243, enabling the clamp to be radially compressed.
The connector body 222 is defined by a transitional surface section 252, the section being ramped or otherwise configured and linking the first interior diameter of the central passageway 223 with the second smaller diameter. A compression sleeve 240 is attached over the end 242 of the body 222 wherein a drive portion 244 of the sleeve fits against an annular flange 246 of a drive ring 248 for engagement therewith. The compression sleeve 240 further includes an annular slot that is sized to fit the periphery of the connector body 22. An annular elastomeric seal element 250 fits against the insulative outer jacket 14 of the prepared spiral corrugated coaxial cable 10 during termination of the cable. This seal element 250 prevents ingress of moisture or particulate matter into the interior of the connector 220 while further providing strain relief for the cable and increased cable retention in the connector, the seal element being axially movable, a proximal edge of the seal element being in abutting relation with an annular edge surface of the compression sleeve 240.
When the prepared spiral corrugated coaxial cable 10 is inserted into an opening 254 of the exemplary connector 220, the cable 10 is initially twisted such that the protrusions of the clamp 238 are fitted within the spirally wound slots of the outer conductor layer 14, as in the preceding prior art version. In the meantime, the exposed center conductor 18 is axially advanced through the center passageway 223 and through the opening 237 formed in the drive mandrel 236, which is sized to accommodate same. As the compression sleeve 240 is advanced in the axial direction shown by arrow a by a tool (not shown), the outer annular surface 243 of the clamp 238 initially moves also the first internal diameter of the connector body 222 and engages the transitional surface section 252. This engagement causes the clamp 238 to begin to compress radially inward based on the reduction in diameter and the slots provided in the clamp wherein this compression continues until the clamp advances to the second inner diameter, and in which inward compressive forces are caused to act upon the outer conductive layer 14,
Seizure of the center conductor 18 and the outer conductor layer 14 of the coaxial cable 10 can be done nearly simultaneously based on the spacing of the transitional surface section 252 and the entrance end of the conductive pin 230 and incoming cable end or the relative spacings between the center conductor 18 and the spiral corrugated outer layer 14 can be suitably configured to provide simultaneous or delayed seizure (i.e., seizure of either the outer conductor 14 or the inner conductor 18 first relative to the outer conductor). It should be noted in passing, however, that the insulator 228 can be movably attached to the connector body 222 and offset axially (proximally) from the cylindrical retaining section 227 and/or the transitional surface section 252 can be located such that the above seizure can occur sequentially or in a staggered or delayed fashion. Additional details are provided in commonly assigned and copending USSN [to be assigned—Attorney Docket 3037423], the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Other versions can be contemplated embodying the herein described concept. For example, prepared ends of other types of coaxial cable having center and outer conductors can be terminated by means of the herein described connector design, including other corrugated (non-spiral) and smooth-walled cable ends. Twisting would not be required using either of these types of cables requiring direct axial movement alone in which a radially acting clamp seizes the outer conductor and the center conductor is seized by means of the spring contacts. Moreover, other means could be contemplated in which the outer conductor could be seized. For example, a two-part or two-stage connector could embody the spring contacts, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,851, by way of example.
It will be readily apparent that still other variations and modifications are possible within the intended ambits of the present invention. For example, coaxial cables having a plurality of center or inner conductors could have these conductors effectively seized using a corresponding number of spring contacts disposed within the insulator 228 using a plurality of conductive pins, such as described in copending and commonly assigned USSN [to be assigned—Attorney Docket 7037422], the relevant portions of which are incorporated by reference. Other variations will become readily apparent from the following claims.
