Triaxial connector adapter and method

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6783395
  • Patent Number
    6,783,395
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 13, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 31, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
The present invention relates to a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector that provides guiding and centering of a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention further relates to a front sleeve assembly for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector which incorporates a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry to guide and center a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention also relates to a compression ring assembly for mounting a connector to a cable, the assembly having a collet engaging a tapered rear seal to compress the collet about the cable. The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector to a cable with a compression ring assembly incorporating a collet and tapered rear seal. The present invention also relates to conversion kit including a front sleeve assembly and an outer body for a coaxial cable transmission line connector which permits the connector to be changed from a connector of first style or gender to a connector of a second style or gender. The present invention further relates to a mounting kit which allows mounting of different genders and styles of telecommunications connectors to a panel.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to transmission line connectors, more specifically to transmission line connectors for connecting to cables including center conductors shielded from one or more longitudinally extending coaxial conductors.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Connectors for use with electrically conductive transmission cables provide electrical connectivity with the center conductor of the cable as well as to other coaxially arranged conductors with the cable. Some of these cables include a center conductor and one additional coaxial conductor (coaxial cables) and while others cables include two additional coaxial conductors (triaxial cables). The center conductor of a cable of either type is physically and electrically linked to the center conductor of the connector, and the connector can then be used with a mating connector. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963 to ADC Telecommunications, Inc., concern connectors of this type. Mounting panels for connectors of this type are also known, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,192 and 6,231,380. Continued development in this area is desired.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a center conductor insulator for use in a coaxial cable transmission line connector. The insulator includes a tapered entry for a pin connected with the center conductor of the cable. A front shell assembly for use with a connector includes center conductor insulator with a tapered entry.




The present invention further relates to a compression ring assembly for holding a transmission line connector to a transmission line cable. The assembly includes a compressible collet urged inward by a sloped inner wall of a rear seal. The collet includes slots extending from each end of the collet.




The present invention also relates to a conversion kit for converting a transmission line connector for use with coaxial conductor cable from one gender or style to a different gender or style.




The present application further relates to a mounting kit for mounting transmission line connectors of different styles or genders to a panel including a yoke and an adapter.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first triaxial connector according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a second triaxial connector according to the present invention and adapted to mate with the connector of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG.


2


.





FIG. 5

is an exploded view of some of the internal elements of the cable end of the connector of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 6

is a first front perspective view of the collet shown in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 7

is a rear perspective view of the collet of FIG.


6


.





FIG. 7A

is a second front perspective view of the collet shown in FIG.


6


.





FIG. 8

is a rear view of the collet of FIG.


6


.





FIG. 9

is a side view of the collet of FIG.


6


.





FIG. 10

is a front view of the collet of FIG.


6


.





FIG. 10A

is a cross-sectional view of the collet of

FIG. 6

taken along line A—A in FIG.


10


.





FIG. 11

is a front perspective view of the rear seal of FIG.


5


.





FIG. 12

is a rear view of the rear seal of FIG.


11


.





FIG. 13

is a front view of the rear seal of FIG.


11


.





FIG. 14

is a cross-sectional side view of the rear seal of

FIG. 11

taken along line A—A in FIG.


13


.





FIG. 15

is a perspective of an assembled first triaxial connector conversion kit according to the present invention.





FIG. 16

is an exploded perspective view of the conversion kit of FIG.


15


.





FIG. 17

is a perspective view of the front shell assembly of the conversion kit of

FIG. 16

mounted to an internal assembly of a triaxial connector.





FIG. 18

is an exploded perspective view of the front shell assembly of FIG.


17


.





FIG. 19

is a front view of the front shell assembly of FIG.


17


.





FIG. 20

is a cross-sectional view of the front shell assembly of

FIG. 17

taken along line A—A of FIG.


19


.





FIG. 21

is a perspective of an assembled second triaxial connector conversion kit according to the present invention.





FIG. 22

is an exploded perspective view of the conversion kit of FIG.


21


.





FIG. 23

is a perspective view of the front shell assembly of the conversion kit of

FIG. 22

mounted to an internal assembly of a triaxial connector.





FIG. 24

is an exploded perspective view of the front shell assembly of FIG.


22


.





FIG. 25

is a front view of the front shell assembly of FIG.


22


.





FIG. 26

is a cross-sectional view of the front shell assembly of

FIG. 22

taken along line A—A of FIG.


25


.





FIG. 27

is a cross-sectional view of the center conductor insulator of the front shell assemblies of the triaxial connector conversion kits of

FIGS. 15 and 21

.





FIG. 28

is a perspective view of a connector during an initial step of a first conversion procedure according to the present invention, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the removal of the front connector body.





FIG. 29

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 28

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the removal of the front shell assembly.





FIG. 30

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 29

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the replacement of the front shell assembly.





FIG. 31

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 30

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the replacement of the front connector body.





FIG. 32

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 31

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for securing the replacement front connector body.





FIG. 33

is a perspective view of a connector during an initial step of a second conversion process according to the present invention, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the removal of the front connector body.





FIG. 34

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 33

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the removal of the front shell assembly.





FIG. 35

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 34

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the replacement of the front shell assembly.





FIG. 36

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 35

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for the replacement of the front connector body.





FIG. 37

is a perspective view of the connector of

FIG. 36

during a later step of the conversion process, with the arrows showing the direction of movement for securing the replacement front connector body.





FIG. 38

is a front perspective exploded view of a prior art female telecommunications connector with a mounting yoke about the connector and a plate to which the mounting yoke is mounted.





FIG. 39

is a front perspective exploded view of the telecommunications connector of

FIG. 1

with an adapter about the connector, the mounting yoke and plate to which the mounting yoke is mounted of

FIG. 38

about the adapter.





FIG. 40

is a front perspective exploded view of the adapter and mounting yoke of FIG.


39


.





FIG. 41

is a front view of the adapter of FIG.


39


.





FIG. 42

is a rear view of the adapter of FIG.


39


.





FIG. 43

is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of

FIG. 39

taken along line B—B in FIG.


42


.





FIG. 44

is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of

FIG. 39

taken along line A—A in FIG.


43


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Existing transmission line connectors for connecting to cables with a center conductor and one or more coaxially arranged conductors are well known. While these connectors are typically either for connecting for cables with a single coaxial conductor (coaxial connectors) or with two coaxial conductors (triaxial connectors) similar improvements may be made which are applicable to both types of connectors, and other connector types not coaxial in nature.




Several styles for the size and configuration of connectors exist. The style may differ between the male/female nature of the center conductors and the sleeves of the connectors. The styles may also differ in terms of the locking mechanisms which hold the connectors together. Two styles of connectors are illustrated in the drawings

FIGS. 1 and 2

and FIG.


38


. These styles differ with respect to the male/female nature of the connector elements and in the locking mechanism.




Typically, two styles of connectors cannot be used together. One aspect of the present invention relates to converting from one style of connector to another style of connector. Various other aspects of the present invention relate to mounting connectors to cables with a cable clamp. Other aspects of the present invention relate to the connector elements including the center conductor insulator. Still further elements of the present invention relate to the use of the connectors with mounting panels.




Referring now to

FIGS. 1 and 3

, a first triaxial connector


100


is shown, including a front outer body


102


, an endcap


104


, a mating opening


106


and a cable


108


. Cable


108


includes a center conductor


109


electrically linked to a jack center conductor


112


by center conductor pin


110


. Center conductor


112


is held within a center conductor insulator


114


within a front shell


116


. Front shell


116


is electrically linked to a first coaxial conductor


118


within cable


108


. Outer insulator


120


electrically isolates front shell


116


from front outer body


102


, which is electrically linked to a second coaxial conductor


122


within cable


108


. Front outer body


102


includes a front ring


124


which defines the entrance to mating opening


106


. Endcap


104


is threadably mounted to a threaded insert


128


. Captured between endcap


104


and threaded insert


126


are a rear seal


128


and a collet


130


which cooperate to hold connector


100


to cable


108


. On endcap


104


are two pairs of opposing wrench flats


134


and on front outer body


102


are two pairs of opposing mounting flats


136


. A first water seal such as o-ring


141


is located between cable


108


and endcap


104


and a second water seal such as o-ring


141


is located between threaded insert


126


and endcap


104


. A third water seal such as o-ring


141


is located between threaded insert


126


and front outer body


102


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 2 and 4

, a second triaxial connector


200


is shown, with a front outer body


202


, an endcap


104


, a mating end


206


and a cable


108


. On front outer body


202


is a sliding lock sleeve


203


. Lock sleeve


203


includes a releasable locking mechanism


205


that engages lock ring


103


and is similar to that in U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,457, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Fingers


207


release from lock ring


103


when the connectors are pulled apart. If tension is applied to cables


108


, ramp


209


tends to prevent fingers


207


from releasing lock ring


103


.




Cable


108


includes a center conductor


109


electrically linked to center conductor pin


110


. Center conductor pin


110


is electrically linked to a center conductor


212


of held within a center conductor insulator


114


within a front shell


216


. Front shell


216


is electrically linked to a first coaxial conductor


118


within cable


108


. Outer insulator


120


electrically isolates front shell


216


from front outer body


202


, which is electrically linked to a second coaxial conductor


122


within cable


108


. Front outer body


202


includes a front ring


224


which defines an entrance to mating opening


206


. Endcap


104


is threadably mounted to a threaded insert


126


. Captured between endcap


104


and threaded insert


126


are a rear seal


128


and a collet


130


which cooperate to hold connector


200


to cable


108


. A first water seal such as o-ring


141


is located between cable


108


and endcap


104


and a second water seal such as o-ring


141


is located between threaded insert


126


and endcap


104


. A third water seal such as o-ring


141


is located between threaded insert


126


and front outer body


202


.




Referring now to

FIG. 5

, further detail of the cooperation of endcap


104


, threaded insert


126


, rear seal


128


and collet


130


for mounting connectors


100


and


200


to cable


108


is shown. On an end of threaded insert


126


away from endcap


104


is shown center conductor


109


of cable


108


. Center conductor


110


of connector


100


or


200


fits about center conductor


109


and is electrically insulated from first coaxial conductor


118


by middle dielectric


111


. In turn, first coaxial conductor


118


is electrically insulated from second coaxial conductor


122


by inner jacket


121


. To mount a connector


100


or


200


to cable


108


as part of a process of terminating cable


108


, endcap


104


is first placed about cable


108


, followed in turn by rear seal


128


, collet


130


and threaded insert


126


. An inner surface


138


of endcap


104


engages rear seal


128


as endcap


104


and threaded insert


126


are threadably engaged, urging rear seal


128


over collet


130


. An inner wall


140


of rear seal


128


is angled as shown in the FIGS. (and described in further detail below) and an outer surface


142


of collet


130


is similarly angled as shown in the FIGS. (and described in further detail below). Inner wall


140


and outer surface


142


cooperate to compress collet


130


about cable


108


as endcap


104


is drawn toward threaded insert


126


.




Second coaxial conductor


122


is electrically connected to threaded insert


126


by bending back second conductor


122


against threaded insert and placing ground washer


132


about the bent over portion of conductor


122


. Additional details regarding the general process of terminating cable


108


to a connector


100


or


200


are described in above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.




During the process of installing connectors to coaxial transmission cables, a portion of the connector structure is tightened about the outer jacket of the cable. This portion of the structure adds to the strength and integrity of the physical connection of the connector and the cable. The process of tightening the structure against the outer jacket of the cable should secure the cable without causing damage to the cable and the conductors within the cable.




Referring now to

FIGS. 6 through 10

, collet


130


is shown. Collet


130


includes an end


144


which is directed toward threaded sleeve


126


and an end


148


which is directed toward endcap


104


, when collet


130


is used to secure a connector


100


or


200


to cable


108


. Extending from end


144


toward end


148


are first slots


146


, which traverse some of a distance between end


144


and end


148


and extend from an inner wall


154


to outer surface


142


. Extending from end


148


toward end


144


are second slots


150


, which traverse some of a distance between end


148


and end


144


and extend from an inner wall


154


to outer surface


142


. In the illustrated embodiment, slots


146


and


150


are equal in number and equally spaced apart about a circumference of collet


130


. Four each of slots


146


and


150


are shown, and it is anticipated that more or fewer slots


146


and


150


could be used in accordance with the present invention.




Inner wall


154


includes a series of ridges


156


to improve the ability of collet


130


to grip cable


108


. Outer surface


142


defines an angle


152


with respect to line


153


, which is parallel to a central axis


151


and offset from axis


151


by a maximum diameter of end


144


. As shown, angle


152


is about 5 degrees, although it is anticipated that other angles may be used.




Collet


130


is preferably made of a material such as brass or other similar material which will react in the same manner to compression by rear seal


128


as described below.




Referring now to

FIGS. 11 through 14

, rear seal


128


is shown. Rear seal


128


includes an outer wall


162


, an end


160


which engages inner surface


138


of endcap


104


and an end


158


which is directed toward threaded insert


126


when rear seal


128


is used to compress collet


130


to secure a connector


100


or


200


to cable


108


. Inner wall


140


defines an angle


166


with respect to a line


165


, which is parallel to a central axis


163


and offset from axis


163


by a maximum diameter of inner stop


164


. Inner stop


164


is a ledge defining an end to inner wall


140


and providing a stop for collet


130


.




Angle


166


is approximately the same as angle


152


. A narrow end


168


of collet


130


is smaller than a wide end


172


of inner wall


140


of rear seal


128


but larger than a narrow end


174


. A wide end


170


of collet


130


is smaller than wide end


172


. As endcap


104


urges end


160


of rear seal toward threaded insert


126


, inner wall


140


engages outer surface


142


and the cooperation of angles


152


and


166


and slots


146


and


150


allows collet


130


to be compressed within rear seal


128


to a smaller diameter. As collet


130


is compressed into a smaller diameter, inner wall


154


and ridges


156


are compressed into a smaller diameter as well, and inner wall


154


and ridges


156


engage cable


108


, a shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

.




When rear seal


128


is placed about collet


130


, collet


130


is urged inward, forcing the material in collet


130


to deform and slots


146


and


150


to narrow. The arrangement of slots


146


and


150


allows inner wall


154


to maintain a uniform diameter from end


144


to end


148


, as slots


146


and


150


narrow as collet


130


is compressed. Rear seal


128


and collet


130


combine to apply uniform pressure to cable


108


as collet


130


is compressed. A minimum diameter of inner wall


154


may be limited by limiting the amount of compression rear seal


128


applies to collet


130


. Compression of collet


130


may be limited by controlling the width of slots


146


and


150


, by inner stop


164


engages narrow end


168


of collet


130


, or by setting a torque limit to the amount of force that may be applied to endcap


104


urging rear seal about collet


130


.




There are several different known styles of connectors used to connect to the center conductor and other conductors within a coaxial cable. Connectors of one style may not physically compatible with connectors of another format. This means, for example, that a cable with a first style of connector may not be usable with a cable having a second style of connector, and vice versa. For example, connectors


100


and


200


mate with each other. However, connectors


100


and


200


do not mate with the connectors of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963, noted above. The mating ends do not physically fit together.




Referring now to

FIGS. 15 through 26

, conversion kits


300


and


400


are shown. Conversion kit


300


allows second connector


200


to be converted to a first connector


100


, and conversion kit


400


allows first connector


100


to be converted to a second connector


200


. It is anticipated that conversion kits


300


and


400


can also be adapted to work with coaxial or triaxial connectors of other styles or gender in a manner similar to that described below. Kits


300


and


400


can be used to convert the connectors of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963 to connectors of a different style, like connectors


100


and


200


, without requiring cutting and reterminating the cable.




Referring now to

FIGS. 15

to


20


, included in conversion kit


300


are front outer body


102


, ground spring


176


, outer insulator


120


and a front shell assembly


178


. Front shell assembly


178


includes center conductor


112


, center conductor insulator


114


and front shell


116


. Front shell


116


includes several longitudinally extending fingers


180


cooperating to define an opening


182


for receiving mating front shell


216


. As shown in the FIGS., there are six fingers


180


. It is anticipated that more or fewer fingers


180


may be used. Center conductor


112


defines an opening


184


for receiving a mating center conductor


212


, and an opening


302


for receiving center conductor pin


110


. Front shell assembly


178


is selectively removably mounted to a rear shell


304


. Rear shell


304


is electrically connected to first coaxial conductor


118


and held to cable


108


by crimp sleeve


306


, which is crimped about inner jacket


121


. Intermediate insulator


308


fits about crimp sleeve


308


between ground washer


132


and rear shell


304


, and insulates those parts from each other, to prevent electrically connecting first coaxial conductor


118


and second coaxial conductor


122


through connector


100


.




Front shell


116


includes an inner wall


186


defining a region


187


for receiving insulator


114


. Region


187


has an inner shoulder


188


to stop insertion of insulator


114


at an appropriate depth. Region


187


also includes a threaded portion


310


to permit selectively detachable mounting to rear shell


304


. Other types of selectively detachable mounting approaches may also be used with the present invention, such as bayonet mounting.




Referring now to

FIGS. 21

to


26


, included in conversion kit


400


are front outer body


202


, outer insulator


120


and front shell assembly


402


. Front shell assembly


402


includes center conductor


212


, insulator


114


and front shell


216


. Front shell


216


includes a tubular portion


408


defining an opening


404


for insertion into a mating front shell


116


. Center conductor


212


includes a front end


406


for insertion into a mating center conductor


112


, and an opening


302


for receiving center conductor pin


110


. Front shell assembly


402


mounts to rear shell


304


in a similar manner to front shell assembly


178


and the remainder of connector


100


or


200


shown in

FIG. 23

is the same as that shown in FIG.


17


.




Front shell


216


includes an inner wall


412


defining a region


414


for receiving insulator


114


. Region


414


has an inner shoulder


410


to stop the insertion of insulator


114


at an appropriate depth. Region


414


also includes a threaded portion


416


to permit selectively detachable mounting to rear shell


304


. Other types of selectively detachable mounting approaches may also be used with the present invention, such as bayonet mounting.




Referring now to

FIG. 27

, additional detail of insulator


114


is shown. Insulator


114


includes a central channel


190


for receiving center conductor


112


or center conductor


212


. A shoulder


192


within channel


190


provides a positive stop for a center conductor inserted into channel


190


and stops insertion at an appropriate depth. An outer wall


188


defines a diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter defined by either inner wall


412


of front shell


216


or inner wall


186


of front shell


116


, permitting insulator


114


to be firmly held within either region


414


or


187


, respectively. It is anticipated that pressfitting insulator


114


into a front shell


216


or


116


will firmly mount insulator


114


within region


414


or


187


against shoulder


410


or


188


, respectively. Insulator


114


is a one-piece insulator made of an electrically insulative material such as Teflon or a similar material. It is anticipated that insulator


114


may be made by a variety of methods, including machining.




Shoulder


192


within channel


190


defines an opening


198


to permit center conductor pin


110


to enter into opening


302


and make electrical contact with either center conductor


112


or


212


. Centering region


196


provides an entry into opening


198


to guide center conductor pin into opening


302


. Centering region


196


includes a sloped wall


194


defining a wider outer edge


195


and a narrower inner edge


193


, which is the same size as opening


198


. The funnel shape defined by centering region


196


aids in the insertion of a center conductor pin


110


which may have been placed or moved off-center by forcing center conductor pin into alignment with opening


302


. Shaft portion


197


of insulator


114


helps ensure that an off-center center conductor pin


110


within opening


302


does not force any portion of center conductor


112


or


212


into contact with front shell


116


or


216


, respectively. Shaft portion


197


is narrower than a rear portion


199


and a front portion


189


to provide for improved impedance characteristics when insulator


114


is incorporated into a telecommunications connector.




Referring now to

FIGS. 28 through 32

, a sequence of steps for converting from connector


100


to connector


200


are shown. Beginning with

FIG. 28

, front outer body


102


is removed from connector


100


by rotating in a direction


420


and then removing front outer body


102


in a direction


422


. Within front outer body


102


are outer insulator


120


and ground spring


176


. In

FIG. 29

, with front outer body


102


removed, front shell assembly


178


is removed from rear shell


304


by rotating in a direction


424


and removing front shell assembly


178


in a direction


426


. Front shell assembly


402


is then mounted to rear shell


304


by inserting in a direction


428


in FIG.


30


and rotating in a direction


430


in FIG.


31


. Outer insulator


120


and outer body


202


are then placed about front shell assembly


402


in a direction


432


in FIG.


31


and secured by rotating in a direction


434


in FIG.


32


. Connector


100


from

FIG. 28

has been converted to connector


200


in FIG.


32


. In this sequence, threaded sleeve


126


includes threads which engage threads within outer body


102


and outer body


202


in region


137


. Other methods of attachment that permit selective detachability are also contemplated within the present invention.




From the step shown in

FIG. 30

, a different connector end like the ends of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963 can be used, if desired. Further, kit


400


can be sued to convert the connectors of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963 to a connector that mates with connector


100


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 33 through 37

, a sequence of steps for converting from connector


200


to connector


100


is shown. Beginning with

FIG. 33

, front outer body


202


is removed from connector


200


by rotating in direction


420


and then removing front outer body


202


in direction


422


. Within front outer body


202


is outer insulator


120


. In

FIG. 34

, with front outer body


202


removed, front shell assembly


402


is removed from rear shell


304


by rotating in direction


424


and removing front shell assembly


402


in direction


426


. Front shell assembly


178


is then mounted to rear shell


304


by inserting in direction


428


in FIG.


35


and rotating in direction


430


in FIG.


36


. Outer insulator


120


, ground spring


178


and outer body


102


are then placed about front shell assembly


402


in direction


432


and secured by rotating in direction


434


. Connector


200


from

FIG. 33

has now been converted into connector


100


in FIG.


37


.




From the step shown in

FIG. 35

, a different connector end like the ends of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963 can be used, if desired. Further, kit


300


can be sued to convert the connectors of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963 to a connector that mates with connector


200


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 38 through 44

, coaxial cable connectors may be mounted to panels or racks to provide better organization of a large group of connectors and also to keep the cables off the ground and away from environmental factors that may degrade the quality of the signal carried by the coaxial cable.

FIG. 38

shows a prior art connector


101


which is a female connector and a pair of yoke halves


502


placed about opposing mounting flats


136


adjacent a mating opening


106


. Connector


101


is a female connector conforming to a different style than connector


100


. Mating opening


106


is like the mating end configuration of the female connector disclosed and shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,852 and 6,109,963. Mounting arrangements including mounting yokes fit about connectors and then attached to mounting plates for connection to panel or rack are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,192 and 6,231,380, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.




Referring again to

FIG. 38

, yoke halves


502


are placed about connector


101


so that yoke halves


502


engage mounting flats


136


of connector


101


and secured in place by removable fasteners such as screws


526


inserted through openings


528


. Yoke halves


502


are identical to one another. By engaging mounting flats


136


, yoke halves


502


are temporarily fixed with connector


101


with regard to relative movement or rotation.




Referring now to

FIG. 39

, adapter halves


504


is shown for mounting a connector


100


to a plate


500


for mounting to a panel or bulkhead. Plate


500


can be mounted to a panel or a bulkhead as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,192 and 6,231,380.

FIG. 38

shows connector


101


which can be mounted to a plate


500


in a manner consistent with the above-referenced patents.




Connector


100


defines a smaller diameter than connector


101


. To permit yoke halves


502


to securely hold connector


100


, an adapter


503


is provided. In the preferred embodiment, adapter


503


includes two identical adapter halves


504


placed about connector


100


and engaging mounting flats


136


. Adapter halves


504


cooperate to provide an outer surface that matches the size and shape of mounting flats


136


of connector


101


and permits yoke halves


502


to be used to mount both connector


100


and connector


101


.




Yoke halves


502


are placed about connector


100


about adapter halves


504


so that yoke halves


502


engage mounting flats


530


of adapter halves


504


and secured in place by removable fasteners such as screws


526


inserted through openings


528


. Adapter halves


504


engage mounting flats


136


of connector


100


and temporarily fix connector


100


and adapter halves


504


with regard to relative movement or rotation. By engaging mounting flats


530


, yoke halves


502


are temporarily fixed with connector


100


with regard to relative movement or rotation. Plate


500


can then be removably mounted to yoke halves


502


so that mating opening


106


of connector


101


is accessible through opening


512


, and removable fasteners such as screws


506


are inserted through openings


508


and engage openings


510


.




An indicia


516


may be mounted to plate


500


by fastening a rear holder


514


to plate


500


with fasteners


520


inserted through rear holder


514


and engaging openings


522


. A front cover


518


, made of an at least partially transparent material is placed over indicia


516


and engages rear holder


514


and traps indicia


516


. Openings


524


are included in plate


500


to permit removable fasteners to be used to mount plate


500


to a panel or bulkhead.





FIG. 40

shows the orientation of adapter halves


504


and yoke halves


502


with respect to each other when positioned for assembly. Note that a split line


526


for adapter halves


504


is positioned offset from a line formed by yokes halves


502


when joined together. This offset as shown is approximately forty-five degrees to aid in assembly of connector


100


with adapter halves


504


and yoke halves


502


. Other angles of offset may be used to achieve the same aid to assembly and it is anticipated that the present invention is workable with no angular offset as well.




Yoke halves


502


are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,192 and 6,231,380. Yoke halves


502


include a flat


532


along one side and partial flats


534


along a top and bottom. Partial flats


534


of each of a pair of yoke halves cooperate to form a continuous flat of the same size as flat


532


when two yoke halves are assembled. These flats


532


and


534


engage mounting flats


530


in an outer surface


536


of adapter halves


504


. Mounting flats


530


are similarly sized to mounting flats


136


of a connector


101


. In addition, outer surface


536


of adapter halves


504


defines a diameter that is similarly sized to connector


101


. Yoke halves


502


include surfaces


538


on either side of flats


532


and


534


which cooperate to define a round inner surface similarly sized to both connector


101


and outer surface


536


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 40 through 44

, each adapter half


504


includes an inner surface


546


which cooperate to form an opening


542


for receiving connector


100


. Flats


528


are along inner surfaces


546


and equally spaced apart around opening


542


. Flats


528


are sized to engage mounting flats


136


of connector


100


and located adjacent a first end


540


of adapter halves


504


. Inner surfaces


546


adjacent a second end


544


cooperate to form a portion of opening


542


which is sized to fit about front outer body


102


of connector


100


adjacent mating opening


106


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 1

,


3


and


43


, front outer body


102


between mounting flats


136


and mating opening


106


includes a non-tapered portion


548


and a tapered portion


550


. Along inner surfaces


546


are a first section


554


adjacent flats


528


and a second section


552


opposite flats


528


. First section


554


is sized to fit about non-tapered portion


548


and second section


552


is sized to fit about tapered portion


550


. Other styles of connectors may not have a tapered portion of a front outer body adjacent a mating opening and mounting flats and it is anticipated that alternative embodiments of adapter halves


504


may be adapted to fit about these non-tapered connectors as well.




The tolerance for fitting about front outer body


102


by adapter halves


504


is such that with flats


528


engaging mounting flats


136


and second section


552


engaging tapered portion


550


, adapter halves


504


are temporarily fixed with connector


100


with regard to relative movement or rotation, and adapter halves


504


can not be removed from connector


100


without separating along split line


526


. Yoke halves


502


can then be placed about adapter halves


504


with flats


532


and


534


engaging mounting flats


530


, which will serve to temporarily fix yoke halves with connector


100


with regard to relative movement or rotation. Plate


500


can then be mounted to yoke halves


502


to permit mounting of connector


100


to a panel as described in the above referenced patents. Alternatively, yoke halves


502


and adapter halves


504


can be used to mount connector


100


to an angled bracket for mounting to a panel as described in the above referenced patents.




The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.



Claims
  • 1. A mounting kit for mounting a telecommunications connector to a panel comprising:a yoke defining an opening with at least one pair of planar opposing faces; an adapter with an interior and an exterior, the adapter including two identical halves, the interior defining an opening sized to fit about the connector, and the exterior including at least one pair of opposing planar flats and sized to fit within the opening of the yoke; wherein the adapter engages at least one pair of opposing mounting flats on an exterior of the connector when the adapter is placed about the connector, so that the longitudinal positions of the connector and the adapter are fixed with respect to one another; and wherein the at least one pair of opposing flats of the adapter engage the at least one pair of planar opposing faces within the opening of the yoke when the yoke is placed about the adapter, so that the relative position of the adapter and the yoke is fixed with respect to one another.
  • 2. The mounting kit of claim 1, wherein the yoke includes two identical halves.
  • 3. The mounting kit of claim 2, wherein a first split line defined by the identical yoke halves and a second split line defined by the identical adapter halves are offset from one another.
  • 4. The mounting kit of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications connector is a female connector.
  • 5. The mounting kit of claim 1, wherein the yoke includes fastener holes.
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/052,906 file on Jan. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,848 issued on May 13, 2003.

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Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry
Kings Electronics Co., Inc., Broadcast Products Catalog 801, pp. 1,25-37, and 45-50, ©2001.
ADC Telecommunications, Inc., ProAx™ Triaxial Camera Connector, 8 pages, dated Jun. 1998.
ADC Telecommunications, Inc., Broadcast Products Catalog, 9th Edition, front cover, pp. 100-105, and rear cover, dated Mar. 2001.
Copy of International Search Report, PCT Rule 44.1, mailed Jun. 3, 2003.
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 10/052906 Jan 2002 US
Child 10/438250 US