Nut seal assembly for coaxial cable system components

• US 20070123101A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Palinkas, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,354,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/579
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

An integrated seal assembly is provided, as is a coaxial cable system component incorporating the seal assembly with a connector for coupling to an externally threaded port. The seal assembly includes a bellows-type seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body and a plurality of sealing surfaces, and an integral joint-section intermediate an anterior end and a posterior end that assists in the axial deformation of the seal in response to axially-directed force. One of the sealing surfaces engages a corresponding surface of an internally threaded nut or housing. The component is engagable with an externally threaded port via the internally threaded connector. The anterior end of the seal fits over the port and a sealing surface of the seal is capable of sealing axially against a shoulder of the port while the seal body covers the otherwise exposed externally threaded port. Upon tightening of the nut on the port, the seal deflects in the axial direction to accommodate a variety of distances between the connector and the shoulder of the port. Additionally, the seal is capable of expanding to allow a second sealing surface to contact and seal against a variety of smooth outside diameters of the port. The versatility of the seal allows an operator to use one connector of a system component on a wide variety of externally threaded ports without the risk of a faulty seal at the connection or a poor connection due to an improper seal.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable system component seal assembly, comprising:

a threaded portion having an interior surface at least a portion of which is threaded, a component grasping portion that is configured to grasp a coaxial cable system component, and a seal-grasping surface portion; and

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body attached to the threaded portion, said body having a posterior sealing surface that cooperatively engages the seal-grasping surface portion of the threaded portion and a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a coaxial cable system port, wherein the seal and threaded portion form an integrated seal assembly.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein at least part of the seal-grasping portion is one of a smooth surface and a roughened surface suitable to frictionally engage the posterior sealing surface of the seal.

3. The seal assembly of claim 2, wherein the seal-grasping portion further comprises a ridge on the exterior surface of the threaded portion.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal-grasping portion comprises a ridge on the interior surface of the threaded portion.

5. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein at least part of the seal-grasping portion is a surface suitable to adhesively engage a posterior sealing surface of the seal.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion further includes a turning surface portion along an external perimeter surface of the threaded portion.

7. The seal assembly of claim 6, wherein the turning surface portion at least two flat surface regions.

8. The seal assembly of claim 6, wherein the turning surface portion is a knurled surface.

9. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular body of the seal includes an integral joint-section.

10. The seal assembly of claim 9, wherein the integral joint-section is located asymmetrically between an anterior end of the seal and a posterior end of the seal.

11. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the component-grasping portion is an internal surface projection forming a shoulder along an interior surface of the threaded portion.

12. The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seal ring, said seal ring having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a diameter such that the seal ring is press-fit against an exterior surface of the seal that is radially adjacent the posterior sealing surface.

13. The seal assembly of claim 12, wherein the seal ring has an outwardly extending flange along a posterior perimeter of the seal ring.

14. The seal assembly of claim 12, wherein the outer surface of the seal ring is knurled.

15. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal has an axial length in an uncompressed state that is sufficient to fully cover a length of external threads on a port when the port is in a fully connected relationship with the seal assembly.

17. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said coaxial cable system component is a co-axial cable connector.

18. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said coaxial cable system component is a cable termination device.

19. The seal assembly of claim 2, wherein the seal-grasping portion comprises a groove on the interior surface of the threaded portion.

20. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said coaxial cable system component is a tamper resistant cable termination device.

21. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said coaxial cable system component is a filter housing.

22. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein said threaded portion is a nut component.

23. The seal assembly of claim 1, where said threaded portion is an internally threaded surface of a filter housing.

16. A coaxial cable connector, comprising:

a tubular connector body having first and second ends;

means for attaching the first end of the connector body to the coaxial cable;

a threaded portion having an interior surface at least a portion of which is threaded, a connector-grasping portion, and a seal-grasping surface portion, rotatably connected to said second end of the tubular connector body via the connector-grasping portion; and

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body attached to threaded portion, said body having a posterior sealing surface that cooperatively engages the seal-grasping surface portion of the threaded portion and a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a port, wherein the seal and threaded portion form an integrated seal assembly.

24. The connector of claim 16, wherein the seal has an integral joint-section adjacent the posterior sealing surface.

25. (canceled)

26. A coaxial cable connector seal assembly, comprising:

a threaded portion having an interior surface at least a portion of which is threaded, a connector-grasping portion, and a seal-grasping surface portion;

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body, said body having a posterior sealing surface that cooperatively engages the seal-grasping surface portion of the threaded portion and a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a port; and

means for attaching the seal to the threaded portion wherein the seal and nut form an integrated seal assembly.

27. A method for sealing a coaxial cable system component to a threaded port, comprising:

providing a coaxial cable system component adapted for electrically and mechanically engaging to a threaded port, said component comprising;

(a) a body adapted to attach the component to a prepared coaxial cable;

(b) a post adapted to electrically engage the outer conductor of the coaxial cable; and

(c) a threaded portion rotatably engaged with the connector post attaching a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having a tubular body to the threaded portion, said seal having a posterior sealing surface adapted to cooperatively engage the threaded portion, a forward sealing surface adapted to cooperatively engage the port and an integral joint-section such that the seal and threaded portion form an integrated seal assembly; and

rotating the integrated seal assembly to engage the internal threads of the threaded portion with the threaded port such that the forward sealing surface of the seal engages the port to form a moisture-resistant barrier between the connector and the port.

28. The method for sealing a connector to a threaded port of claim 27, further comprising the additional step of providing a seal ring fit over a portion of the threaded portion and a posterior portion of the seal.

29. The method for sealing a connector to a threaded port of claim 27, further comprising the additional step of threadedly advancing the connector onto the post such that the seal radially expands in the vicinity of the universal joint-section.

30. A cable termination device, comprising:

a housing having an interior surface at least a portion of which is threaded, and a seal-grasping surface portion; and

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body attached to the housing, said body having a posterior sealing surface that cooperatively engages the seal-grasping surface portion of the housing, a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a threaded port, and an integral joint section.

34. The termination device of claim 30, wherein the housing has a first end and a second end, said second end having at least two flat surface regions.

35. The termination device of claim 34, wherein the second end of the housing has an external surface that is hexagonal in cross-section.

36. The termination device of claim 30, further comprising a ring engaging the seal radially outward of the posterior sealing surface.

37. The termination device of claim 36, wherein the ring has an external surface that is knurled.

38. The termination device of claim 36, wherein the ring has an external flange.

31. (canceled)

33. The termination device of claim 31, wherein a posterior sealing surface of the seal is adhered to at least part of the seal-grasping portion of the surface of the housing.

32. (canceled)

39. A tamper-resistant cable termination device, comprising:

a cylindrical shell having a first end and a second end and a central axis, said second end including a sleeve defining an inner cavity;

a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing at least partially coaxially disposed within the shell and having an interior surface at least a portion of which is threaded, wherein said housing rotates about said axis independently of said cylindrical shell;

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body attached to one of said first end of the housing or said first end of the shell, said body having a posterior sealing surface, a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a threaded port and an integral joint section.

40. The tamper-resistant cable termination device of claim 39, wherein the posterior sealing surface cooperatively engages a seal-grasping surface on the first end of the shell.

41. The tamper-resistant cable termination device of claim 40, wherein the seal-grasping surface further comprises a ridge on the exterior surface of the first end of the shell.

45. The tamper-resistant cable termination device of claim 40, wherein the posterior sealing surface cooperatively engages a seal-grasping surface on the first end of the housing.

46. The tamper-resistant cable termination device of claim 45, wherein the first end of the shell is dimensioned and configured to engage the seal radially outward of the posterior sealing surface.

47. The tamper-resistant cable termination device of claim 40, wherein the second end of the shell includes external threads adapted to be engaged to a coaxial cable connector.

48. The tamper-resistant cable termination device of claim 40, wherein the second end of the housing includes recesses adapted to be engaged by a tool.

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

49. A filter housing comprising;

a housing body having a first end and a second end, said first end including an internally threaded connector, said connector having a seal-grasping surface portion;

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer having an elastically deformable tubular body attached to the connector, said body having a posterior sealing surface that cooperatively engages the seal-grasping surface portion of the connector, a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a threaded port, and an integral joint section.

50. The filter housing of claim 49, wherein at least part of the seal-grasping portion is one of a smooth surface and a roughened surface suitable to frictionally engage the posterior sealing surface of the seal.

52. The filter housing of claim 49, wherein a posterior sealing surface of the seal is adhered to at least part of the seal-grasping portion of the surface of the connector.

51. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. A coaxial cable system component, comprising:

a coaxial cable system component including a threaded portion having an interior surface at least a portion of which is threaded, a component grasping portion that is configured to grasp a coaxial cable system component, and a seal-grasping surface portion; and

a seal formed at least partially of a conductive elastomer and having an elastically deformable tubular body attached to the threaded portion, said body having a posterior sealing surface that cooperatively engages the seal-grasping surface portion of the threaded portion and a forward sealing surface that cooperatively engages a coaxial cable system port, wherein the seal and threaded portion form an integrated seal assembly; and

wherein

said coaxial cable system component is configured as at least one of a coaxial cable connector, a coaxial cable filter housing and a coaxial cable termination device.

57. The coaxial cable system component of claim 56 where the coaxial cable system component is a coaxial cable connector.

58. The coaxial cable system component of claim 56 where the coaxial cable system component is a cable filter housing.

59. The coaxial cable system component of claim 56 where the coaxial cable system component is a coaxial cable termination device.