Connector With A Locking Mechanism, Moveable Collet, And Floating Contact Means

• US 20180083374A1
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PCT International Incorporated (Andes Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PCT International Incorporated (Andes Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Youtsey, Timothy L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,153,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule

Abstract

A coaxial cable termination device including a barrel having opposed front and rear ends, a collet at the front end of the barrel, and a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement. The sleeve moves between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve urges compression of the collet. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism locks the sleeve into either of the advanced and retracted positions. In some embodiments, contact means carried loosely within the device maintain contact between the barrel and a mating post to which the device is applied.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable termination device comprising:

a barrel including opposed front and rear ends;

a collet at the front end of the barrel;

a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows expansion and compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve prevents expansion and urges compression of the collet; and

a locking mechanism which locks the sleeve into the advanced position, wherein the locking mechanism includes a visual indicator which is concealed when the sleeve is in the retracted position and which is exposed when the sleeve is in the advanced position.

2. The termination device of claim 1, wherein movement of the sleeve over the barrel from the retracted position to the advanced position causes the locking mechanism to lock the sleeve in the advanced position.

3. The termination device of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is arrangeable between a locked condition, in which the sleeve is prevented from moving out of the retracted position, and an unlocked condition, in which the sleeve is allowed to reciprocate between the advanced and retracted positions.

4. The termination device of claim 1, wherein:

the barrel includes a circumferential channel;

the locking mechanism includes an arm pivoted to the sleeve for movement between locked and unlocked positions;

in the locked position of the arm, the arm is disposed within the annular channel; and

in the unlocked position of the arm, the arm is out of the annular channel.

5. The termination device of claim 4, wherein the arm includes:

a radially inwardly-directed tooth; and

a lever carried opposite the tooth from a pivot about which the arm is pivoted.

6. The termination device of claim 5, wherein:

the tooth is aligned normal to the arm;

the lever carries the visual indicator;

the arm and lever rock about the pivot to move the tooth into and out of the circumferential channel, wherein when the tooth is within the channel, the visual indicator is exposed, and when the tooth is out of the circumferential channel, the visual indicator is hidden.

7. The termination device of claim 4, wherein the arm is biased toward the locked position.

8. A coaxial cable termination device comprising:

a barrel including opposed front and rear ends;

a collet at the front end of the barrel;

a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows expansion and compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve prevents expansion and urges compression of the collet; and

a locking mechanism which locks the sleeve into the advanced position.

9. The termination device of claim 8, wherein movement of the sleeve over the barrel from the retracted position to the advanced position causes the locking mechanism to lock the sleeve in the advanced position.

10. The termination device of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism is arrangeable between a locked condition, in which the sleeve is prevented from moving out of the retracted position, and an unlocked condition, in which the sleeve is allowed to reciprocate between the advanced and retracted positions.

11. The termination device of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism includes a visual indicator which is concealed when the sleeve is in the retracted position and which is exposed when the sleeve is in the advanced position.

12. The termination device of claim 8, wherein:

the barrel includes a circumferential channel;

the locking mechanism includes an arm pivoted to the sleeve for movement between first and locked and unlocked positions;

in the locked position of the arm, the arm is disposed within the annular channel; and

in the unlocked position of the arm, the arm is out of the annular channel.

13. The termination device of claim 12, wherein the arm includes:

a radially inwardly-directed tooth; and

a lever carried opposite the tooth from a pivot about which the arm is pivoted.

14. A coaxial cable termination device comprising:

a barrel including opposed front and rear ends, the barrel defining an interior;

an annular flange extending inwardly from the barrel into the interior and separating the interior into a forward bore and a rearward bore;

an inner post carried in the rearward bore; and

contact means carried in the forward bore, the contact means separate from the inner post and the barrel, and carried loosely in the forward bore proximate to the annular flange for contact with the barrel.

15. The termination device of claim 14, wherein the contact means includes:

a body coaxial to the barrel and having opposed front and rear ends; and

axial slots formed into the body allowing compression of the rear end of the body.

16. The termination device of claim 14, wherein the contact means deforms and maintains contact with the barrel when the termination device is applied to a mating post.

17. The termination device of claim 14, wherein the inner post has a forward end that terminates at and in contact with the annular flange.

18. The termination device of claim 14, wherein the annular flange encircles a coaxial hole in communication with the forward and rearward bores.

19. The termination device of claim 14, wherein the contact means includes:

a body coaxial to the barrel and having opposed front and rear ends;

an annular flange at the front end of the body;

an annular ridge at the rear end of the body; and

a reduced outer diameter between the annular flange of the body and the annular ridge.

20. The termination device of claim 19, wherein:

the barrel further includes an annular shoulder extending inwardly from the barrel into the interior proximate to the annular flange; and

the annular ridge of the contact means is carried within the annular shoulder, in contact therewith.

21. The termination device of claim 20, wherein:

the contact means further includes axial slots formed into the body allowing compression of the rear end of the body; and

in response to the termination device being applied to a mating post, the contact means deforms against the annular shoulder of the barrel and causes the annular ridge of the body of the contact means to maintain contact with the annular shoulder.