ROTATE-TO-CLOSE CONNECTOR FOR A COAXIAL CABLE

• US 20180138603A1
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: BALCER, ANDERS, Matzen, Michael Ole, Meister, Michael, Miller, Thomas Dewey, Petersen, Jens, Slobodziuk, Nikolaj
• Granted Patent: US 10,644,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/025 formed by the conductors of a cable end
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/422 Securing in resilient one-piece base or case, e.g. by friction; One-piece base or case formed with resilient locking means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/426 Securing by a separate resilient retaining piece supported by base or case, e.g. collar or metal contact-retention clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/582 the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5041 using a tapered groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/053 using contact members penetrating insulation

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector for attachment to an end of a coaxial cable is disclosed. The coaxial cable connector includes a rotatable body segment having a body wall with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a width of the body wall. The body wall has a radial dimension which varies along a perimeter of the rotatable body segment. The inner surface defines a longitudinal opening extending between a forward end of the rotatable body segment and a rearward end of the rotatable body segment. A post positions proximal the forward end of the rotatable body segment. The post has a first end and a second end with a bore extending therebetween. The post is rotationally stationary with respect to the rotatable body segment. A coupling member positions proximal to the first end of the post. The rotatable body segment is rotated to close the coaxial cable connector.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for attachment to an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric at least partially surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a rotatable body segment comprising a body wall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a width of the body wall therebetween, wherein the body wall has a radial dimension that varies along a perimeter of the rotatable body segment, and wherein the inner surface defines a longitudinal opening extending between a forward end of the rotatable body segment and a rearward end of the rotatable body segment;

a post positioned proximal the forward end of the rotatable body segment, wherein the post comprises a first end and a second end with a bore extending therebetween, and wherein the post is rotationally stationary with respect to the rotatable body segment; and

a coupling member positioned proximal to the first end of the post;

wherein the rotatable body segment is rotated to close the coaxial cable connector.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the post is friction fit to the rotatable body segment at the forward end.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a fixed body segment, wherein the fixed body segment has a front end and a back end, and wherein the post is friction fit to the front end of the fixed body segment, and wherein the rotatable body segment is rotationally attached to the back end of the fixed body segment.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3, wherein the fixed body segment comprises an internal surface defining a cable passage.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4, wherein a projection extends radially inwardly from a portion of the internal surface of the fixed body segment.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 5, wherein a radially inward dimension of the projection varies along the portion of the internal surface.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 6, wherein the projection grips the jacket of the coaxial cable in response to the radial dimension of the width of the body wall and the radially inward dimension of the projection with the coaxial cable connector in a connector closed state.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a gripping insert positioned in the longitudinal opening of the rotatable body segment.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 8, wherein the gripping insert comprises a generally cylindrical structure with a side extending longitudinally surrounding a hollow interior extending between a front opening and a rear opening, and wherein the side has a circumferential surface, and wherein the gripping insert is rotationally stationary with respect to the rotatable body segment.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the side of the gripping insert has a width with a side radial dimension that varies around the circumferential surface of the gripping insert.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 10, wherein the gripping insert grips the jacket of the coaxial cable in response the body wall applying pressure to the side of the gripping insert with the coaxial cable connector in a connector close state.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the rotatable body segment comprises a front rotatable body segment and a rear rotatable body segment, and wherein the front rotatable body segment and the rear rotatable body segment are friction fit to each other.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a ring positioned in the rotatable body segment proximal the rearward end.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the ring comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly, and wherein the plurality of teeth aid in retaining the coaxial cable received by the coaxial cable connector.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising an insulator disposed in the bore of the post.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 15, wherein the insulator comprises a through-passage, and wherein the inner conductor of the coaxial cable extends through the through-passage to the coupling member.

17. A coaxial cable connector for attachment to an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric at least partially surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a rotatable body segment comprising a body wall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a width of the body wall, wherein the body wall has a variable width along a perimeter of the rotatable body segment, and wherein the inner surface defines a longitudinal opening extending between a forward end of the rotatable body segment and a rearward end of the rotatable body segment, and wherein the longitudinal opening is centered along a longitudinal opening axis;

a post positioned proximal the forward end of the rotatable body segment, wherein the post comprises a first end and a second end with a bore extending therebetween, and wherein the bore of the post is centered along a longitudinal bore axis, and wherein the post is rotationally stationary with respect to the rotatable body segment; and

a coupling member positioned proximal to the first end of the post;

wherein, in a connector open state, the rotatable body segment is in a first configuration, wherein the variable width of the body wall is in a first orientation along the perimeter of the rotatable body segment; and

wherein, in a connector closed state, the rotatable body segment is in a second configuration, wherein the variable width of the body wall is in a second orientation along a perimeter of the rotatable body segment.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 17, wherein in the connector open state, the rotatable body segment is adapted to receive a coaxial cable at the rearward end, and wherein the coaxial cable extends through the longitudinal opening and into the bore of the post, and wherein the second end of the post is adapted to insert under a jacket of the coaxial cable.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein in the connector closed state, the variable width of the body wall in the second orientation along the perimeter of the rotatable body segment provides an off-set cam effect between the rotatable body segment and the post, with the longitudinal opening axis and the longitudinal bore axis being angularly displaced.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 19, further comprising a fixed body segment comprising a projection extending radially inwardly from a portion of an internal surface of the fixed body segment, wherein the projection is adapted to grip the jacket of the coaxial cable received by the rotatable body segment in response to the variable width of the body wall in the second orientation along the perimeter of the rotatable body segment.

21. The coaxial cable connector of claim 19, further comprising a gripping insert comprising a generally cylindrical structure with a side extending longitudinally, wherein the side has a circumferential surface having a width with a side radial dimension that varies around the circumferential surface of the gripping insert, wherein the gripping insert is adapted to grip the jacket of the coaxial cable received by the rotatable body segment in response to the variable width of the body wall in the second orientation along the perimeter of the rotatable body segment.

22. A method for tool-lessly attaching a coaxial cable connector to a coaxial cable, the method comprising:

providing a coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric at least partially surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor;

preparing the coaxial cable by exposing a predetermined length of the inner conductor beyond ends of the jacket, the dielectric, and the outer conductor, wherein the ends of the jacket, the dielectric, and the outer conductor remain generally flush with each other;

inserting the prepared coaxial cable into a rotatable body segment of a coaxial cable connector proximal to a rearward end of the body, wherein the coaxial cable connector is in a connector open state, and wherein the rotatable body segment is in a first configuration, and wherein a width of a body wall of the rotatable body segment is in a first orientation along a perimeter of the rotatable body segment;

advancing the prepared coaxial cable toward a forward end of the rotatable body segment to a post proximal the forward end of the rotatable body segment, wherein a second end of the post inserts under a jacket of the coaxial cable, and wherein the inner conductor, the dielectric, and the outer conductor extend through a bore in the post to a first end of the post; and

putting the coaxial cable connector in a connector closed state by rotating the rotatable body segment to a second configuration, wherein the width of the body wall is in a second orientation along the perimeter of the rotatable body segment, and wherein the coaxial cable is secured in the coaxial cable connector.